Games to Play at Work: Short Free Browser Games for Your Break

A short break can be good for you, and a few minutes with a puzzle can be a much better reset than scrolling through a feed. The ideal break game is quiet, needs no install, and can be left at any moment without losing anything. It should also be short enough that five minutes really does mean five minutes. This guide covers the games that fit that description, and how to take a break without it turning into an hour. Do check your employer's rules first, since workplaces vary.

What makes a good break game

Not every good game suits a short break. A fast shooter leaves you wound up, and a long strategy game is hard to walk away from. The best choices have short rounds, work silently, need no account, and let you pause or leave without penalty. Since browser games need no installation, they also avoid the problem of adding software to a work computer, which many companies do not allow. Our guide to browser games for low-end laptops covers games that run comfortably on modest machines.

Number and logic games

Number puzzles are a popular choice because they are quiet, absorbing and easy to stop. Easy Sudoku Puzzle is the obvious first pick, with hints and undo to keep things moving, and a single easy grid fits nicely into a coffee break. Connect The Dots is even quicker: you draw lines between matching dots and fill the grid, and each level takes just moments. If you have never tried sudoku, our how to play sudoku guide will have you going in a few minutes.

Word games

Word games give your brain something different to do, which is what a real break should feel like after a morning of spreadsheets. Daily Crossword Puzzle has themed puzzles and hints, and because you can leave a crossword half done, it is well suited to several short visits. Word Search Relax is even more relaxed, with no time limit, so you can just find a few words and stop. For more, have a look at our free word games guide.

Card and tile games

Solitaire has been the quintessential office game for decades, and for good reason: it is silent, familiar, and each deal takes just a few minutes. Classic Solitaire Card Puzzle follows the classic rules, and our how to play solitaire guide covers them if you have forgotten. Mahjong Blast offers a similar calm with tiles instead of cards, and Find the Differences gives you a quick visual challenge that makes a nice change from staring at text.

How to take a break that helps

• Choose in advance. Decide on one game before you start, because browsing for something new can eat the whole break.
• Set a timer. A phone alarm is much more reliable than promising yourself just one more level.
• Prefer games with a clear end. A finished grid or a completed deal is a natural moment to stop.
• Avoid games that make you angry. If a hard level is raising your blood pressure, it is not doing you any favours.
• Get up as well. Looking away from a screen and moving around for a minute or two does your eyes and back some good.
• Turn off the sound. Silent play is simply good manners in a shared office.

Playing on your phone

A personal phone is often the simplest solution. It keeps your break separate from your work computer, and nearly all of these games run happily with one hand. Open the site in your browser, add it to your home screen if you like, and you have a selection of short games ready without needing to install any apps. Our mobile browser games guide lists the games that work best on a small screen.

Choosing by how long you have

With two minutes, go for a level or two of a quick puzzle like Connect The Dots. With five, you have time for an easy sudoku or a hand of solitaire. With fifteen, a crossword or a few levels of water sort makes for a pleasant change of pace. Whatever you choose, the point is to return feeling a bit fresher than when you left. For more ideas, see relaxing games, free brain games and games to play when bored.

Why a short break can help

Long stretches of focus are tiring, and stepping away for a few minutes can leave you better able to return to a problem. Many people find that an answer they have been hunting for comes to them once they stop looking at it directly. A small puzzle works for this because it uses a different part of your attention from the task you have just left, and it ends quickly, so it does not compete with your work for long.

The key is keeping it short. A break works best when you come back from it on time and with a clear head, so choose something you can happily walk away from. If you ever find that you are still thinking about a level after you have returned to your desk, pick a simpler game next time.

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