It’s the end of the night, and you’re tired. You have to get up early tomorrow for another day at the office, but you have an itch. An itch to play video games.

These are games that are not necessarily hallmarks of excellence, but offer something unique or provide instant gratification that fits the schedule of modern gamers. I’ve rummaged through my Steam backlog to bring you five games that don’t have a huge learning curve and are worth your precious time.

Uncraft World (PC)
Developer: Studio TeamShuriken
Publisher: Studio TeamShuriken
Release: September 25, 2015 (Early Access)
MSRP: $9.99

It’s essentially Super Meat Boy meets Gals Panic, but don’t judge the book by its cover; it’s one of the most satisfying platforming experiences I’ve ever had. I’ll admit it’s a meme game—something you play ironically to show people how edgy you are. That’s how I first approached the game too, but as I kept playing, I started to care less about the anime girls and more about the gameplay. Controls are tight, and there’s a certain finesse to using jump packs to get through levels that are at first seemingly insurmountable. I’d like to give kudos to the developer; it lures you in with a fluffy appearance, then hooks you with satisfying content. The game is in early access, and more features like a map editor and Steam workshop will be added. If you’re not too turned off by the cheesy anime boobs and repetitive music, I think you should give it a try. I still come back to this game from time to time the same way I come back to Super Hexagon.

Carmageddon: Max Damage (PC)
Developer: Stainless Games
Publisher: Stainless Games
Release: October 28, 2016
MSRP: $29.99

90s kids will remember Carmageddon and how it was banned in certain countries due to graphic violence. For those that don’t, Carmageddon is a vehicular combat game whose objective is either to eliminate all other contenders or to run over pedestrians. You can technically complete laps to win, but that’s missing the point of the game. The initial release was plagued with performance issues, but the game now runs medium settings smoothly even on my humble rig with an i5 6600 and GTX 760. There’s a few frame drops in areas packed with dense traffic, but it’s nothing that will ruin the experience. Listening to metal while satisfyingly crashing into opponents or bulldozing multiple people in bloody splashes is enough to blow off steam from you everyday life. It’s a great game, but I find it hard to continue playing because the gimmick gets repetitive rather quickly, so I’d recommend picking it up on sale. Unleash that road rage you have cooked up inside you!

Blue Estate The Game (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Developer: HE SAW
Publisher: HE SAW
Release: APRIL 8, 2015
MSRP: $12.99

If you miss the days of Virtua Cop and Time Crisis, or simply want to shoot something, then Blue Estate is the game for you. It’s a rail shooter with a humorous twist, based on the comic book series of the same name. You first play as Tony, the only son of Don Luciano, boss of Los Angeles' West Coast Cosa Nostra. In Tony’s endeavors, you meet the charming dancer Cherry and an ex-Navy SEAL hitman Clarence, whom you later get to play as. The gameplay itself is nothing to write home about, but it’s the dialogues and comedic elements that really stand out. The voice actors outdid themselves in bringing these characters to life; you won’t be disappointed as you blaze through the levels with a constant grin on your face. Although the game's depiction of minorities leaves much to be desired, it’s a solid brainless shooter with more than a few chuckles along the way.

The Beginner’s Guide (PC)
Developer: Everything Unlimited Ltd.
Publisher: Everything Unlimited Ltd.
Release: October 1, 2015
MSRP: $9.99

From the creator of The Stanley Parable comes this unique take on video game’s storytelling. I know I talked of instant gratification, but this game takes a bit longer - about the running time of a typical movie, in fact - to appreciate its intricacy. Not only that, it’s impossible to say much about the game without spoiling the whole thing. All I can say is that it’s video game equivalent of a diary that chronicles the relationship between two friends. I know quite a few people who were impressed by The Stanley Parable’s meta themes, and if that’s your cup of tea, then The Beginner’s Guide will take you a step further. I promise you’ll google for answers and look at video games in a different light after playing this. I know I did.

Glitchhikers (PC)
Developer: SilverstringMedia
Publisher: SilverstringMedia
Release: May 14, 2014
MSRP: Free

Driving alone at night brings up emotions and thoughts that are particular to that time frame. Glitchhikers aims to catch that tranquility and offer a fresh introspective experience. Some people hate driving at night, but I’ve often experienced a unique clarity while driving home from class or work late. Then again, I might be reading too much into the game. For whatever it’s worth, it’s a soothing journey that takes you from point A to point B with obscure but meaningful philosophical dialogues from the denizens of the night. If you had an especially hard day at work or school, then I’d suggest booting this up and putting it in cruise control with this meditation of a videogame.