Five Low Maintenance Games To Play While Studying

By Brenden Kelly

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there, you need to cram in some study/work hours but then your friend sends you a message saying, “Hop on Helldivers, for democracy!” Even some of us at CKDJ are guilty of this. Worry not this list is comprised of games that allow you to get that little dopamine rush while not taking all your attention. These will be ranked based on these factors: First is how much attention they require, second by their overall quality and lastly by the price of the game in question.

“Baldur’s Gate III”

Our first one needs no introduction as it won 5 awards in the 2023 game awards including “Game of the year” that is right its “Baldur’s Gate III”. If you’re looking for some classic D&D gameplay without the hassle of character sheets, or quick math this is just the one for you. Turn based combat, the various interactions and inventory management means you will be the one in charge of how fast or slow you wish to play. The main drawback of “Baldur’s Gate III” starts with the fact that it is a full priced game meaning it’ll set you back a whopping $90 to own. However, if finishing that overdue paper and hurling fire at goblins at the same time is something you too can get behind, you’ll find no better.

Image taken from “Baldur’s Gate III” Steam page

“Bard Idle”

If you want a game that will play itself while still giving back crazy visuals look no further than “Bard Idle.” As the title suggests, it is an idle game, you do not fight, you assemble your team of heroes and grant them strength to proceed. Giant toads, jelly dwarfs, falling cheese and butterfly mages are just a fraction of the wackiness you might find here, accompanied by some great sound design and relentlessly flashy visuals. “Bard Idle” is a free game, which lends itself to its weakness, as progression can take what feels like ages, they offer quick ways of progressing behind paywalls. It’s a game that demands time, which is easy to give if you have work to do and want to throw it up in a window to watch.

Image taken from “Bard Idle” Steam page

“Organ Trail”

The whole of America is infested with zombies, you and 4 other people set out towards the west in a station wagon. This game is a callback to a 1970s classic “The Oregon Trail” complete with an 8-bit graphic style and simple gameplay premise. Manage your party of people, your station wagon, and your supplies as the harsh world around you relentlessly push against you. Random events from firefights, car chases, stray bullets and even a member of your party receiving the fatal bite from the living dead. The scenarios it puts you through and the choices thrust on you, make this a great game to play with friends as well. At a low price of $5.69, a station wagon road trip in zombie infested America could be your next endeavor on your late study nights.

Image taken from “Organ Trail: Directors Cut” Seam page

“Townscaper”

Sometimes the best study companion is a blank canvas, “Townscaper” provides just that. More akin to playing with Legos than your modern-day video game, the objective is simply to build your town no matter how big or small or physics defying. And with a wonderfully pleasing art style and calm ambiance, it’s one of the best study companions, for sure the one that saved your truly from some late due dates. Your lovely village can be built by you for the price of $7.79

Image taken from “Townscaper” Steam page

“WEBFISHING”

The final spot on the list goes to the recently released “WEBFISHING,” as recently as Oct 11^th in fact. “WEBFISHING” is, as one can expect a fishing game where you can play in public lobbies, in private with your friends or even with the company of an open book.

From fishing you earn money to spend on your character however you see fit. All this while being perfectly capable of running in the background, so it’s no surprise that this title has been gaining traction, and at the price of just $6.49, you can join its growing community.

Image taken from “WEBFISHING” Steam page

Works Cited

Larian Studios, 3^rd Aug 2023, Baldur’s Gate III, Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1086940/Baldurs_Gate_3/

Illegal Turtle, 22 Sep 2022, Bard Idle, Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1803580/Bard_Idle/

The Men Who Wear Many Hats, 19 Mar 2013, Organ Trail: Directors Cut, Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/233740/Organ_Trail_Directors_Cut/

Raw Fury, 26 Aug 2021, Townscaper, Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1291340/Townscaper/

Iamdeveloper, 11 Oct 2024, WEBFISHING, Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3146520/WEBFISHING/