As gamers, we probably all have a somewhat addictive personality. That competitive streak we all possess in at least some quantity drives us to obsess over higher scores, better items, more achievements and an overarching desire to win.
This is why games like World of Warcraft and Super Meat Boy are successful. The former dangles the carrot of greater success and power, while the latter frustrates you into a manic desire to beat it. That innocuous looking percentage-completion indicator is actually a dangerous tool at the hands of any gaming developer. Every gamer, even if he does not reach 100%, always promises him/herself that they will, one day. Just as soon as they unlock every weapon in Call of Duty, and get their Troll Shaman to level 80…
If your current addiction burden isn’t enough, read below. Otherwise, I advise you to turn away immediately.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
Dracula’s Riddle
This is one of those games that makes you bang your head repeatedly against your desk, but you can’t repress that intense desire to beat it. The game is essentially a series of puzzles and riddles, but the execution is what makes it so engaging.
Every puzzle involves trying to find the next page by figuring out the answer and typing it into your browser. Get the correct word and the URL will take you to the next riddle. Be warned – this isn’t The Magic School Bus. These puzzles are tough, and involve checking the webpage source code for clues, finding hidden zip file URLs with additional information, maxing the brightness on a picture to show up hidden text and often a lot of google searching and wikipedia sifting. The effort and ingenuity put into it is enough to keep you frustrated entertained for hours. Just don’t feel bad if you’re already stuck on the 2nd puzzle.
Winterbells
Turn back. You don’t want to read this. Go directly to the next game, do not pass Go, do not collect 200 hours of therapy.
You’re still here? Okay…
This game is basic in concept, yet insanely addictive. The promise of an infinite score (literally) means you’ll constantly be trying to beat your best. And when you finally break 200,000 and jump up and fist pump the air, stay away from google. You don’t want a search to reveal scores of 40 million achieved by others. This will only crush your spirit momentarily, before you decide you’ll get 50 million and be a hero of the internet.
But you’ll probably just end up like these guys:
The choice now lies with you.
Desktop Tower Defense
No list would be complete without this long-surviving staple of addictive games – Tower Defense. Almost always created as a custom map in RTS games (usually with hundreds of variations) and more recently in a successful stand-alone game (Plants vs Zombies), TD has been a black hole for otherwise productive hours of tme.
And this one is free. While of course I would never play this at work, a friend of a friend who’s married to a cousin of an uncle who was a friend’s cousin’s cellmate in a white-collar crime prison told me that that would be an awesome thing to do.
“Hey man, not much, just chilling, you? Wait, what? What do you mean it’s Tuesday?”
Dolphin Olympics
At least with Dracula’s riddle, you feel like you’re being mentally challenged. You can rationalise to yourself that you’re at least undergoing mental stimulation, or learning fascinating trivia about vampires and the underworld.
There is no such rationlisation for Dolphin Olympics. It’s a lot like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, except instead of a pro skater, you’re a dolphin. And instead of using ramps, you’re using schools of fish. And instead of-
OK, it’s nothing like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. It does, however, have the plague of scores, and be warned – you’ll be delving into the “advanced tactics” (yes, it has one) section within the hour to try and up yours.
Don’t try this combo at home, kids. I own you at Dolphin Olympics.
Popoint
This game is designed to test your reflexes and accuracy, and is often used by Starcraft players and FPS gamers to improve these skills. The game is simple in concept – click numbered boxes, in order, as quickly as possible.
In practice, you’ll be cursing your impossibly slow hands for not moving as quickly as you want them to. Frustrating as it is, its great practice for almost any game. Can you get under 4 seconds?
If you’re still here
I hope you enjoy these free games as much as I do. It’s refreshing to get into some “casual” games once in a while, it’s a good reminder that not everything fun requires 5870s in Crossfire or a console that costs 1000s of rand.
Are you addicted to a flash game? Share your high scores below, and let’s see who is the best (or who’s gone the longest without showering or eating).
Know of any worthy additions to this list? << Let us know in the forums
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