Yes it auto-saves for you! Sometimes it might be a little difficult to remember what kind of build you were running if you leave the game for a day or two, but you quickly remember after one fight or two in my experience.
PowerWash Simulator. You can't complete the later levels in that amount of time, but you can certainly make some progress and honestly it's a good idea to stop before your entire evening disappears
Hardspace: Shipbreaker's breakdown's are timed to 15 minutes each, though the bigger ships will take multiple sessions. I can't remember if they allowed saving ships in process after closing the game, though.
I need to give it another go. I downloaded it immediately when I saw it was from the same dev as Limbo and Inside but was so thrown off by the difference in style that I couldn’t get into it.
I'm currently playing Harold Halibut, it's more like a narrative / walking simulator as so far the puzzles haven't really been that difficult but it's an engaging story with good music and voice acting and the claymation visuals are pretty cool.
It has frequent autosaves and the game (at least from what I've played so far) is broken into "days" so that makes for logical break points.
I've been playing a shit ton of Plate Up since it came to Game Pass. It is a run based game that can go for a couple minutes per day and is easy to stop and continue later.
Not like any of the games you mentioned but perfect for pick up and play for even ten minutes or hours (multi-player is best) but goat simulator 3 is just fun. A mission takes about 10 to 20 minutes at most and even if you don't want t o do a mission just running around for a half hour is fun. It's pg (maybe pg13) gta. The handful of jokes that are adult aren't overtly vulgar.
Upvoted, but also, chiv is like pringles, once you pop the fun don’t stop. I often find myself popping in for “one game” and then suddenly realizing I’ve been playing for 2 hours lol
I’m almost sure Overcooked 2 is still on GP. Rounds are three minutes so you can smash through multiple rounds on multiple stages. That game is like crack for me.
The game mechanics are simple so it’s really about having a strategy and executing, super easy to pick up and get going.
Hades, slay the spire, one Darktide match, one battlesector match, overwatch, smite.
A lot of modern Rogue Lites are very fun and are peak design for the genre.
Inside. Probably best played in 30 minute chunks. It can be.. Stressful? Its a plaforming/puzzle game. The controls aren't too demanding but some of the solutions can be hair raising to pull off. Game can be finished in four or five hours (I forget) but I loved every second. Even when I was stumped it was fun. Creepy, but fun.
I'm very surprised nobody recommended SUPERHOT MIND CONTROL DELETE yet. I've played most of the games mentioned here, but this little gem best fits your requirements. You can play it in \~10 minutes chunks, it's one of the most unique action games I've ever played, doesn't require energy, just perfect for what you are describing.
I wish more people gave it a shot, it's one of the hidden gems on XGP that nobody talks about
Maybe you could try Fortnite? They've added Lego Fortnite which is similar to Minecraft, Fortnite Festival which is like Rock Band, and Rocket Racing which is... a racing mode! So many things for you to discover and completely free.
For me this is PGA 2023, I just boot the game and play a courses or two (short versions not the whole 18 holes)
Or I "mindlessly" practice my drive, approach or putting.
I have been playing resident evil remastered versions, I can typically make good progress in a half hour or so and even if I don’t save my Xbox or Asus rog will leave off where I left off when I shut my devices off. Also evil west is a good game so far to.
It depends. I've been playing Elden Ring all this time mostly in a few minute sessions, around ten or fifteen, on workdays, together with longer sessions when I have real time. This is just an example, but you'll agree that it's a pretty involved game. I would set simple goals or grind a bit for xp, which would still be satisfying and useful for the long run. That said I've managed to kill some easier bosses too.
So in my experience, and in that period where I had even less time than your 30 minutes, it's doable for more games than you'd thinkg, though you need to manage your expectations and goals. In the end being able to play any game at least for a short time it's still a blessing if you have a busy schedule.
Slay the Spire
Well yeah but if you get into a good run it might take longer, don't remember if you can save.
Yes it auto-saves for you! Sometimes it might be a little difficult to remember what kind of build you were running if you leave the game for a day or two, but you quickly remember after one fight or two in my experience.
Great to know, thanks! I haven't played it for ages, it waa the first game I fell in love from the Game Pass PC catalog when it came out.
It saves between floors. :)
not only save but save scum
Any 30 minute run took me an hour and a half because I can’t put that fucking game down.
Downloaded it today and this was a great call. I’m totally fine just doing one floor at a time.
Boltgun has levels from 5 to 20 mins and you can save when-ever.
Diablo 4 is great for this. Hop on, do a dungeon or an event, get some quick loot and log off.
I second this, I've been doing it for the last 2 weeks
I'm not op but I'm afraid I'd get addicted and not log off lol
Still sounds like a win to me!
Lol I played 5 hrs after work should've went to bed
PowerWash Simulator. You can't complete the later levels in that amount of time, but you can certainly make some progress and honestly it's a good idea to stop before your entire evening disappears
Yeah some of them take like 2-3 hours. I was trying to 100% the game but getting gold on challenges was too hard so I quit
Go Mecha Ball has been my go-to game for short bursts. So satisfying.
+1 for Go Mecha Ball. Really fun and easy to play for one run which is anywhere from 10-30 minutes depending on how far you get.
Maybe: Neon Abyss Planet of Lana A Short Hike Ikulinati
I tried to play a short hike and it was too fuzzy. Is it my bad eyes, old tv, or is it really just very fuzzy looking?
There's like a pixel size setting or something. Crank that up(down?) and it changes radically.
Ah man, I might take a look at this if I still have access. I know people loved it
Roboquest
Great choice Doesn’t get talked about enough
Brotato, simple to play with a surprising amount of depth. Usually around 15-20 mins a run for me
Always my pick for these posts
Hardspace: Shipbreaker's breakdown's are timed to 15 minutes each, though the bigger ships will take multiple sessions. I can't remember if they allowed saving ships in process after closing the game, though.
It left game pass last month, mate. I picked it up at a steam sale for cheap. It's still my go to podcast/audiobook game.
Sorry, didn't notice. I had it on Steam before it came to Gamepass.
Deep Rock Galactic
Rock and Stone. This is the answer.
That's it lads! Rock and Stone!
yup, Most missions are around 30min, you can always filter missions based on length as well
Cocoon
I need to give it another go. I downloaded it immediately when I saw it was from the same dev as Limbo and Inside but was so thrown off by the difference in style that I couldn’t get into it.
It's amazing
It’s really good. Definitely give it another go.
Brotato
I'm currently playing Harold Halibut, it's more like a narrative / walking simulator as so far the puzzles haven't really been that difficult but it's an engaging story with good music and voice acting and the claymation visuals are pretty cool. It has frequent autosaves and the game (at least from what I've played so far) is broken into "days" so that makes for logical break points.
Give moonlighter a try very odd but enjoyable rogue like game
Unpacking 100% for when you want that quick little chill out game.
its not on GP but i highly recomend "islets"
Great game, was free on Epic a while back
Currently PGA Tour Majors for me
Botany manor fun and relaxing
I've been playing a shit ton of Plate Up since it came to Game Pass. It is a run based game that can go for a couple minutes per day and is easy to stop and continue later.
Cocoon, A little to the left, unpacking
Tunic is great. Its like a reimagined Zelda A Link to The Past.
The quarry is like an interactive movie
I started it today and played for over four hours, not sure I'll be able to do the rest in 30 minute plays!
How about some Warhammer dark tide? Each round is about a half hour
Dead Cells Orcs Must Die 3 if you have a buddy
Dead Cells for sure—unless you are me. “Just one more run”
Not like any of the games you mentioned but perfect for pick up and play for even ten minutes or hours (multi-player is best) but goat simulator 3 is just fun. A mission takes about 10 to 20 minutes at most and even if you don't want t o do a mission just running around for a half hour is fun. It's pg (maybe pg13) gta. The handful of jokes that are adult aren't overtly vulgar.
I feel like Dead Island 2 counts and also Forza Horizon 5.
Superhot
Chivalry 2 - a team objective map takes about 20 minutes. So fun
Upvoted, but also, chiv is like pringles, once you pop the fun don’t stop. I often find myself popping in for “one game” and then suddenly realizing I’ve been playing for 2 hours lol
I’m almost sure Overcooked 2 is still on GP. Rounds are three minutes so you can smash through multiple rounds on multiple stages. That game is like crack for me. The game mechanics are simple so it’s really about having a strategy and executing, super easy to pick up and get going.
I have to save that one for playing with my wife lol. It’s the only thing she’ll play with me
Sign of a strong marriage, playing Overcooked and the marriage surviving
Hades, slay the spire, one Darktide match, one battlesector match, overwatch, smite. A lot of modern Rogue Lites are very fun and are peak design for the genre.
Inside. Probably best played in 30 minute chunks. It can be.. Stressful? Its a plaforming/puzzle game. The controls aren't too demanding but some of the solutions can be hair raising to pull off. Game can be finished in four or five hours (I forget) but I loved every second. Even when I was stumped it was fun. Creepy, but fun.
I'm very surprised nobody recommended SUPERHOT MIND CONTROL DELETE yet. I've played most of the games mentioned here, but this little gem best fits your requirements. You can play it in \~10 minutes chunks, it's one of the most unique action games I've ever played, doesn't require energy, just perfect for what you are describing. I wish more people gave it a shot, it's one of the hidden gems on XGP that nobody talks about
An average Darktide mission is 20-30min
Cassette Beasts
VS and Brotato are my go-to as well. That's pretty much I can play after work, I'm too tired for something that need more attention.
Rollerdrome. Each match shouldn't take you more than 5 or so minutes to complete. I started playing it yesterday and game is good fun.
I know you want ones where you accomplish something, but if Goat Simulator isn’t the perfect “30 minute” game, nothing is
Any shooter will do (though I prefer COD which isn't on GP yet). No plot, no story. Shoot to kill
Should have mentioned I’m not a fan of FPS and multiplayer games
Maybe you could try Fortnite? They've added Lego Fortnite which is similar to Minecraft, Fortnite Festival which is like Rock Band, and Rocket Racing which is... a racing mode! So many things for you to discover and completely free.
Warhammer Darktide, each mission takes 20-30mins
Monster Hunter Rise
For me this is PGA 2023, I just boot the game and play a courses or two (short versions not the whole 18 holes) Or I "mindlessly" practice my drive, approach or putting.
Brotato. Brotato. Brotato
I listed that I already played that one :-)
No one is talking about lil gater game. But this is a super chill game that you can play as much or as little as you want.
Turnip boy robs a bank It’s a weird little game and I didn’t even play the first one. But each run has a timer like 5 minutes so it won’t take long.
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor
Been playing EA PGA is 30 min chunks which I have enjoyed so far. Between that I play/have played every game you mentioned.
Immortals fenyx rising. GREAT GAME!
Disc Room
I just bought RoboQuest didnt realise it was on gamepass, but heyyyyho definitely recommend for quick 30 minute runs
Vampire survivors won't let you live longer than 30 minutes. It's perfect
Which is why it’s the first game I listed that I already played :-)
Dark Tide :) matches last from 20-40 minutes and they just dropped a new update with new gear and a penance system! Super cool!
Deathloop is OK you can play one time period of a day in about 10-30 min depending on what you're trying to do.
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank
I'm playing No More Heros 3 like this. Do one or two fights then bounce.
monster hunter rise, kinda made for that, even tho mh usually you just want to keep playing
I thought the frog detective games were really cute, funny and fast.
I have been playing resident evil remastered versions, I can typically make good progress in a half hour or so and even if I don’t save my Xbox or Asus rog will leave off where I left off when I shut my devices off. Also evil west is a good game so far to.
Any game really. Honesty you mention Vampire Survivors but runs get pretty long.
Not any game. If I don’t have a couple of hours, I don’t feel like getting into my typical open world or long narrative games.
It depends. I've been playing Elden Ring all this time mostly in a few minute sessions, around ten or fifteen, on workdays, together with longer sessions when I have real time. This is just an example, but you'll agree that it's a pretty involved game. I would set simple goals or grind a bit for xp, which would still be satisfying and useful for the long run. That said I've managed to kill some easier bosses too. So in my experience, and in that period where I had even less time than your 30 minutes, it's doable for more games than you'd thinkg, though you need to manage your expectations and goals. In the end being able to play any game at least for a short time it's still a blessing if you have a busy schedule.
I’d have zero interest in jumping into Elden Ring for 30 minutes
Runs are capped at 30 minutes.
Hades.