Five Puzzle Games Perfect for a Short Commute

A commute is a strange amount of time. Too long to stare at the ceiling, too short to sink into anything big. Puzzle games with self-contained levels are the answer, and the best ones let you drop out mid-thought without punishing you.

Gearworks Express is my current go-to. Each level is one clean puzzle, and if my stop comes up I just lock the phone and pick up exactly where I was. No lost progress, no timer counting down while I'm walking.

Lantern Hollow works for the same reason, though it's slower and cosier. I save that one for the ride home when I'm done thinking hard. Neon Stackers is the opposite, a quick jolt of arcade puzzling when I need to wake up in the morning.

The common thread is a proper pause. A puzzle game that forces you to finish a level or lose everything is useless on a commute. Look for offline saves and level-based structure, and you'll always have something to fill those ten awkward minutes.