Many of us enjoy playing mini-games as much as we enjoy the main games. Some game producers include these mini-games just to increase the length of the game. Sometimes, you’ll keep hitting the pad, trying to complete this new difficult game you found before you realize that it doesn’t matter. On the other hand, some mini-games are the real deal. Some games are composed entirely of mini-games that you keep playing until you get tired. If they are very interesting, you shouldn’t be tired of hitting that pad even after hours have passed.
So, in this article, we are going to check out the 20 Best Mini Games for PC. Buckle up for this ride. You may be grabbing your pads soon to see if you can play these games. Before you wonder why your favorite mini-game is not here or why you found some of the mini-games here boring, remember that not everyone is interested in the same things. So, instead of playing them all, look for the ones that should interest you most.
1. Blitzball
We can all agree that Final Fantasy has the best mini-games. I particularly enjoy the Final Fantasy 10 underwater football game. It is so detailed and interesting that you can recruit NPCs around the world to join your team; have it in mind that you need to pay them a salary after each match. The game also has its progression and move system. When you play Blitzball, you realize that it is an essential part of life in the game’s setting, Spira. Choosing to avoid playing Blitzball means you’re missing out on a part of the Final Fantasy 10 journey.
2. Phantom Doctrine’s Conspiracy Board
The conspiracy board is a very good break between the occasionally tedious infiltration missions in the game. This game is very simple and straight forward, but also interesting. All you have to do is complete the word matching game by moving around clippings and photos and forming connections between them with a red thread. Although simple, there’s no way you won’t enjoy this fantastic game.
3. Speechcraft
Speechcraft has generated mixed reviews. Some people like the Oblivion’s manipulation or persuasion mini-game, while some others don’t even like to refer to it as a game because you’re trying to make someone love you. You have to circle through the same responses multiple times with someone to max out. You can play this game on everyone you talk to. Many gamers have realized that it is not difficult to learn the rules and finish the game after a while. If you enjoy a manipulation game, you should install Oblivion and start playing.
4. Terminal Hacking
Terminal hacking is one of the mini-games that come with Fallout. If you enjoy logic puzzles where you have to rack your brain before you can finish, then this mini-game would interest you. This game which involves figuring out the passphrase is not hard at all. Moreover, it doesn’t appear all the time, so it doesn’t become a complete bore after you’ve played it so many times.
5. Tetra Master
Before we go into the Final Fantasy 9’s mini-game, let me tell you a secret: no one fully understands how the game works. Despite that fact, the card game, Tetra Master is still one of the best mini-games you will ever play. This game is about placing cards representing different monsters from the FF9’s bestiary on a grid. There are different colors on each side and arrow layouts on their sides and corners. What you have to do is turn the opponent’s card color to your color by attacking them. In the end, whoever has the most cards off their color wins. You might think it should be very easy, but when you discover that these cards with numbers and letters on them all have varying strengths, you’ll realize that the game is more technical than you imagined.
6. Triple Triad
Some people consider Triple Triad an even better mini-game than Blitzball. It is a very addictive card game in Final Fantasy VIII. The storyline is straightforward; using a deck of five cards containing the FF VII’s monsters, most important human characters, and guardian forces, the player and the opponent must fight to occupy the majority of the game’s 3*3 square board. You must capture as many opponent’s cards as possible, turning their color blue while protecting your cards from turning pink. It’s a very exciting game that you won’t stop playing once you start.
7. Gwent
I’m sure you’ve watched The Witcher, even if you’ve not played the games or read the books. The hype was so much because The Witcher is so interesting no matter what form it takes. Gwent, a minigame in The Witcher 3 is so good that it birthed its own standalone game which became even far more confusing and complicated. Gwent allows you to explore the world beyond the areas marked for the quest. You can find an opponent to test yourself against in a small village or even a tavern that sells new cards. The game is a masterpiece. If you haven’t played The Witcher 3, you should check it out.
8. Fishing
Okay, to be honest, you should already know that many of Final Fantasy’s mini-games will make it to the list. If you’ve played Final Fantasy, you will realize that even if you don’t like the game itself, some of the mini-games help you enjoy it. One of such mini-games is Fishing in Final Fantasy XV. What I love most about Fishing is that there are no detailed tutorials to guide you through the game, because it is not needed. All you need to do is mirror the fish’s movement while reeling it in so that the line does not break during the process. You’ll enjoy playing this Final Fantasy mini-game even if you’ve never caught a fish in real life.
9. The Voigt-Kampff test
The Voigt-Kampff is more like a tool in Westwood’s Blade Runner that allows you to tell if someone is lying or telling the truth. It helps you do this by measuring the subject’s nervous responses to questions. When you ask a question you can watch the heart rate of your interviewee spike and the way his eyeball quivers. Like me, if you dream about being a detective in another lifetime, this minigame would make you feel like you’re one.
10. Chocobo Hot and Cold
Do you remember the Chocobo’s famous ‘kweh’ sound? In the Chocobo Hot and Cold, you would be using this sound to find rare items. It is a very simple mini-game you can fall back on when you want to take a break from playing Final Fantasy IX. There are different treasures for you to find. A special treasure known as the ‘Chocograph’ provides cues as to the whereabouts of the others. As you approach a rare item, you hear the infamous ‘kweh’.
11. Motor Kombat
Motor Kombat is another one of those mini-games that you don’t know what it’s about until you start playing. Because it is found in the Mortal Kombat: Armageddon game, you may think that it involves something apocalyptic. But, the motor kombat is a very interesting break from all the violence and spine ripping. The characters in Mortal Kombat partake in a bonafide Mario Kart clone. Each character possesses a kart and special powers. It is something you would enjoy seeing those originally-violent characters do.
12. Bowling
Bowling is one of the best mini-games in Grand Theft Auto V. Even after so many years, it still ranks high. After you’ve spent some time terrorizing the entire city with rocket launchers, you can still go over to play a bowling mini-game that gives you an achievement or trophy when you win and nets you points with friends. A great way to get a change from the police and the crowd being inside the club bowling and scoring points to be the best bowler out there. The game isn’t as advanced as a dedicated bowling game that has a lot of functionalities. However, still manages to provide a great visual and gameplay.
13. Pipe Hacking
Ever played hacking mini-games and thought “What a bore”? Yes, it’s a general feeling. But, BioShock hacking min-game is one of the very few hacking games we would play on its own outside the main game. When we were kids, we used to play Pipe Dream all the time, so when a very similar game to Pipe Dream appeared as a hacking mini-game on BioShock, we couldn’t help but love it. It did get old though. This first-person shooter comes with a hacking game inside that will let you take a deep breath from the main game.
14. Chicken Kicking Competition
The Chicken Kicking Competition was a mini-game that was added to the ‘Lost Chapters’ edition of the game, Fable. Peter Molyneux promised the Fable players that he didn’t include the dragon boss fight in the game. So, he released this edition that both had the fight and a mini-game that involved players punting a chicken. So, this action role-playing video game is something more than it comes out of the box. You could enjoy yourself much more inside.
15. Funstacle Course
Of all the Mario Party games we had to choose from, the one that pulled our attention was the Browser’s Funstacle Course from Mario Party 7. If you’ve never played a very long and difficult mini-game, this one would change that. It is still much better than Mario Party 1’s tug-of-war mini-game.
16. Gummi Ship
If you want to be very frustrated by a mini-game, Gummi Ship is one that would get you feeling all kinds of emotions at the same time. This mini-game is found in Kingdom Hearts (both the original and the sequel). One of the most frustrating parts of the game in the original Kingdom Hearts is hitting one that is so difficult and shoots you back to the very beginning. Although you may scrunch your noses because you don’t want to get frustrated, this mini-game is not so bad. In the sequel, Gummi Ship is more of a side game. You don’t have to play it if you don’t want to, and it is not as frustrating as the original. Instead, it’s more intriguing.
17. Chocobo Racing
The Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a game many of us have played. Luckily for us, this 2012 Final Fantasy game has a mini-game, Chocobo Racing, which is very similar to a mini-game (Chocobo Breeding) we all enjoyed in Final Fantasy VII. The Final Fantasy VII mini-game was even regarded as the best FF game of all time. So, when playing Chocobo racing, it brings back memories. The nostalgic feeling remains even though the breeding system is dissimilar from the one in its predecessor. Your Chocobo has a fixed number of stats. You must strike a balance if you desire to win the game. So, don’t forget to try this racing game inside the wonderful Final Fantasy.
18. Snifit or Whiffit
Ever played Paper Mario? The Paper Mario games are known for their interesting quiz mini-games. One of such games is Sticker Star. Although this game has a lot of shortcomings, it still falls on an interesting end. Here, you are forced to go through the very dangerous quiz show “Snifit or Whiffit” before you get to the main story. But even after you finish playing, you can replay it to get bonus points. Also, the game doesn’t stop tempting you by adding bonus rounds where you can get rewards if you play and win. As Mario tries to answer all the questions and defeat all his enemies, he gets plagued by poison gas. If you’re up for this dangerous quiz challenge you should install Paper Mario and start playing.
19. Taekwondo
Just like the name says, you’re going to be dealing with characters that kick themselves until one emerges victorious. Taekwondo is a mini-game in the Mario & Sonic series. The characters in this game are from both Mario and Sonic universe. Although there are some other mini-games in Mario and Sonic which aren’t appealing, I have enjoyed watching Wario and the hedgehog exchange kicks until one of them drops to the floor. Aha!
20. Chihuahua Races
If you’re a blackjack or poker player in God Hand, you may become very distracted by the mini-game which is conveniently accessed through the God Hand casino. This game, God Hand is one of the most ridiculous games you may ever play. The mini-game, Chihuahua races even makes it more ridiculous. You only have to bet on one of the Chihuahuas to win the race, and then you sit back and watch. Although it’s a bit boring, this mini-game wins some points for weirdness. (Hint: choose Lucky Clover.)