What's a good game to play when bored with no download?

Browser games like TapGuessr, Wordle, Little Alchemy 2 and Lichess start instantly in any browser, on a phone or a computer.

What game can I play at work?

Short, silent games are the easiest: TapGuessr plays in short visits of a couple of taps, and daily puzzles like Wordle take a few minutes.

Yes. The game is free to play in any browser, on a phone or a computer. There is nothing to download and no account to make.

How long does a game last?

A season lasts two weeks, and the map is shared by everyone playing. Most people play a few minutes at a time: spend your troops, check who's attacking you, and come back when your troops have built up again.

Games to play when you're bored

The best boredom games start in one tap, can be stopped at any time, and give you a reason to come back. All of these run in a browser, so there's nothing to install.

Season 1 is live: 23 players hold land, 5 days left to take yours.

The TapGuessr globe with coloured empires, ready to play

1. TapGuessr: take over the world in five-minute visits

A world map you can actually take. Tap any free spot on Earth, plant your flag and grow tile by tile. Troops build up while you're away, so it fits around everything else: play two minutes, come back after lunch and see who's been raiding your border.

Picking a starting tile in Germany in TapGuessr — One tap to start. Germany, anyone?

2. Wordle

One five-letter word a day, six guesses. It takes three minutes and you'll think about it all afternoon.

3. Globle and Worldle

Daily geography puzzles: find the mystery country from how close your guesses are (Globle) or from its outline (Worldle).

4. Little Alchemy 2

Start with four elements and combine them until you've made everything from a dinosaur to the internet. Very hard to stop.

5. Skribbl.io and Gartic Phone

Drawing and guessing games for a group of friends in a browser tab. Best with people who can't draw.

6. Lichess puzzles

Endless free chess puzzles that adapt to your level. Each one takes about a minute.

7. 2048

Slide numbered tiles and merge them until you reach 2048. Simple, satisfying, and good for a quiet room.

Games to play at work (quietly)

The best work games don't need sound, don't need long sessions, and can be closed fast. TapGuessr fits well: one visit is a couple of taps to spend your troops, and the game works with the sound off. Daily puzzles like Wordle and Globle are the other classic choice, since they're done in minutes.

TapGuessr open on a phone — On your phone, it plays one-handed.