Looking for a way to pass the time on a long shift? We've got you covered with the best games you can play while working, but don't worry we won't tell your boss (Disclaimer - we are not telling you to do this)Tech18:47, 06 Feb 2025Go on, sneak in a quick bit of Football Manager (stock)(Image: Getty Images)If you've ever found yourself clock-watching or daydreaming about playing video games during the workday, you're not alone. If you work from home, on a machine that's your own, there might even be games that are literally an errant click away.Sadly, it's just not feasible to dodge roll mid-meeting in Elden Ring, or land those headshots in between tasks in Call of Duty, but some games are ideal for playing at your desk when you have a minute or five. After all, Daily Star is the home of fun.And, while we won't tell your boss, do try and keep this list our little secret, yeah? We'd hate to have to explain to our bosses why we're 12 seasons into taking Southend United to glory and therefore haven't written any stories.In essence, the games on our list are playable on your work computer and don't require a whole deal of concentration from moment to moment.You can keep them open in the background, and check in every now and again, but you don't need super quick reflexes to have fun.Without further ado, here are our picks (but you're responsible for your own actions).Football Manager 2024 is still the current version(Image: SEGA)We're still waiting for the next game in the series after it was delayed, but the way in which its days progress in a turn-like structure makes it an easy recommendation for this list.Got two minutes? Set your training schedule. Got five minutes? Maybe you can squeeze a match in. The meeting was cancelled so you've got time to spare? Get scouting for the next transfer window.The challenge with Football Manager, as it is with so many other games on this list, is that it's hard to stop one more day turns into one more match, which turns into one more month and then one more transfer window and so on.Balatro is fiendishly addictive(Image: LocalThunk/Playstack)Don't let Balatro's lo-fi visual style fool you this game has claimed untold hours from players since it launched last year.A roguelike deck-builder based around poker, you don't need to know anything about the genre or poker to get sucked into its loop of scoring points and tweaking your deck with more and more surprising 'Joker' cards and their unique abilities.The fact it can run on pretty much any computer is the cherry on top.The satisfaction of knowing all of this came from a single settler is immeasurableAnother turn-based game that lets you go at your own pace (unless you're in a multiplayer match), Civilization 7 is just as addictive as its predecessors but look how good it looks!It almost feels like taking a moment in between emails to marvel at your Civilization should be featured in some productivity manual somewhere, such is the sense of fleeting accomplishment before the barbarians are at the gates.Still, Civilization 7 will keep you playing for hours so maybe stick to just one turn each time, eh? Check out our review for more.Slay The Spire is an indie classic(Image: Mega Crit)Just like Balatro, Slay The Spire's simple visuals hide the time-consuming tangle of systems, risks, and rewards that lie underneath.Play cards to deal damage and battle foes, and then add new cards as you go. It's simple, yes, but with multiple characters with their own playstyles, surprise encounters each trip, and a huge number of permutations, Slay The Spire is indie royalty for a reason.Marvel Snap is so good it's almost criminal(Image: Second Dinner Studios, Inc.)If you're already playing Marvel Snap, you'll know how simple the concept is: Play your cards to accumulate higher power levels than your rivals at two out of three locations.It's never quite that simple though, with a huge library of cards with fantastical abilities, and ever-shifting locations that mean no two games are the same.It plays great on your phone or tablet, but the PC version is dangerously easy to keep open in the background of your working day.Into The Breach is one of the best strategy games of the last decade(Image: Subset Games)Into The Breach might sound like something you say when you first log into your machine, but this tricky strategy game is a fantastic brain teaser.You take control of a trio of hulking mechs, tasked with protecting cities from Godzilla-esque bugs and monsters. What's neat is that you can see what they're about to do before they do it, so you can do things like nudge them into each other, or set traps.It's a tiny game, too, taking up just over 500 MB on PC, and it'll run just about anywhere.Teamfight Tactics shares its characters with League of Legends(Image: Riot Games)Ok, this one is a tad more involved than others on this list, but if you enjoyed Arcane it's well worth a look.The idea is to pick a bunch of League of Legends characters and watch as your team fights another player's team until only one is left standing. You cycle through opponents, spending resources to upgrade your characters as you go. It's less full-on than League of Legends proper, which can get hyper-competitive.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.