Games with the best minigames

Minigames are part of larger titles practically from the start of gameplay. Having simple fun is a great way to take a break from the main journey, but some of these mini-games are so addicting that many players find themselves playing them more than the actual story.

Many games try to incorporate real-world activities into card games or other core pieces of side content, while others have invented entirely new games that players can enjoy for hours. It doesn't matter if players are fishing at a lake or competing with NPCs in some friendly competition; sometimes the story just has to wait.

8

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Taking a break from searching and killing

Details:

• Gwent card game with collectibles and fully unique mechanics

• Smaller games like fist fights and horse races

The Witcher 3 is often considered one of the best RPGs in the world, but when players want to take a break from the intense action, they can spend a few leisurely hours playing a card game in space, Gwent. More than just poker or blackjack, the game offers a full trading card experience, suitable for building decks and finding rare cards so players can do something else in the world.

The game is incredibly accessible and easy to pick up, and it won't take long for players to become invested in a completely different environment than outside the walls of the pub. Rather than forcing you into the main game, it works as a natural side activity that can be enjoyed for many more hours before returning to the main story.

7

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Everything you could want from an island getaway

Details:

• Everything from racing to karaoke

• A full-fledged island simulator built into the game

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is practically a minigame simulator. There's an insane amount of side content for players to fill their time with, but none of it feels like last-second inserts; rather large-scale games and challenges that can keep them busy for much longer than the actual main quests.

Each activity features a series of progression trees, unlockables, and long-term goals for players to strive for. Above them all is the iconic island of Dondoko, where players can step away from everything and manage an entire piece of land, slowly creating a five-star hotel where they forget they're playing a simulator within the larger main game.

6

Fallout 4

Minigames In the palm of your hand

Details:

• Simple games available through Pip-Boy

• Based on real games from the 1980s

Fallout 4 it gives players so much to do in one game, but if the wasteland ever gets too overwhelming, they can simply look down at their wrist and watch the hours tick by. Holotape games take direct inspiration from real-world examples such as Donkey Kong and Space Invadersonly with a signature Fallout twist.

What makes the games so cool is the fact that players need to find them all over the world. They aren't gifted with a full roster from the start and instead have to dare to unlock each one over time. However, once they finally have them, it can be hard to get back into the world due to the addictive nature of the pixelated classics.

5

Final Fantasy 10

Racing and underwater sports

Details:

• Blitzball is playable worldwide

• Different characters can be recruited for the game

Final Fantasy 10 is remembered for many things, such as its emotional storytelling and exceptional turn-based combat, but Blitzball brilliantly derails the player's focus more than any main quest ever could. What begins as a mandatory story sequence opens up into a full sports league with recruiting, stat development and longer-term team management, adding another world of depth to an already expansive game.

Players find themselves routinely pausing their entire gameplay just to skate out of some games underwater, with some even spending more time on the mini-game than the actual story. Residue FF franchise has plenty of other side games to enjoy such as Triple Triad in FF8but Blitzball remained at the top of most players' charts for many years.

4

Stardew Valley

Soothing escapes from an already soothing world

Details:

• Basic activities like fishing feel like complete minigames

• Arcade with other games along with rewards

Stardew Valleyin a sense, the game is about completing several smaller minigames over and over again. Cozy fishing on the pier, simple dungeon crawling, everything becomes an addictive progression loop that can keep the player invested for countless hours.

But outside of the main mechanics, players can venture into the arcade and play games like Journey of the Prairie King or Jumino Kart, giving them a completely different experience from the main loop. These mini-games can often take up a huge amount of time, and players will find themselves spending much more time in these miniature worlds than in the actual village.

3

It takes two

Enough games to fill an entire evening

Details:

• Smaller games are scattered throughout the story

• Both co-op and PvP options for every player

It takes two is a love letter to co-op gaming that sends players on an adorable journey full of smaller games that tie the story together perfectly. But along the way, they will encounter side activities that can easily eat up a lot of time without the players even realizing it.

Whack-a-mol variants and PvP shootouts are just a few of these quirky little additions that prove to be just as fun as the main story. Some require teamwork, while others pit players against each other in a test of skill and reflexes, allowing players to feel mentally tested even as they deviate from the actual plot.

2

Red Dead Redemption 2

A cowboy's life

Details:

• Playing poker for in-game currency

• Meaningful incentives for good gaming

Red Dead Redemption 2 takes players on a true adventure of a lifetime, but even if you step away from the horse chases and intense gunfights, players will still feel invested in the world on a smaller scale. Players can easily walk into a bar and play some cards for a few extra bucks, but money is only half the incentive for many who simply enjoy the minigames themselves.

There are even a few other games for players to discover, such as dominoes and Five Finger Fillet, which add even more things to do outside of driving through the countryside. These quiet moments can quickly disappear for an entire gaming session, and the gambling side of things becomes secondary to the thrill of winning with the perfect hand.

1

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess

A single cast is all it takes to get through

Details:

• Fishing with surprising depth

• Other games like snowboarding are just as playable

The Legend of Zelda has always been known for having some of the best minigames, especially the fishing found in most of its titles, and Princess Twilight there is no other. Mini-games are embedded right into the fabric of the experience, and players will easily find themselves drawn into the deeply engaging mechanics each one offers.

They also never feel like unfinished add-ons, but fully polished standalone minigames. Fishing brings with it depth in terms of lures and different locations, Clawshot challenges become a test of movement knowledge, and despite the epic quest ahead, players will likely spend most of their time enjoying the extensive side content.