10 Games to Pick Up When You're Struggling with Brain Fog

I struggle with brain fog a lot. I don't know if it's because I genuinely have problems with attention span and memory or because of my lifestyle itself, but regardless, I spend a lot of days where I struggle to focus, even if it's on a game! In case you suffer from the same issue and are looking for games to play during these annoying downtimes, I've made a list that might just help you stay entertained! Here are 10 games for you to enjoy in no particular order, starting with...

#10 — Firewatch

• Developer: Campo Santo
• Publisher: Panic, Campo Santo
• Genre: Atmospheric, adventure
• Read the review!

Although the game is leaning towards the short side, Firewatch is still a phenomenal experience that can be enjoyed even during the slow days! In it, you play as a man who takes up a job in the Wyoming wilderness as a lookout, and through his time alone and with his co-worker via radio, there's a lot unpacked from his and the forest's past. Although it sounds simple, the gameplay is relaxing, the woods gorgeous, and the phenomenal chemistry between him and Delilah is satisfying! 

Why it's suitable for slow days: in Firewatch, you won't find any difficult puzzles, no enemies to fight, and no survival-like time limits or needs. All you do is walk around, enjoy the scenery, interact with Delilah, and unravel the narrative!

#9 — Lil Gator Game

• Developer: MegaWobble
• Publisher: Playtonic Friends
• Genre: Adventure
• Read the review!

In case you haven't noticed, Lil Gator Game is one of my favourite titles; I add it to nearly every listicle where I'm looking for wholesome, relaxing, and casual experiences! This is because it's some of the most fun I've had with a deeply casual adventure title in a while. In it, you play as a kid gator who is trying to come to terms with their sister growing up and not being able to play with them anymore. It's chock-full of charm, the gameplay is fantastic, and it's so imaginative and nuanced that it's refreshing! Plus, it does all sorts of nods to The Legend of Zelda, which is one of my favourite franchises!

Why it's suitable for slow days: Lil Gator Game has everything you need to stay focused and entertained — missions, collectibles, platforming, and silly dialogue — but the enemies you encounter are made out of cardboard, and every quest is all about imagination, so you don't need to be your top-notch self to enjoy it.

#8 — Unbox: Newbie's Adventure

• Developer: Prospect Games
• Publisher: Merge Games
• Genre: Adventure, 3D platformer
• Read the review!

It's been a minute since I revisited Unbox, but this title got me through a lot of hard times back in 2017 through its fun platforming and absolutely silly gameplay and dialogue! You'll step into a world where boxes are sentient, and your protagonist just became part of the ultimate postal service. What you can expect is tons of wacky situations and characters and a lot of platforming and collecting! 

Why it's suitable for slow days: Unbox is one of the most unique ideas in games I've come across! I never thought playing as a box would be so fun. Thankfully, none of it requires a lot of focus or coordination, as the gameplay isn't punishing, just fast-paced and fun! Additionally, the unboxing mechanic that gives you egregious amounts of jumps helps if you're particularly uncoordinated that day.

#7 — The Frog Detective Franchise

• Developer: Grace Bruxner, Thomas Bowker
• Publisher: worm club, SUPERHOT PRESENTS
• Genre: Short, comedy

Moving away from platformers and squeezing back into the comfort of cosy titles, The Frog Detective is one of the most relaxing and silly games I've played, and it works perfectly for days when you just want to cuddle up on the couch! This charming franchise puts you in the shoes of a frog detective who goes around solving silly mysteries, such as figuring out if an island is haunted or not, by asking the NPCs and collecting useful items.

Why it's suitable for slow days: the games are quite short, so you won't be committing to too much, and it's interesting enough that it'll scratch your detective itch but not difficult or challenging, so you won't need to work your brain too much!

#6 — The Smurfs - Mission Vileaf

• Developer: OSome Studio
• Publisher: Microids
• Genre: Adventure
• Read the review!

As a kid, I never got into The Smurfs, as I was much more preoccupied with Tom and Jerry's friendship or the Looney Toons' wacky adventures, but when I saw Mission Vileaf, I knew I had to try it. This charming, colourful, and fun adventure title has enough entertainment that you don't need to be a fan of — or even know — The Smurfs to enjoy! In it, you play as different characters as they band together to try and figure out what's causing the corruption and how to stop it. For the most part, you'll explore areas, collect items, and upgrade your Smurfizer tool to save the land!

Why it's good for slow days: I think you don't need a lot of attention or coordination when you're jumping into an adventure like this; for the most part, it's all about cleaning the wilderness and finding all the hidden collectibles! I personally had a blast, and I think it's a great game to play if you're itching for fun.

#5 — TOEM

• Developer: Something We Made
• Publisher: Something We Made
• Genre: Adventure, exploration

I. love. TOEM. This adorable little hand-drawn monochrome adventure will have you embarking on an expedition to take pictures, ace quests, and explore a variety of places! It really is not surprising to me that it's Overwhelmingly Positive, as I still think about it as one of the most wholesome and relaxing experiences I've had, just walking around snapping pics!

Why it's good for slow days: TOEM is the type of game you can take at your pace and complete everything or just enough to move on to the next thing! It's cute, it's relaxing, but it's not even close to being boring.

#4 — Untitled Goose Game

• Developer: House House
• Publisher: Panic
• Genre: Adventure, puzzle
• Read the review!

I considered not adding Untitled Goose Game to my listicle because it's so well-known — with a whopping 15,333 reviews at the time of writing — that it feels like anyone who reads this article looking for some fun will recognise it. But just in case you haven't, I'd hate for you to miss out, so let's talk about it! There are few adjectives more fitting to describe the game than "wacky" and "fever dream", as all you do is play as a goose and troll people by stealing their stuff and scaring them! It's a ton of good fun with an intricate and unique approach to puzzles, and you can even play it co-op.

Why it's good for slow days: Untitled Goose Game isn't punishing in the least, and you don't have to complete everything to advance! It's funny, it's entertaining, and it'll surely help you find something fun to do without having to focus too much.

#3 — SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated

• Developer: Purple Lamp
• Publisher: THQ Nordic
• Genre: Adventure, 3D platformer
• Read the review!

SpongeBob was a faithful companion to many of us growing up, offering tons of adventures with his friends to keep us entertained throughout the day. Now, as adults, we can go back and be part of them through Battle for Bikini Bottom — or Cosmic Shake, too! — and find tons of enjoyment as we run around, chasing jellyfish and annoying Squidward... just like we always dreamed. Jokes aside, this colourful and wholesome adventure is a great option during a day when you don't have the brain power to jump into anything more hectic than easy puzzles and combat.

Why it's good for slow days: just like most of the platforming adventures on this list, Battle for Bikini Bottom doesn't have any demanding mechanics that'll make you feel bad for falling off the edge or getting killed by a robot — you just respawn and go right back at it, maybe getting distracted collecting stuff along the way. A wholesome adventure is a great way to rest a weary mind!

#2 — A Short Hike

• Developer: adamgryu
• Publisher: adamgryu
• Genre: Exploration, adventure
• Read the review!

My very first exposure to cosy and relaxing adventure titles was A Short Hike, and although this is another Overwhelmingly Positive behemoth — sitting at a whopping 12,845 reviews at the time of writing — I would feel I'm doing it wrong by not adding it to the list. After all, it's the reason I ended up looking for similar games to spend lazy days on! If you haven't heard of this gem, A Short Hike is all about exploring an island as you aim to reach its peak, and along the way, there are tons of silly quests, hilarious NPCs, and collectibles to get. It's charming, it's cosy, and it will always have a place in my heart!

Why it's good for slow days: as someone who has been compared to the likes of a dog when it sees a squirrel, my attention span has sometimes gotten in my way during gaming. In this case, however, it felt like every time I'd run off and forget to follow the trail, I'd just stumble on to even more goofy experiences! You can't go wrong playing A Short Hike; you just can't.

#1 — Time Loader

• Developer: Flazm
• Publisher: META Publishing
• Genre: Story-driven, puzzle
• Read the review!

One of the first games I had the pleasure of experiencing when I joined GameGrin was Time Loader — a story-driven puzzle platformer where you play a little robot who is on a mission to stop a tragic accident. Although the story sounds grim, the adventure is chock-full of nostalgia thanks to the ability to travel back in time to the 90s! And whilst you could sit down and gawk and reminisce at the environments, you'll also need to solve creative puzzles. 

Why it's good for slow days: Time Loader is the first game on the list that will require a tad of brain power, as you'll need to solve puzzles throughout the areas you go to. That being said, though, none of them are overly demanding, and the atmosphere really helps make it a smooth journey. If you're not a 90s kid, this might not be as interesting, though!

And that's it! I hope I helped you find at least one game you can jump into during lazy, slow days.