Space fleets, diesel-era mechs, dark fantasy, tanks and a farm. Publisher and launch year are on every card.
Editor's pick
Space action MMO
Fly a starship for one of three companies, hunt aliens for cargo and fight other pilots on contested maps. Lasers, rockets, shields and drones are upgraded piece by piece, so a ship built over a month looks nothing like a newcomer's.
Mech strategy
Set in the alternate 1920s of the Iron Harvest universe. You build a base, research walking war machines and send them against other players on a shared world map. Your alliance matters more here than solo skill.
Fantasy action RPG
Hack-and-slash in the world of Dracania. Pick a dragonknight, ranger, spellweaver or steam mechanicus, clear dungeons with a group and chase set items. Combat is fast and click-driven, close to Diablo.
Turn-based RPG
City building with turn-based hero battles. You recruit troops, raise sylphs and take part in scheduled guild events. It suits players who enjoy planning a line-up more than fast reflexes.
Space strategy
The oldest game on the list. Mine metal, crystal and deuterium, research drives, build fleets and decide whether to raid your neighbours or trade with them. A universe runs for months, so steady play beats long sessions.
Comedy RPG
A cartoon RPG that pokes fun at its own genre. The tavern hands out absurd quests that take a few real minutes, and you level up a hero, a fortress and an underworld. Easy on hardware and on your evening.
2D fantasy MMORPG
Hand-drawn 2D fantasy with new story chapters arriving most weeks for well over a decade. You can switch classes whenever you like, and seasonal events bring back limited gear every year.
Tank arena shooter
Short multiplayer matches with tanks assembled from a hull, a turret and a drone. Modes include deathmatch, team battles and capture the flag. A round takes a few minutes, which fits a lunch break.
Farm management
Grow crops, raise animals and turn raw goods into products for the market. Co-ops let you work towards shared goals with other farmers. The pace is calm, and logging in once a day costs you nothing.
If you only have a few minutes a day, start with the slower games, OGame, Wartune and Big Farm, where building and growing carry on between visits. If you want action from the first minute, look at Tanki Online, Drakensang Online and DarkOrbit. AdventureQuest Worlds and Shakes & Fidget sit in between: both are cartoon-style and easy to pick up. Whichever you choose, create the account on the publisher's own site and read its age limit and its rules on in-game purchases first.