Guide: 11 Short Games You Can Finish in a Day

Not every game needs dozens of hours to make an impact. Sometimes, all it takes is a quiet afternoon, a pair of headphones, and a little curiosity.

These games can be completed in just a few hours (some in less than one) but they leave lasting impressions through their visuals, emotions, or thought-provoking ideas.

If you're looking for something short yet full of heart, this list is for you.

Florence (~40 minutes)

Platforms: iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Windows

Florence feels like an interactive poem about love, from its early sparks to the quiet after the end. You follow Florence Yeoh through small, everyday moments... brushing her teeth, falling in love, arguing, moving on.

The gameplay is soft and minimal, almost like flipping through a diary. There are no real challenges, just gentle gestures that bring a very personal story to life.

What makes Florence so moving is its tenderness. In under an hour, it captures how even fleeting relationships can leave a deep mark. When it ends, it feels like you’ve lived something real, like a memory, a season, a breath.

Landlord of the Woods (~1 hour)

Platforms: Windows, macOS

Imagine a strange little fairy tale where you’re not sure if you’re dreaming or having a quirky nightmare. Somehow, it still makes you smile.

In Landlord of the Woods, you step into a surreal world where cooking brains and chatting with oddball tenants feels oddly normal.

Its dark but cozy aesthetic feels like it was handmade by someone with a wildly creative imagination. A soft soundtrack and simple puzzles make it feel like thumbing through someone’s bizarre sketchbook.

It’s a bit odd: and that’s what makes it memorable. It may be short, but it leaves behind vivid impressions, like echoes from a dream you’re still trying to piece together.

Behind the Frame (~1 hour)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, iOS, Android, MacOS

With warm colors and a hand-drawn style that recalls Studio Ghibli, Behind the Frame is like painting on a rainy afternoon. You play as an artist who lives across from a quiet neighbor. As you hunt for paint tubes, you begin uncovering memories and feelings hidden in everyday moments.

The gameplay is made up of gentle puzzles and light exploration. Its relaxed pace feels like brewing coffee while soft music plays.

What lingers most is the sense of reflection: art as a way to remember, to heal, to connect. It’s a short game full of emotion, like a canvas you return to because it reminds you of something special.

Frog Detective 1: The Haunted Island (~1 hour)

Platforms: PlayStation, Switch, Windows, macOS

What if the most charming detective in the world was... a frog? That’s exactly what you get in Frog Detective: The Haunted Island: a silly mystery that’s endlessly delightful.

Your task is to uncover the source of spooky sounds on an island, with help from quirky characters and witty conversations.

This isn’t a deep, twisty plot. It’s all about the absurdity, the light humor, and the joy of meeting characters who feel like they’ve hopped out of a storybook.

At just about an hour, it feels like reading a picture book made for playful grownups. Simple and sweet, it leaves you smiling - especially at the frog who truly believes he’s a world-class detective.

Teacup (~2 hours)

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, Android

Teacup follows a quiet little frog who loves tea. The day before her tea party, she realizes she’s out of ingredients. So she sets off on a gentle journey through calm villages, meeting neighbors and gathering supplies.

Its charm lies in how soft and tender everything feels. From the pastel visuals to the simple tasks, the game radiates warmth.

You’ll play quick minigames, like café service or rhythm memory games, that keep the experience breezy and varied.

In just a couple of hours, Teacup offers a sweet reminder that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to beautiful, kind discoveries.

Postmouse (~2 hours)

Platforms: Windows (free)

In Postmouse, you’re a timid little mouse who suddenly has to leave home and deliver letters across a giant world. Giant, of course, from a mouse’s perspective.

The journey takes you through forests and old mansions, with soft platforming and light puzzles along the way.

The detailed visuals and ambient sounds, like chirping birds, creaky wood, tiny and footsteps, make it feel like you're inside a picture book.

Its story is simple and sweet, centered on courage and growth. Short in playtime, but long-lasting in the heart.

When the Past Was Around (~2 hours)

Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Android, MacOS

When the Past Was Around is a quiet reflection on love and loss. It tells the story of Eda, a young woman moving through the memories of someone she once loved.

The hand-drawn art and emotional music create a space full of nostalgia and healing.

Gameplay is point-and-click, with puzzles that lean more toward mood than difficulty. Each chapter unfolds with titles like “When I Found You,” gradually revealing the depth of the relationship.

It’s short, but Eda’s journey stays with you. It’s a quiet reminder that love leaves roots, even if the story ends too soon.

A Short Hike (~2 hours)

Platforms: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, MacOS, Linux

Just like the name says, A Short Hike is a simple walk, but full of little joys.

You play as Claire, a young bird trying to reach the top of Hawk Peak to get cell service. But the climb becomes a journey filled with charming characters, light tasks, and peaceful exploration.

The pixel art and soothing soundtrack create a world that invites curiosity. You can fly, swim, fish, and chat, all while soaking up a sense of calm freedom.

It’s a short trip that leaves you feeling lighter, and maybe a little more open to wonder.

What Remains of Edith Finch (~2.5 hours)

Available on all platforms.

What Remains of Edith Finch is a collection of stories hidden in the rooms of an old house. Edith returns home to uncover the mysteries behind her family’s strange and tragic past.

Each room reveals a new tale, told in a different style and with its own unique gameplay.

It’s not about solving puzzles or battling enemies. It’s about exploring the beauty and sorrow in each memory. A story of legacy, grief, and the strange ways we hold onto the past.

In just under three hours, it delivers a powerful narrative that stays with you long after the final scene.

Donut County (~3 hours)

Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, iOS, Android, MacOS

In Donut County, you play as a hole in the ground. Really. As you swallow more objects, the hole grows, and so does the chaos in town.

It’s light, fun, and full of clever humor and colorful style. There are small physics-based puzzles and a silly story about a raccoon with questionable ethics.

Though the gameplay is simple, the experience is unexpectedly thoughtful. It’s about play, responsibility, and maybe even community.

Perfect for an afternoon break that ends with a grin.

Mail Time (~3 hours)

Platforms: PlayStation, Switch, PC, MacOS

Mail Time is like a warm spring breeze turned into a game. You play a cheerful little mail carrier exploring an enchanting forest filled with giant flowers and friendly faces.

Your task is to deliver letters and items. What makes it special is how effortlessly joyful it all feels.

With cute visuals and a gentle soundtrack, the game invites you to float through the air and bounce around leaf-filled paths that feel like they’re from a bedtime story.

Mail Time is about kindness, connection, and letting yourself get a little lost. By the end, it’s like receiving a letter full of love... one that stays with you long after you’ve read it.

Between a cup of coffee and a quiet evening, these games offer much more than you’d expect. They may be short, but they use every minute to delight, move, or comfort you.

Maybe you’ll see yourself in a flight, a lost letter, or a mischievous hole in the ground. If you haven’t tried them yet, this is your sign: pick one, press play, and enjoy the adventure!

And if you know another short game that deserves a spot here, let us know in the comments!

See you next time!