So in honor of the hard work I'm putting in on other ventures, and I'm sure you're putting in, too. I decided to write a list of My Top Ten favorite casual games.
Before I get started though, things I conisder a caual game may be different from what you consider a casual game, so here's my definition: Any game that can be played for a period of time, with no clear goal that doesn't require a level grind to actually have fun (so no MMO's). That being said, here we go.
#10 - BlitzBall
The required introductory level to BlitzBall, most aren't so cinematic though
Ok, I know it's part of FFX and most people hate it, but I enjoy it for some absurd reason. Most matches only take about ten minutes, and as I have a save file specifically devoted to it, it's nice for me.
If you haven't played FFX, BlitzBall is a minigame built into that I can only describe as a mix between hockey and water polo. Once you have characters Wakka, Brother, and Keepa on your team, you're unstoppable, and it's a fun game if you have 15 minutes to kill.
#9 Peggle: World of Warcraft Edition
Combining the MMO giant with the casual game one was actually inspired in my book. It actually made Peggle interesting to me, and the fact that it's free...oh yeah, always nice. Ten levels and two characters makes it really only a demo, but it's a very interesting demo. If you've never tried out Peggle, it's worth a look. Especially, if you like WoW.
The fact that it's also playable in game with an add on increases it's worth in my opinion. On the long flight from Stranglethorn Vale to the Eastern Plaguelands, it's nice to have something to do.
#8 Pop Cap Arcade Vol. 1 (Bejewled 2)
One of my aunts has no understanding what a video game is, but she knows I like them...so when she saw this on the shelf at a local convenience store (yeah, I was kind of shocked, too), she picked it up for me. My other favorite on the disc, Zuma (which gets an honorable mention), is Puzzle Bobble but with the shooter in the center of the puzzle and the balls constantly moving toward one of two kill holes.
Bejeweled 2 is a puzzle game that wants you to fill a meter or clear a screen by collecting three or more jewels of the same color to blow them up. It's an interesting game, and has really interesting, but good, techno music to score it. I especially like the puzzle mode, where you have to clear a screen. It's very reminiscent of Yoshi's Cookie for the Game Boy's Puzzle mode.
#7 Solitaire/Free Cell
Windows Games suite has always been an interesting addition to the UI. I've always have just loaded up the game while waiting for something to load. If you're on a PC, you should know. It's the easiest and quickest way to kill a few moments.
#6 Rock Band
Now you may disagree that this is a casual game, but look up at my definition of casual games. There is no determinate end, and you can play a few songs, quit, feel happy, and that way you don't have a hurting hand later. I haven't ever obsessed over Rock Band or Guitar Hero, so I don't usally play above my skill ranges. However, if you find me as your singer on Live multiplayer...I'm gonna get a near perfect score save on songs just entirely out of my wheelhouse. It's fun just belting out a few tunes, and having a fun rest of the day with the song stuck in my head.
#5 FarmVille
A rather inocuous little farming simulator, but if you play it with friends, you can compete to who has the best farm. It doesn't require a lot of work to upkeep your farm, however, one can lose interest fairly quickly without the competition arrangement. I've also seen people use it to make sprite art, which is really cool if you can do it. However, I don't want to spend time making a Super Mario Sprite art with Corn, Blue Berries, and Strawberries. If you do...I'd love to see a picture of it.
#4 Puzzle Bobble/Bust-a-Move
Before I knew of the cute little dragons first game, Bubble Bobble, or even knew this one's real title, it was Bust-A-Move, a game in my local arcade. I loved the cute little dragons, and I was awesome at playing against someone. Then, I got it for the N64 and really got good playing against a nigh impossible to beat CPU.
The game works similar to other gem puzzles. Put three together and they blow up. Manage to put more together they blow up bigger. The simple goal was to clear the screen as fast as possible, not an easy task for these two little dragons, but one I became very deft at. If I wasn't afraid of some scrawny guly like Jared wanting to play strip Puzzle Bobble, I would want to play it in the arcade again.
#3 Arkanoid
I honestly woner how this game came about. I know it's a Breakout clone, but it was the first I ever saw with various types of puzzles to break out, which made it in infinitely better. The thing that makes me wonder about it's origin is that it had a story.
No, I'm serious. Arkanoid is the story of a space pilot trying to escape the mothership's bay in his little fighter. The little things that float around the puzzle are aliens or alien ships that are in the process of anihilating anything or anyone aboard the ship. That's pretty amazing if you think about it. Makes you wonder what they were talking about (or smoking) when they of htought of this.
#2 Tetris
Who hasn't played this classic title in some way or another? It traverses gaming generations with such ease. You don't care why you're doing it, you just know if the falling blocks touch the ceiling, you lose. If they've since added a story to the games, please let me know why they decided to ruin this classic.
But what could beat Tetris? I mean it's the greatest casual game ever, isn't it? Well, here's...
#1 Galaga
I've spent so many hours just trying to get to the final level of this game...it's that awesome. The first time I did it...I was so pissed off when it looped back to the first level, however, it's still one of my favorites. This was the first Shmup I played, but this is the only one that doesn't have a clear story or point to play except to enjoy yourself, and I do everytime I put it in my NES. If you haven't played this game, you're missing out on quite possibly the best shmup ever, even better than it's predecessor, Space Invaders.
So, that's my list of top ten casual games. I've included links to FarmVille and Peggle WoW edition if you'd like to try them out as they're both free. As for the others, you can find most of them in you local arcade or Xbox Live for the most part. Only BlitzBall and Rock Band truly require full purchases to play. Let me know what you think of them, and my list, and if you have any questions about it, please send them my way.
-Sara
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