Video games are a great distraction from the tedium of everyday life, and minigames are an even better distraction from the tedium of video games. Sometimes you want to get lost in an open world, but mostly you just want to pretend you’re doing something of value while you play cards or whatever. Here are the top 10 minigames that are way more fun than the actual games themselves.
#10: Red Dead Redemption 2 — Poker
Red Dead 2’s poker is a break-neck change of pace from the monotony of spending seven minutes watching Arthur pick up and inspect three cans of corn. It’s easy to spend ages in the various saloons and other venues, trying to clean out every table you see.
#9: Animal Crossing — Excitebike
Animal Crossing had several NES games as placeable decorations that allow the player to do something amazing – briefly forget they’re playing a game as boring as Animal Crossing. Sure, Excitebike isn’t the most engaging game in the world, but it’s better than being in debt to a raccoon.
#8: Sonic Adventure — Chao Garden
The Sonic Adventure games allow you to raise a bunch of cute little fellas. What more could you ask for?
#7: Final Fantasy VIII — Triple Triad
Triple Triad is the only reason to return to Final Fantasy VIII today. Who cares about the messy plot twist when you could spend an unreasonable amount of your time collecting every card available?
#6: Tekken 7 — Tekken Bowl
Admit it. You bought Tekken 7, lost a couple dozen ranked matches, and only ever played bowling from then on. We all did. Fortunately, it’s actually a really good bowling minigame. And who doesn’t like watching Tekken characters have a fun time bowling together?
#5: Super Mario 64 DS — Picture Poker
Picture Poker is not all too different from the poker available in Red Dead 2, with one major difference — you play against Luigi. His presence causes this to rocket up the list. Every casino would be better if Luigi was the dealer all the time.
#4: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — Queen’s Blood
Final Fantasy just has a knack for card games, and Queen’s Blood is addictive. There’s not much more to say. You can spend so much time collecting cards, losing to NPCs that are way too difficult, and coming back hours later to get your revenge.
#3: Ocarina of Time — Fishing
Trying to catch the largest fish on original hardware will result in you destroying your hands on the terrible thumbstick and generally poor ergonomics of the N64 controller, but that’s okay. Saving Hyrule can wait because I have more fish to catch.
#2: The Witcher 3 — Gwent
Gwent is the classic answer when someone asks about minigames. So many memes have been spawned about Geralt asking to play Gwent that it almost seems like nobody actually cares about the main story of The Witcher.
#1: Final Fantasy VII — snowboarding
Girlfriend just died? Boy, do I have the activity for you: extreme snowboarding. Nothing will take your mind off the crushing pain of loss like doing some sick flips on the slopes. I bet Cloud could’ve gone pro if he didn’t have to waste his time saving the world.
