Video games can be a great form of escapism that many people turn to in an attempt to step away from their real life. Some games will capitalize on this by letting players burn through gameplay, completing several in-game days in one sitting. Some games, however, run in real-time, allowing them to fit seamlessly into players' lives as they plan their days around attending in-game events and making sure they can get into a game to complete their daily challenges.
Whether it is jumping into a game for 30 minutes a day and using it to build a routine, or exploring a new world in real-time, games which use a real-world clock can provide an immersive and unique experience that many games can't provide.
8 The Animal Crossing Franchise
The Animal Crossing franchise has been making use of the passage of time since the first game was released in 2001. Animal Crossing is a life simulation with events on set days, changing seasons, a day-night cycle and penalties of varying severity for missing a day of play.
The most recent installment in the franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, lets players celebrate holidays in real-time while befriending local residents and adhering to the opening and closing times of the stores on the island. It also rewards daily play with an increasing number of Nook Miles being given for each day players interact with the ATM terminal.
The franchise has a dedicated fanbase of players who log in each day to improve on their islands and complete daily chores such as pulling up weeds and planting flowers. While it is possible to manipulate the passage of time in all the Animal Crossing titles, it is easy to get lost in exploring the world around in a bid to ignore real-world problems or responsibilities.
7 The Longing
The Longing is an idle adventure game, with a gorgeous hand-drawn art style, which spans 400 real-world days. Players take on the role of a Shade, a humble servant of a king who will be asleep for 400 days in order to regain some strength. The lonely Shade is tasked with remaining in the cave-like palace for the duration of the king's sleep. Due to the way the game encourages slow exploration, it is easy to fit The Longing into the day without feeling guilty if players miss a day.
In The Longing, players are able to decide how they would like to use the time they have. They can choose to open the game, close it and wait to see what happens on day 400 without engaging in any of the game's features. Alternatively, players can explore the cave system: collecting items, reading classic literature and making the time go faster. Perhaps the Shade will venture outside the earthly palace and explore the world beyond, against the orders of their king. The Longing lends itself to various play styles, allowing fans to engage as much as they want to in the time they have.
6 Cozy Grove
In Cozy Grove, players take on the role of a spirit scout tasked with helping the spirits of the island find peace. The spirits of Cozy Grove are all adorable bears, some of which had previously taken on key roles for the community including a postal bear, baker bear and a mayor bear.
Cozy Grove is designed to be a game players can jump into for a short period each day. The ghostly bears will give out tasks, usually consisting of fetch quests, which take about an hour to complete each day. Some quests will span several days and others can be completed almost instantly.
As it is a game designed to be jumped into for short periods of time, even telling players at the end of the day that there is nothing left to do and to come back tomorrow, Cozy Grove is easy to work into daily routines as a cozy break from reality.
5 Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator allows players to experience flights in real time, taking the same length as they would if they were a pilot flying the plane in real life. The game comes with an acceleration mode that reduces the time needed to play, however the scenery, changing sky and wind all make Microsoft Flight Simulator feel more realistic.
Using satellite imagery and a scale of the globe, Microsoft Flight Simulator is considered to be one of the most realistic games to play. Players can visit far-away destinations they have always dreamed of seeing, or use the map to fly past their own homes, schools and work places as the sun sets.
4 Tomodachi Life
Tomodachi Life lets players bring their own Mii creations together on an island where they will interact with each other and ask the player to help them with various tasks. Tomodachi Life was the first Nintendo game which allowed players to really give their Mii's a personality and encouraged the creation of more creative and unique characters outside their immediate family.
Characters on the island will go about their lives, falling in love, making friends and growing a family. Players are encouraged to check in at different times each day in order to witness different events and interactions with islanders.
3 12 Minutes
12 Minutes is a real-time, top-down thriller following a romantic evening between a husband and wife. Unlike many real-time games, 12 Minutes doesn't play out the full day, instead running Groundhog Day-esc loops of the same time period, in which the player can take different actions to influence the outcome.
By using 12-minute loops in real-time, players are put on the spot, having to make quick decisions in order to progress the story. The real-world time element adds to the intensity of the game, reducing the time to think and strategize that comes with many similar gaming experiences.
2 Lifeline
Lifeline is a text-based adventure game made for mobile which takes place through phone notifications and in-app text messages. The story of Lifeline follows an astronaut who has crash-landed on a foreign planet and is messaging the player to help with their own survival.
Lifeline's main game mechanic asks the player to pick between two options based on whatever situation is currently occurring. This can sometimes require researching information online to ensure the correct answer is picked and choosing something wrong can lead to the astronauts death and the end of the game.
The game runs in real-time and so players can be left waiting for several hours while the astronaut completes tasks or sleeps. As the game runs alongside real life, it is extremely immersive. It also has Apple Watch compatibility making it really easy to incorporate into daily life without having to worry about frequently checking in or missing an update.
1 Nintendogs
Nintendogs allows players to take care of their very own puppy in real-time. From bathing and feeding their dog, to going on walks and competing in dog shows, players can care for their own virtual pet as a regular part of their day. Intended to simulate real dog ownership without the responsibility, Nintendogs' real-time elements help players to form a genuine bond with their puppy and makes the tasks players complete feel even more immersive.
As a game made for the Nintendo DS, Nintendogs is great to take on the go as players go about their day, and is easy to jump in and out of for a few minutes at a time with daily tasks rarely taking more than an hour a day to complete.