Happy Labor Day, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. To celebrate this holiday, we’ll continue with what could become an annual tradition: 5 Video Games to Secretly Play at Work. Yes! Not all of us get Labor Day off, so for those of you who have to work, you may want to blow off some steam. Last year’s list included some games that got delisted. I wonder if video games of this ilk get taken down frequently. I’m writing this post far in advance, so fingers crossed that these games (and their links) still work in September. Enough yapping. Let’s get to playing. Here is another 5 Video Games to Secretly Play at Work

5: 868-HACK

868-HACK (here’s the link) would be much higher on this list, but I gave preference to free games. Yep. You’ll have to pay a little something (around $6) on iOS or Steam to play 868-HACK, but it’s worth it. Australian game designer Michael Brough produces systems that devastatingly mix apparent simplicity with incredible depth. You can find most of Brough’s designs on iOS, so iPhone or iPad users will have no problem playing Brough’s entire catalogue.

868-HACK is a turn-based roguelike that casts players as a “hacker” investigating a heavily corrupted system. The graphics are rudimentary, and the sound isn’t the best. But why would you play this game at work with the sound on? 868-HACK is addictive. At first glance, it looks like you may need to call IT or an Apple Genius to fix your device. Brough regularly updates 868-HACK, so it’s less likely this game will get delisted.

4: Initium

Initium (here’s the link) is another game that could easily top this list. It falls to our fourth spot because it could be difficult to hide. Initium looks like a game from a distance. With that said, how many MMORPGs can one play at work? Most MMORPGs require you to pay near-constant attention to the game world if you want to succeed, which can’t happen if the boss walks by your desk. Initium uses turn-based exploration and combat, which means you can shut it down if you need to go into stealth mode.

While Initium is still in development, it already features PvP, an economy, player-created areas, and even global events like the ones you might find in any other MMORPG. You even have the option of logging in with your phone and computer, so you can take Initium on the go. And Initium is free. Kaching! Initium may just be a game-changer.

3: CyberCode Online

A video game in disguise, CyberCode Online (link here) may look like a regular line of Visual Studio Code, but in reality, it’s an epic real-time MMORPG that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down. Yes! We have two MMORPGs on this year’s list. CyberCode Online does more to disguise itself as something other than a game, but it doesn’t climb any higher than number three on our list because it is a real-time MMORPG. You may need to give up a battle or two…or even three. But I love the theme. We need more Cyberpunk video games.

2: Kittens Game

On the surface, Kittens Game (link here) is a simple game about growing a village of cats in a forest, but fans call it one of the most complex builder incremental games available. Kittens Game changes a lot in short order, going from a relaxed text-based idle experience to, as the original website puts it, “a Dark Souls of incremental gaming.” Keep in mind that players can’t really lose at Kittens Game. While getting stuck is possible, the game has an active community and plenty of wiki entries and tutorials for beginners.

Yeah. Kittens Game is one of those experiences you can sink a ton of time and effort into playing well. However, Kittens Game’s easy-to-read and follow UI makes it a purr-fect game to play at work. I had to throw in at least one cat pun.

1: Torn

We love our browser-based games with these lists. Torn (link here) is yet another one, but Torn is set in a modern-day dystopia. What? The games on this year’s list have some fun themes. The screenshot above was taken straight from Torn’s website. Tens of thousands of concurrent players participate in Torn daily. Those numbers back up Torn’s claim as the “world’s largest text-based multiplayer game.” When you first create a character, you’ll begin at the bottom of the ladder as a petty criminal. Through committing crimes like robbing others, you’ll grow in power and influence. Torn may be a great way to blow off some steam.

Those are our games for 2026’s 5 video games to secretly play at work. There are plenty of others. Let us know which ones you like to play in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.