Simmiland
Nurture a civilisation with your divine powers, represented as a deck
of godly cards you build before each round. Your influence is indirect- you change the landscape and add objects to the environment,
and your worshippers react accordingly. You can get through the
whole of human history in an afternoon.
Pupper Park
You’re a bendy dog let loose for ten minutes to wrestle sticks away
from other dogs, drag frogs out of the pond, and play basketball.
There are bones to find, but mostly you woof about while the human
who threw a ball minutes ago looks on bewildered. It’s really the
most authentic dog park experience you could have.Bernband
An explore-’em-up set in a moody alien city, Bernband is a joy to get
lost in. It’s a pure walking sim, in that it’s all you do. You can wander
under flying cars, hit up a space nightclub, and experience a
snapshot of alien life. The 2014 original is free, and a new one has
been in development for a while.Doler
You’re a mouse trapped in a spooky, swampy maze, and your goal is
to find the exit somewhere in the darkness. Collect items that help
you against foes and eat crumbs of food to stay alive. You can also
leave little poos with notes like ‘not this way’ to help your fellow
mouse/player in need to stay on the right path.Soko Loco
Deluxe
This miniature train tycoon game
hides a surprisingly deep
management sim underneath its
cute pixel art aesthetic. Across 20
randomly generated levels – and
many more, thanks to the scenario
editor – you have to construct a
railway empire, deliver cargo, and
nurture little towns. It’s one of
Sokpop’s larger games, but it still
feels like a bite-sized game you can
dip into for 20 minutes.FEATURE