So you’re sitting in the office or at school, you’ve finished everything you needed to do, and now you’re just staring at the computer screen, willing time to pass faster. We’ve all faced this situation at least once, and while you could find something produc?tive to do ??with your spare time, sometimes you just want to kick back and relax.

Of course, you can’t just boot up a full gam??e in the middle of class or work, but there are websites out there that host games to play. These sites are hopefully not blocked by the system (hopefully, I can’t make any promises here), and can be played wherever you happen to be. 

I’m not suggesting that you start gaming while you should be doing something else. You’re probably better off finding something useful to do, but here are some opt??ions if you’re absolutely against that idea and want to game.

I’m going to start this list with the games that you could argue are vaguely educational. While they’re definitely not the intended purpose for the computer in front of you, they are at least preventing your brain ??from rotting with boredom while you wait for your escape f??rom wherever you find yourself.

I’ve also tried to focus on games that either pause automatically when you minimize?? the window or don’t need too much non-stop attention. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule on this list, but they’re all fun nonetheless. 

Wordle

Wordle definitely fits the bill. This simple game will get you thinking, and maybe even expand your vocabulary. All you need to do to win is guess a five-letter word, but you only have limited guesses and it could be absolutely anything. Using the on-screen keyboard, you can input a word and if letters turn yellow, it means they’re right but in the wrong place. Green letters are right and in the right place. Have fun!

2048

In 2048, you need to use the arrow keys to move numbered tiles in different directions, sending them banging into one another. If two of the same number connect, they’ll merge to create a number that’s double the original numbers. It sounds relatively simple, but it can get a little confusing and more than a little infuriating when you rea??ch those really high numbers, like 2,048 and beyond. 

Google Feud

Moving further away from “educationalâ€?games, let’s progress into something a little more fun â€?Google Feud. It’s like Family Feud, except you’re playing by yourself and you ??have no one to blame but yourself if you make a stupid suggestion for a topic. Google Feud did the rounds with YouTube gamers a few years ago, but it’s something that I? still enjoy going back to occasionally if I feel the need to test my knowledge. 

Tetris 

Even further from the realm of “educationalâ€? although I grant that you could probably argue that Tetris does at?? least involve learning forward thinking and spatial awareness. T?etris doesn’t need any explanation, at this point. Use the left and right arrows to move the shape above where you want it to go, the down arrow to speed the shape’s descent, and the up arrow to rotate it into a preferable orientation. 

Geometry Dash

The connection to education is loose here at best, but now we’re getting into the more fun games on the list. Geometry Dash is a relatively simple (at first) rhythm game where you press a key to jump over obstacles and across gaps. While it starts out pretty easy, things get complicated very quickly and you’ll need? to keep your wits about you as much as you can to avoid dying. I’d recommend either headphones or a muted tab for this one if you want to keep your gaming a secret, as the background music is pretty obnoxious.&?nbsp;

Flappy Bird

We’ve given up on the pretense of education entirely at this point, because there’s no way you could argue that Flappy Bird is any way helpful, but it is weirdly addictive and far too much fun for what it actually is. You’re a bird who has to fly through gap?s in pipes, and you only remain in the air by frantically clicking the left mouse button. That’s it, and it doesn’t sound riveting, but it really is. Again, headphones or a muted tab are advised. 

Paper.io

As with most .io games, Paper.io will pit you against others who are playing the same version. All you have to do t?o win is take over the largest area of the arena ?by drawing the outline and making sections your color. It sounds simple, but depending on how many people are playing at any time, you’ll be fighting for your life and growing increasingly determined to do better. 

Bitlife

While it’s not possible to whip your phone out at a moment's notice and start playing Bitlife, you can play it unblocked online. It’s the same as the mobile version, with all the same features. Start a new life and try to make it a good one, or not, if that’s what ??floats your boat. Pick a job, find love, give yourself plastic surgery, or become a criminal. The possibilities of this virtual life are endless. 

Cut the Rope

The only thing you're aiming for while playing Cut the Rope is to get the candy into the mouth of the overly adorable frog at the bottom of the screen. It sounds remarkably simple, but you’ll encounter obstacles along the way that will have you scratching your head, trying to figure out the order which you need to cut the ropes in. I gues??s you could argue that this teaches forward-thinking, but that's a stretch at best. As with previous games, make sure to have the volume down if youâ€?™re trying to game in secret.

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Five Nights at Freddy’s was first released over a decade ago now, and despite the fact that there have been multiple sequels to the original phenomenon, the original still feels the best, a??nd it’s the easiest to play if you need to be secretive. Of course, you will need to reign in your shock when anything happens, unless you can come up with some excuse for screaming seemingly at random, but FN??AF is definitely a fun and nostalgic option. 

Meat Boy

It makes me feel incredibly old to announce that I played Meat Boy on Newgrounds back in 2008, but that’s the sit?uation I currently find myself in, so I’m passing on the knowledge of its existence to you, because I’m nothing if not generous. ??Meat Boy is a gruesome platformer in which you leave a trail of sticky blood behind you. The stickiness helps you to wall jump, and your aim is to reunite with your friend, who looks like Meat Boy with skin. 

Happy Wheels

Happy Wheels is like Meat Boy, but with added ragdoll physics, and hilarious yet disastrous outcomes if you go off the beaten track during one of th??e many insane platformer levels. There are multiple characters to play as, and landing wrong will result in you leaving their limbs behind. Sometimes being legless is actually beneficial, and speed is absolutely key 90% of the time. I’ll let you figure out the other 10% yourself. 

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