Tall Candle

The shelf

Every review this season

Five games, three weeks each, one ordinary account. The small table under each one is the part people actually use: minutes per visit, visits per day, how long a round lasts and what the shop sells.

Shakes & Fidget artwork

Comic RPG · Playa Games, 2009 · Ten minutes

Shakes & Fidget

A comic-strip role-playing game that is shaped, almost exactly, like a tea break.

Per visit
10–15 min
Visits
2–4 a day
Round
Open-ended servers
Shop
Mushrooms: quest time, better shop rolls
Where
Browser, app shares the account

8Full review

Sunrise Village artwork

Farm and exploration · InnoGames, 2022 · Ten minutes

Sunrise Village

A run-down homestead, a map under fog, and nobody asking you to hurry.

Per visit
10 min
Visits
2–3 a day
Round
Open-ended
Shop
Rubies: energy, decorations
Where
Browser, app shares the account

8.5Full review

Forge of Empires artwork

City builder · InnoGames, 2012 · Part of an evening

Forge of Empires

One city from the Stone Age to the far future, and the best-paced builder you can open in a web page.

Per visit
20 min
Visits
2 a day
Round
Open-ended, years
Shop
Diamonds: speed, expansions
Where
Browser, app shares the account

8.7Full review

Rail Nation artwork

Railway tycoon · Travian Games, 2013 · Part of an evening

Rail Nation

A railway company on a shared map, with rivals who cannot touch your track.

Per visit
30 min
Visits
2–3 a day
Round
About three months, then a winner
Shop
Gold: plus-account, conveniences
Where
Browser, app available

8.2Full review

Conflict of Nations: World War 3 artwork

Modern grand strategy · Dorado Games, 2017 · A standing appointment

Conflict of Nations: World War 3

A modern grand strategy game that ticks for weeks and is better played twice a day than left open.

Per visit
30–45 min
Visits
2 a day
Round
Weeks, ends on victory points
Shop
Gold: speed, felt late in a round
Where
Browser, app shares the account

8.3Full review