The role that video games play in our lives can change with our tastes and how we like to spend our time. Some love to play story-based games side by side with a friend, swapping controllers. Others love competitive online games to test themselves or play split-screen for friendly, casual rivalries. Lately, people have begun using gaming not just as an escape but as a way to keep their hands busy while their minds are occupied with other things. Second-screen gaming has become much more popular with the rise of podcasts and streaming, but which games work best for it?
Solitaire: The Classic Choice
As one of the original games bundled with practically every version of Windows, Solitaire is, like Minesweeper, one of those games that has earned its place as a legendary time-waster. The reason is simple enough. The rules are super easy to familiarise yourself with, and the pace is totally self-directed, so that nothing’s going to go awry if you look away for a few moments. It keeps you engaged enough to avoid boredom while leaving your mind and ears free to focus on whatever you’re listening to. Other classic card games, like Freecell and Spider Solitaire, work much the same way.
Deckbuilders: Easy-Going Decision Makers
One might say that the evolution of deckbuilders as a genre is perhaps largely tied to the way that many of us play games while doing something else at the same time. Classics like Slay The Spire and Balatro are perennial favourites, but it’s a wide genre, always with new options to explore, like Beastro.
These games are also a little more engaging than repeated plays of Solitaire, as you begin to discover synergies, deck strategies, and route choices that can continue to optimize your playstyle and maximize your chances of victory, so that even when you lose, you improve your play a little bit for the next time. As popular as they are, there are always new deckbuilders to check out, as well.
Casino Games: Low-Stakes Thrills
For some people, the nature of deckbuilders and roguelikes, which typically feature slightly longer session lengths that often end in defeat, can be a little too frustrating. You might prefer to win or lose in short bursts, rather than putting your time into a run that eventually ends up not working out in your favour. To that end, casino games offer much more immediate thrills, but you don’t have to spend money to enjoy them, either.
There are plenty of free versions of games like blackjack that offer short rounds, clear outcomes, and simple decision-making, which are casual enough to play easily while your mental energies are focused elsewhere, but have enough stakes that you don’t get bored playing them. That makes them easy to dip in and out of while listening.
Idle/Clicker Games: Background Jubilation
With the rise of second-screen gaming, there has been a growing popularity of games designed to be played passively, rather than actively engaging your attention. Idle and clicker games, such as the massively popular Melvor Idle, are examples of that. Much of the progress in these games happens automatically, requiring you to simply check in, make some choices ot maximize how quickly you gain your resources, collect rewards, and tweak your systems. This can make them perfect when your attention is mostly focused elsewhere, while you’re still able to interact with them and feel a sense of accomplishment when a decision you make takes you to new heights.
Bullet Heaven: Eyes Peeled, Ears Open
Not every second-screen game has to be particularly slow or turn-based, either. You might find that playing faster-paced games can help you listen all the more actively, so long as they’re not too distracting. This is the perfect sweetspot for bullet heaven games, also known as survival games, the genre popularized by Vampire Survivors.
These games are fast-paced and visually engaging, but the actual decision-making and mechanic engagement is fairly minimal, typically due to the automated nature of combat. In most cases, you’re just moving your character in a direction to avoid enemies while collecting resources. The games are practically drip-feed dopamine machines, often with the long-term run-building and meta-progression offered by deckbuidlers to keep you coming back for more, too.
Life Sims: For Casual, Cozy Vibes
Another genre that has become much more popular among those who prefer a slightly more relaxed gaming experience is Stardew Valley, which lets you farm, decorate, wander, and do basic chores. They emphasize routine, creativity, and slow, low-stakes progress. Many of them, like Stardew, do feature in-game daily timers that can add a little tension, just enough to ensure that you keep yourself busy, but they’re great for those who want to remain firmly seated and focused while listening to conversational podcasts or lurking in a stream. They can enhance the cozy atmosphere of hanging out with your favourite online personalities, with gameplay that’s gentle but still engaging enough not feel like a waste of time.
Turn-Based Strategy: For Long Listening Sessions
One of the first second-screen games for many people, the Civilization series is a prime example of a turn-based game ideal for long listening sessions. You can take your time between turns to think through decisions and pause while listening to the more engaging parts of podcasts or streams. There’s no real-time pressure, but the games are still heavily systems-driven, so they feel compelling, engaging, and as difficult as you want, if the other types mentioned here feel a little too easy-going. The one-more-turn nature of these games makes them great for long gaming sessions, and you can easily save to pick them back up for your next podcast listening session.
The second-screen game you choose will largely depend on your preferences, and you might find yourself cycling between a few options. If you’re an avid podcast listener or stream watcher, however, they’re a great way to make your time with those hobbies a little more engaging.
