Even though the best short games don’t take up a lot of time, they will leave a lasting impression on anyone who plays them. Some of the most exciting new games show that games are still getting bigger, but in the past few years, there have also been a lot of shorter games that can be finished in six hours or less. And if you don’t have much time but still want to try something new, you might want to check out our list of the best free games you can play right now.
There are a lot of short PC games that are interesting and full of new ideas. To show that, we’ve put together some of the best examples. Even though most of them are pretty experimental because they are mostly made by independent filmmakers, you will find something that you like.
Our list of the best short games includes some great indie games and adventures that won’t take up too much of your time. It also includes some of the best game stories out there, so you’re sure to find something you like. Below we have mentioned some of the best short games.
Best Short Games
Abzû
Features
- Good controls
- There’s variety in the ocean
- The music adds emotion
- The price is right
- It’s a lonely experience
If you’re looking for a best short games to play on a night when you just want to relax, ABZ is a great choice. This game is basically an underwater version of Journey. It’s a calm, relaxing exploration game that doesn’t get in your way. It’s an adventure game with a subtle story, beautiful graphics, and a calm atmosphere that’s perfect for a night in on the couch. If you like this app you can read more information on Wikipedia.
Pros
- Warm, inviting visuals
- Terrific score
- Moments of real power
- Stirring yet admirably restrained soundtrack
Cons
- Gameplay feels slightly insubstantial
- Lacks Journey’s heart and replay value
Donut County
Features
- Good operability
- The sea has a lot to offer
- Music is inspiring
Donut County is probably the best short games on this list. It is about a talking raccoon and his best friend, a human, who have to deal with the effects of a hole that is slowly eating their town. You control the hole, which gets bigger as it eats things until it’s big enough to swallow whole buildings.
The story is told in an unusual way by the people who made it out of the hole. They are huddled together in a series of caves below the town. Even though this might sound kind of sad, Donut County is written in a way that makes you feel like everything will be okay in the end.
Pros
- Moments of true power
- Exciting, yet brilliantly restrained soundtrack
Cons
- Boring
Grow Home
Features
- Climbing
- Exploration
- It’s a physical playground and many of the alien plants
- Procedural animation allows you to move BUD’s hands independently
A silly physics-based platform game that never takes itself too seriously. After landing on a low-poly planet full of plants and animals, you’ll be asked to help the hero character BUD, a Botanical Utility Droid, make a big star plant grow and bloom. This will help our main character get back home. For now this is one of the best short games.
This can be done in two hours, but Grow Home’s pacing, especially when it comes to introducing new game mechanics, is the best out there. On a side note, every time I saw BUD climb, the animations made me smile.
Pros
- Stylized visuals
- Satisfying physics
- Encourages you to explore at your own pace
Cons
- Animation freakouts
- Platforming challenges can occasionally prove frustrating
ISLANDERS
Features
- A physical playground, many unfamiliar plants are
- Procedural animation allows BUD hands to move independently
First on the best short games list is the city-building indie game ISLANDERS! This city-building game is pretty different from most others. For example, you don’t have access to roads, utilities, or anything else like that. There are different kinds of buildings that will interact with each other and other things in the environment. It’s nothing like Cities: Skylines, for example. It’s best called a “city-builder for arcades.”
The goal of the game is to settle as many islands as possible while getting as many points as possible. You get a small number of buildings and structures that you can only use when the game tells you to. After that, you’ll have to put them next to certain things in the world and other buildings. This is how you’ll get points, which you’ll need to unlock new buildings and islands.
Pros
- Stylized visuals
- Satisfying physics
Cons
- Animation freakouts
A Short Hike
Features
- Explore the island any way you like.
- Hike at your own pace — there’s no need to rush to the summit!
- Collect hidden treasures to reach new heights.
- Chat with the other hikers you meet along your route.
In a Short Hike, made by adamgryu, you play as a bird named Claire and try to get to the top of a mountain in the peaceful Hawk Peak Provincial Park. As you hike at your own pace and meet other hikers along the way, you can climb, hike, and even fly through the air.
There are also opportunities to go fishing and find treasures. You can get to the top of the mountain and finish the game in a short amount of time, or you can take your time and enjoy the beautiful scenery of this pixelated world. This is the best short games.
Pros
- Charming dialogue and story
- Minigames that are as fun to play as they are to discover
- Plenty of exploration opportunities
- Is exactly what it says on the tin
Cons
- There are no stakes whatsoever, which is only a problem if you want a bit of peril in the gameplay
- Very short and the meat of the game could be ignored almost entirely
What is Short Games?
The term “short game” refers to the golf shots that a player makes when it close to the green or already on it. Shots made from within 100 yards are usually part of the short game, while shots made from farther away are part of the long game. So, putting and shots from bunkers near the green are part of the short game.
A golfer with a good short game will do well when shots need finesse and accuracy and will be able to make up for approaches that missed the green. A good short game will help a golfer do well with short clubs like wedges.
FAQs
What are the shortest video games?
- A Short Hike.
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
- Mafia 2.
- Batman: Arkham City.
- Dying Light.
- Homefront: The Revolution.
What is the top 1 game of all time?
With the completionist method, it will take more than 100 hours to finish Fallout: New Vegas. The main story takes about 27.5 hours, but if you take your time, you could finish the whole game in over 300 hours.
Who is the very best game?
- Call of Duty: Mobile.
- Dead Cells.
- Genshin Impact.
- GRID Autosport.
- League of Legends: Wild Rift.