Whether you’re grinding in an RPG or playing round after round of a multiplayer time killer, we can all think of a few games that suck up hours of our day. But what if you don’t have such a lengthy period of free time. Maybe you’ve got half an hour before you have to go to class, or only 15 minutes for lunch, or perhaps you get 20 minutes in before bed.
Sure you could try out one of the countless games on your phone, but that’s not what you’re looking for. You want a console quality experience, but in a bite sized proportion. Here are 5 console quality games, which are great in 15 minute chunks.
Player Unknowns: Battlegrounds
PUBG is an obvious answer. Depending on your skill level an average match can take 30 seconds to 30 minutes. You might wonder why we chose PUBG over countless other shooters. That’s because it isn’t really a shooter. At its core PUBG is a highly accessible survival game. You don’t have to read through paragraphs of information about needed resources, statuses to be aware of, and the best ways to grind. Simply jump in and choose your play style. Will you go in guns blazing, starting fights wherever you go, or will you hide in an abandoned home, your heart pounding every time you hear footsteps? Sure the game lacks polish (especially on Xbox), but it’s a great way to feel a gaming rush when you only have a short amount of time.
Gears of War 4
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m not a fan of Gears of War. What was once an intriguing step forward for the industry (Gears of War 1), has since become a derivative and dull gameplay experience, with an overplayed military plot line. Gears of War 4 does very little to spice up the traditional Gears formula. This was probably a strategic decision to ensure die hard fans of the series weren’t riled up. Yet it did little to draw in gamers like myself, who never connected with the Xbox exclusive. Ignoring this game entirely however, would be a massive mistake. The gameplay leaves much to be desired in extended playthroughs, but the impressive visuals and arguably massively improved story can’t be ignored. When played in short bursts, Gears of War 4 is great. The story will slowly progress day by day, and you’ll stop playing before you grow tired of the mechanics.
Evolve
Evolve had everything going for it. It was made by the developers behind the wildly successful Left 4 Dead series, it sported stunning visuals and tight gameplay, and to top it all off it had a unique premise to capture the public’s attention. So why did this game fail so monumentally, that it is virtually impossible to find an online match in 2019. Some might argue it was the egregious lack of content provided for $60 USD, but it was in fact a far more systematic problem. The four players (hunters) who fought the fifth player (the monster) had to work as a tight knit unit. It was crucial that every member of the team know their role and work to do their part. So if one player let the team down, the whole team fell. So why in the world would this game be good in 15 minute chunks? Well despite its very obvious issues, the rest of the game is fantastic. Maps are intelligently designed and populated with flora and fauna. Each individual hunter and monster is kitted out with unique gear and abilities, so experimenting with a new character each day in the games single player campaign (a short 20 minute experience meant to train players for online), can be a fun way to burn 15 minutes of free time. The best part is, you don’t have to rely on anyone else to have a good time.
Quiet Stories 
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