Guides & Editorials

The best short and snackable games for time-poor gamers

If you’re hungry for top-quality games but are feeling time-starved, never fear – here’s a selection of bite-sized games that will keep you thoroughly sated. 

Compact games based on popular series

Spend a moment with familiar faces

Enjoy condensed experiences from big-name franchises that still pack a mighty punch.

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Experience Naughty Dog’s thrilling, cinematic storytelling and the iconic franchise’s largest blockbuster action set pieces at your own pace. While this collection contains two huge adventures spread across locations around the globe, the action unfolds chapter-by-chapter, making them perfect for short, rewarding play sessions.

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Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

Sega’s popular Like A Dragon series (also known as Yakuza) is known for its hard-hitting and varied blend of storytelling, beat ‘em up thrills and playful minigames. All of that is here in a punchy side story that respects your time, whether you’re after some heart-pounding action or just a little karaoke crooning.

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Sonic Superstars

Need some classic 2D action platforming, but gotta go fast? There’s only one hedgehog for the job. This all-new take on the classic formula introduces drop-in, drop-out local multiplayer for up to four speedsters, allowing Sonic, Tails, Amy and Knuckles to team up and take on Dr Eggman and Fang the Hunter.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge 

Craving some fun arcade-style brawling but need it delivered quicker than takeout pizza? Then only the funky-yet-fearsome foursome will do. Mixing the colourful visuals of the irresistible ‘80s cartoon series with modern combat mechanics, this short and incredibly sweet fighter lets you kick some shell from New York to Dimension X.

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Games that can be played in short sessions

Get straight into the action

Skip the cinematics - just pick up and play these sessionable greats.

Street Fighter 6

Battle for the streets whenever you want in the latest of Capcom’s classic fighting series, that’s ideal for dipping in whenever you fancy a quick virtual scrap. If you don’t have time for the expansive World Tour, the speedy and accessible local, online and arcade modes are the ultimate hit for veterans and newcomers alike.

Tempted by more throwdowns? Discover a variety of other time-friendly fighting games in our guide to the best fighting games on PS5 and PS4.

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Fall Guys

If you only have a few minutes to maximize your playtime, Fall Guys is a fast, fun and free-to-play party game that you can quickly tumble into. Whether you’re alone or with friends, you can blitz through its hilariously punishing obstacle courses in mere minutes.

Tackle a whole range of other battle royale-inspired games on both PS5 and PS4 in this comprehensive guide to the best battle royale titles.

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Spelunky 2

Can you survive the perils of the Moon in Derek Yu’s award-winning roguelike 2D platformer? With deadly traps, brutal enemies and the ever-present danger of a self-inflicted demise, your average run will probably only take a few minutes – but you’re guaranteed to have a blast every single time.

Need more procedurally generated adventures in your life? Explore the guide to some of the greatest roguelikes on PlayStation. 

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Rocket League

Speed your way into a fast-paced sports game that blends the basics of arcade football with high-powered cars for a unique and utterly compelling experience. Setting up a quick game is easy, and as Rocket League is free to play it’s already primed to go whenever you are.

Download your fill of the best free-to-play games available on PlayStation Store, with this handy guide by your side. 

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Low-investment games for PlayStation VR2

Take a break from reality 

Become instantly immersed in these low-commitment PS VR2 standouts.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

Set foot in the exciting wilds of Guerilla Games’ captivating world of animalistic machines and tribal lore. Come face to face with Aloy and other returning characters as you embark on an immersive adventure full of quests, secrets and encounters that will keep you on your toes.

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Moss: Book II

Aid Quill on her perilous quest from your god-like perspective as the Reader, thanks to PlayStation VR2. The brave mouse’s mission to restore peace to her land in this cute and multi-layered action-platformer is a brilliantly brisk journey of myth and magic, tailor-made for virtual reality. 

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Rez Infinite

Let the music take control in this mesmerizing shooter that quickly envelops you within a multi-sensory experience. Best enjoyed with PS VR2, Rez Infinite’s synaesthesia-inspired world enraptures you in a way that makes the most of your time in a spectacular blitz of beats and blasting. 

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Pistol Whip

With a playtime similar to the length of cinema’s best action movies, this arcade shooter transforms on-rails blasting into a musical performance that will get your heart pumping. Given a dazzling PlayStation VR2 update, Pistol Whip blends rhythm action with intense physical gunplay, testing your ability to aim accurately while keeping your trigger-squeezing on-beat.

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Original games for solo players

Short on time; high on invention

These single-player gems deliver an immediate hit of creativity and innovation.

Sifu

Become the martial arts master of a lifetime against countless enemies, where survival by any means is paramount. Seek violent vengeance in the mid-length story mode or, if you've only got a few minutes to spare, showcase your kung fu skills against the clock in Time Attack.

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Stray

Cat lovers rejoice – Stray is a beautifully crafted cyberpunk-influenced adventure that lets you explore a walled cybercity as only a brave kitty can.  Befriend a friendly drone and keep your nine lives intact against a variety of robotic and mutant threats as your tabby hero attempts to find their way back to their family.

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Jusant

Discover the secrets of a civilization devastated by drought as you scale a colossal tower accompanied by a mysterious creature made of water. Jusant is best played at your own pace as you plot your climbing routes, piece together its touching narrative and find peace within its mellow soundscape.

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Cocoon

Experience an enthralling and ingenious puzzler that transports you across worlds within worlds. Intricate brainteasers are at the core of this alien adventure that knows exactly when to ramp up the tension and the challenge on its succinct, mind-bending trek.

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Episodic games

Enjoy big series in short bursts

Tackle boxset-style stories with cliffhangers that will have you coming back for more. 

Hitman World of Assassination

Suit up as the genetically engineered Agent 47 and take down the most dangerous syndicates on the planet with Hitman, Hitman 2 and Hitman 3. Don’t worry if you’ve only got time for few hits in this spy thriller - each killer episode is a mini sandbox that can be beaten in a few entertaining hours, and replayed endlessly.

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The Dark Pictures Anthology 

Creep into a world of horror that’s up there with the best in the genre. Four thrilling adventures await: Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes and The Devil in Me, each around five to seven hours long. If you don’t want to play alone, a couple of multiplayer modes can help share the scares.

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Life is Strange Remastered Collection

Experience an award-winning emotional drama of choice and consequence in two heart-wrenching and fully remastered adventures: Life is Strange and its prequel Before the Storm. Each adventure’s episodes take a few hours each to complete, creating perfect bite-sized chunks of play.

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The Expanse: A Telltale Series

Explore the masterful sci-fi thriller world of The Expanse across five playable episodes. Each one clocks in at around the length of a typical TV show, which means you can fit this compelling adventure game around other commitments without any hassle.

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Acclaimed indie games that are under five hours long

Compact and highly commended 

Uncover a collection of creative experiences that will leave a lasting impression.

Viewfinder

Reshape the world around you with your magical camera in hand and play with perspective in this clever, accessible first-person puzzle adventure. Photos, paintings, postcards, sketches and screenshots are all at your command, in a stress-free experience that works to your pace. 

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The Artful Escape

Help teen guitar prodigy Francis find his identity via a psychedelic journey that explores the weight of expectations and the power of music. With a star-studded cast that includes Jason Schwartzman, Lena Headey and Carl Weathers, this memorable experience transports you across its dreamlike musical landscape with the succinct snappiness of a delightful double album.

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What Remains of Edith Finch 

An award-winning classic that delves into the mysterious history of family deaths to bring new meaning to Edith’s life. Each brisk chapter of the Finch family’s story is structured in a way that is easy to come back to – and you’ll definitely want to return every time. 

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Toem

Cosy up with a magical, hand-drawn expedition that’s as much about the journey as it is about reaching the summit of a legendary mountain. Toem’s relaxing and measured pace rewards you for taking your time, so you’ll get the most out of this short and very sweet adventure of friendship, photography and exploration.

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PlayStation 5 accessories

PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player for PS5® console

Feel the power of PlayStation in the palm of your hand1. The PlayStation Portal Remote Player is the ideal solution for anyone trying to find time to play games installed on their PS5 console2, even when they're nowhere near the TV.

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1. PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player can stream compatible games installed on your PS5 console. PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player requires broadband internet Wi-Fi with at least 5Mbps for use. For a better play experience, a high-speed connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended. The quality and connectivity of your play experience may vary depending on your network environment. A PS5 console and account for PlayStation Network is required. The PS5 console must be connected to a broadband internet connection, powered on fully or in Rest Mode, and it must be paired with your PlayStation Portal™ Remote Player.
 

2. Games that require a VR headset (PlayStation VR or PlayStation VR2) or additional peripherals (other than a DUALSHOCK 4, DualSense, or DualSense Edge wireless controller) are not compatible. Games that must be streamed on PS5 using a PS Plus Premium membership are not compatible. Haptic feedback and adaptive trigger features available when supported by game.