The best ROG Ally games to play in short bursts
The ROG Ally can play anything from graphically intense, story-driven AAA games to indie games with pixel art graphics. Sometimes you have a few hours to dive into something deep, while other times you’re just trying to squeeze in 10-15 minutes of gaming on the road. Handhelds like the ROG Ally are perfect for quick sessions on the go, so we’ve compiled a list of games you should have installed at all times for those little moments throughout the day.
This is part of our ultimate guide to the ROG Ally series of articles. For more great games, check out our best-of roundups.
Rocket League
If I had to pick my personal favorite bite-sized game, it’d be Rocket League. If you’ve somehow missed Rocket League all these years, it’s simple: cars play soccer. Seriously, that’s all you need to know. Most matches only lasts 5-7 minutes, so I can jump in, play a game, and jump out. Got a bit more time? Sure, play one more match. Just don’t get addicted, or you’ll realize a whole hour has gone by and the maître d' gave your table to somebody else. Rocket League is free to play and available now.
Spelunky 2
Image source: Microsoft
Don’t be fooled by its cute graphics and charming demeanor: Spelunky 2 is tough. In this 2D platformer, you navigate randomly-generated caves full of monsters and treasure, and each time you die — which happens often — the cave shifts and you start over. So you must rely on skill and careful planning, not memory and repetition, to get through each level. This makes it perfect for short bursts — plus, after 3 minutes, a ghost begins to haunt you in an effort to keep the game moving. So pick up Spelunky 2 on the Xbox store and get started exploring.
Minit
Image source: Gamesplanet
If ever a game were designed for this concept of quick-round gaming, it’s Minit. Imagine a classic top-down Zelda game, but with a very specific twist: every sixty seconds, you die and return to the starting area. Items you collect will stay with you, and you can unlock new respawn points throughout the world, but your goal is to get as much done as possible in 60-second bursts. So whether you have fifteen minutes to play or five, you can always make a bit of progress. You can buy Minit on Gamesplanet or play it on Xbox Game Pass.
Vampire Survivors
Image source: Microsoft
Vampire Survivors is one of those games that’s so clever, so unique, and so addictive that it’s spawned its own sub-genre. In Vampire Survivors, you control the movement — and only the movement — of a character fending off hordes of enemies in large waves. As you defeat them, you gather experience that you can use to buy more weapons (that automatically attack as you move) and try to stay alive as long as possible. While rounds can last up to 15 minutes, they’re much shorter in the early game, so it provides a nice variety of gameplay and game time. You can pick up Vampire Survivors on the Xbox store and Game Pass, and if you’re looking for something similar, we also recommend Brotato.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater1+2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater has a special nostalgic place in my heart. I dumped hours upon hours into these games back in high school, and I’m not ashamed to admit I went through a wannabe skater phase as a result. And as luck would have it, not long before I got my hands on an ROG Ally, a remastered bundle of the first two games released on PC, and it runs beautifully on the handheld. Plus each session is only two minutes long, so it’s a perfect grab-and-go game when you only have a short time to play. (Though you can Free Skate for as long as you like, too.) You can pick up Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 now.
Stardew Valley
Image source: Microsoft
I’m starting to think Stardew Valley might end up being one of our most oft-recommended games on the Ally. It seems to scratch so many itches: it’s relaxing, but engaging, open-ended with tons to do, and you can sink hours in at a time or play through one in-game day in just under 15 minutes. Got a bit of time while you’re waiting for the bus? Check on your crops in Stardew. Waiting for your roommate to stop hogging the shower? Catch some fish in Stardew. It fits every scenario, and you can get it on the Xbox store or play it on Game Pass now.
The Superhot series
Image source: Gamesplanet
Superhot is an addictive puzzle game hidden inside a time-bending first-person shooter. In Superhot — and its sequels, Superhot VR and Superhot: Mind Control Delete — you’re thrust into a seemingly no-win situation where enemies are about to shoot you down in seconds. But you have a trick up your sleeve: time only moves when you do, giving you plenty of chances to scan the room for ways to cut down your foes in quick succession, whether with a pistol or a baseball bat. For a game where time repeatedly stops and slows, Superhot moves incredibly fast, so it’s perfect for quick rounds and long playthroughs alike. You can pick up Superhot and its sequels on Gamesplanet.
Street Fighter 6
Image source: Gamesplanet
Just about any fighting game fits the bite-sized bill, since you can easily jump into a single match for a few minutes at a time. But right now, our crew can’t stop playing Street Fighter 6. This modern take on the classic franchise injects some serious depth with an awesome 18-character roster and some new mechanics that keep things fresh. Whether you’re looking to test your mettle against others online or play through the single-player story mode, this is an excellent choice for quick rounds and hour-long sessions alike. You can find Street Fighter 6 on Gamesplanet.
Slay the Spire
Image source: Microsoft
Take a roguelike dungeon crawler and combine it with some card-collecting and deck-building, and you’ve got your next addiction. While Slay the Spire can absolutely be played in longer sessions, each battle only takes a few minutes, so you can easily jump in, knock down an enemy or two, and jump out as time permits. Just be careful, because once you start, you may not want to stop. You can purchase Slay the Spire on the Xbox store or play it on Game Pass.
Wreckfest
Image source: Gamesplanet
While any racing game could technically fit this niche, Wreckfest fits into it particularly well, striking a balance between deep driving mechanics and over-the-top fun demolition. It’s perfect for an hour-long session or a quick race while you’re sitting on the can (yes, if you made it this far in the article, you’re rewarded with a toilet joke. You’re welcome). The mayhem is available on Gamesplanet or through your Game Pass subscription.
Handhelds like the ROG Ally are perfect for quick-burst gaming, and there are tons of games we didn’t have room to list here (Ally-friendly retro games like Pac-Man Museum+ and Tetris Effect: Connected come to mind). But hopefully this is enough to get you started — you can check out more of our favorite ROG Ally games here, and for any others we missed, share them with us on our Discord.
