Coffee Break Games

It’s an unfortunate truth, but your typical coffee break just isn’t long enough to satisfy your need to break out Madden or Warhammer. Luckily for us all, there are still ways to get your game fix before returning to the reality of your wage-slave life.

Here are a couple of my favorite 15-minute killers:

Helsinki Summer Games 2005

Have you caught Summer Olympic fever? Have you ever dreamt of being one of our brave countrymen fighting for athletic prowess over the rest of the world, only to wake up and realize you have coordination of Mr. Potatohead? Well never fear, Helsinki Summer Games 2005 was made for you.

Compete as one of 10 countries (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Great Britain, The Netherlands, the US, Japan or Kenya) in 4 competitions - 100 Meter Dash, High Jump, Javelin Throw and 110 meter hurdles. Each round has a goal you must reach in order to qualify for the next event. The controls are incredibly simple: space bar to run and Ctrl key to jump/throw. It’s a very easy game to start and the opportunity to completely outdo your previous records gives this game a high replay value.

Mr. Piggy

I may not speak Korean, but I can spot a Donkey Kong clone when I see one. But even if the gameplay itself isn’t breaking any ground for innovations, the untranslated slideshow ’story’ behind Mr. Piggy’s quest will win over the hearts of anyone!

The Hardest Game

So simple, yet so infuriating.

Duck Hunter

Don’t let the extra letters fool you. This is Duck Hunt in all its 8-bit snickering dog goodness. The only downside is the distinct lack of a light-gun for full nostalgic glee.

Why Tommy Won’t Go To School

…not quite a game, but it did answer my question on whether ‘Physistosits’ should procreate.

Doctor Dentist

The gameplay is a lot like Minesweeper. Like any good dentist, your goal is to drill out all the good teeth of your patient while avoiding the rotten ones, being the violent blood-spewing volcanoes of poor oral hygiene that they are. That’ll learn ‘em for not flossing.

Burn Them!

Has work made you feel a little less like your normal, vengeful, omniscient deity self lately? Well welcome to Ant City where they are more than happy to accept your wrath, in all their little tiny burning body glory.

Bob Saget’s Donkey Punchline

What rhymes with Saget? That’s right, DANGER.

Rose & Camilla

If you’re like most poor flower girls who marry into an aristocratic family only to be widowed shortly after by the only male heir to the family estate (and lets face it, who hasn’t been there?) then you know that the only way to get respect is to take it. Hard. And give it back harder.

This game is nothing short of slaptastic fun!

While most of these games are simple to play, they are truly a challenge to master. So if you have 15 minutes or an hour-long break, there is a game for you!