Five Console Games For The Video Game Enthusiast Parent To Enjoy During Short Bursts Of Child-Free Moments

Remember a time when you used to come home from work, high-five your partner, order some food, and dive into the latest video game? It felt like the most satisfying and freeing thing in the world. It was what you did and who you were. You immersed yourself in that blissful digital world of "pick your poison." Then, just for fun, you decided it was time to expand your family, perhaps even continue that same video game-playing tradition.

Now you're a parent, and suddenly finding time to play that oh-so-tantalizing game comes and goes. Even when you feel you have a moment, you're either sleeping, washing bottles, or folding laundry, not to mention all the other baby-managing you're doing. You barely have time to think about what to play. Ironically, you still keep buying those games with the hope of getting those precious moments back. I would look for any game that has a quick play or play now option and just get into it. Here are 5 console games you can dive into in a short period of time to avoid losing your gaming identity. Game on!

01
FIFA24, NHL24, or NBA2K24 will hit the spot.

via @jeshoots

Just hit Quick Play or Play Now and don't worry about the rules. Get in and get out.
Advertisement
02
Street Fighter 6 or Mortal Kombat 1 to get that sleepless frustration out on button-mashing.

via Ryan Quintal

No storylines!
03
The Crew Motorfest.

via toine G

You drive under the speed limit for your bundles of joy, but now you can let it rip.
04
Any retro arcade game. Capcom Arcade is a good start.

via Kyle Nieber

Kick, punch, and bite your way through all the classics like Final Fight, Street Fighter, 1942. It shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes before a toddler serenades you to watch their magic happen.
Advertisement
05
Super Mario Bros.

via Claudio Luiz Castro

Literally, any SMB side scroller will do the trick. Get it on your console, DS, or Phone. It's fun, it's easy, and more often than not it's portable. Take a break and let that jumping, stomping, floating plumber do the trick.