What do video games and sleep have in common? For both activities, 8 hours feels like 8 minutes. Everyone has lost track of time while playing a good video game. When sitting in front of that screen, nothing else matters.
But while you can play some video games for 10 minutes and carry on with your life, others are impossible to walk away from. And if the games are free, then even better, right? So what are the top 14 most addicting games of 2021?
Let’s find out! To make the addicting games list, we used the following criteria:
- Level of interaction
- Thinking about the game until you can play again
- Not being able to stop once you begin
- Level of obsession to win
- Emotional attachment with a player
Our testers were asked to rate the games based on the level of addictiveness!
1. Fortnite
Fortnite is on a whole different level of addicting games!
I must admit, I was a bit late to the whole Fortnite craze. But when I started playing it, I was hooked. Night and day flew by. Food? Sleep? Who spends time on those unnecessary activities when you can play Fortnite?
Fortnite is a free online video game, developed by Epic Games and was released in 2017.
It has three game mode versions, and is one of the most addicting games on the planet! Online chat is available for some of the games! If you’re new to Fortnite or want to learn alternate strategies, consider watching experienced players play Fortnite on Twitch.
Fortnite: Save The World is a first-person shooter game where you must fight zombie-like creatures to survive and win.
Fortnite: Battle Royale is a 100 player, fight to the death match and the last player standing wins. As addicting games go, this one will have you obsessed with winning!
Fortnite: Creative allows players to get creative by building worlds and battle arenas to compete in.
Fortnite is one of those addicting games that’s sure to cure your boredom for hours, if not days.
2. World Of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is an online, subscription-based game that was released all the way back in 2004. How has World of Warcraft retained its place as a highly entertaining and addicting game 17 years later? Through clever updates and expansions.
The creators of the game offer a one, three, and six-month plan. However, you can play until level 20 for free. Take a look at Season 1:
It has nearly 10 million players playing and another 100 million registered accounts. Why not join the family and have some fun playing one of the most addicting games available? As an online game, it is one of the best!
3. League Of Legends
League of Legends is a multiplayer online game developed by Riot Games in 2009.
The game consists of two teams with 5 players each, who fight in a player vs player-style battle scenario. Each team must defend their own separate base on the map and each player controls a champion who has unique abilities and skills.
Champions must collect experience points to level up and buy other weapons and tools.
League of Legends forces you to improve and grow with your character, and as far as addicting online games go, you can easily play for hours.
4. Teamfight Tactics
Teamfight Tactics is an auto battler game also developed by Riot Games and is a spinoff of League of Legends.
You’re a Little Legend and you’re playing with seven other players. Each game consists of several rounds where each player faces off against one another.
For each round, you must fight an enemy army and the winning side does damage to the losing side’s Little Legend. The last Little Legend standing, wins.
You will find yourself getting lost in time in order to protect your cute Little Legend. It definitely goes on the list of the most addicting games.
5. Apex Legends
Apex Legends is a free, first-person shooter battle royal game. Apex Legends is developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. Most gamers, including myself, see this game as a worthy competitor to Fortnite.
Up to 20, 3-person squads land on an island and desperately search for supplies and weapons before defeating their enemies. Apex Legends is available on Windows, PS4, and Xbox One.
Find yourself looking for supplies and weapons while hunting your enemies. Also, don’t forget to watch your back as one wrong move can leave your teammates with one player down.
When asked about addicting games, most players admit that once you start playing Apex Legends, it’s hard to stop!
6. Borderlands
Borderlands is a science fiction first shooter game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. It’s available on PS3, PS4, Windows, Mac, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.
In the year 2864, several ships landed on the planet Pandora in hopes of colonizing it and finding natural resources.
After some time, colonists notice that Pandora offers nothing but alien ruins. Before leaving, companies decide to release all prisoners that they’ve employed as forced labor. The conditions are harsh. Some ex-prisoners look to get rich but most wish to simply survive.
You as a player must complete 127 missions with different levels of complexity and difficulty. 47 of the 127 missions are story related while 80 are side missions.
Play can be challenging, but the game is fun to play! It made the list of addicting games because of the level of interaction during the game. You are determined to survive!
7. Call Of Duty: Warzone
Call of Duty Warzone offers two awesome game modes. Battle Royale and Plunder.
Battle Royale supports over 150 players. You’re dropped onto a map and you can choose to play by yourself, with a partner, or as a trio. Scavenge for weapons, supplies, and gear, and fight to be the last player or team remaining.
But if you’re killed, you’re sent to a location called The Gulag. Here you will shoot it out with another dead player and the winner gets redeployed.
In the game, you’ll find cash that you can use to buy better weapons, killstreaks, and medical aids to revive you or your teammates.
However, the goal of Plunder is to make as much money as possible through looting, stealing from other players, and completing contracts. You are destined to become obsessed with these activities, which is why War Zone made the list of the most addicting games!
If you’re interested, check out cool clan names for Call of Duty!
8. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was developed and published by Ubisoft on the 10th of November 2020.
The game is based in the 9th century. You and your clan were just forced out of Norway by never-ending wars and limited resources. You must now lead your clan of Norsemen across the frozen North Sea to the riches of England.
Carve a future for yourself and your clan. You will be obsessed with creating this future and protecting your clan which is why this game made the list of addicting games.
This game allows you to relive the ancient fighting style of Viking warriors and see how they lived and survived. If you liked the series Game of Thrones, you’ll definitely like this game!
9. God Of War
God Of War is one of the first video games I can remember playing and it’s still relevant and addicting to this day.
You play the character Kratos. You must explore and pick up resources all over the ancient world. These resources can be used to buy and upgrade Kratos’s equipment like his armor, enchantments, axe pommels, and talismans.
This equipment will protect and help Kratos while looking for resources or during battle. This game made the addicting games list because of the emotional and deep journey you encounter with Kratos!
10. The Last Of Us 2
The Last of Us 2 is an action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony in mid-2020.
This game is set five years after the first installment of The Last of Us. You control two characters called Abby and Ellie. Help them survive and thrive in a post-apocalyptic United States.
What makes this one of the most addicting games is the level of violent, primal, and awe-inspiring combat, if you’re into that!
11. Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat is a childhood classic. Every time I play any of the games or watch the movies, it’s like I got into a time machine and traveled back to my childhood days.
Mortal Kombat is a classic fighting game developed by NetherRealm and published by Warner Bros. This is the eleventh installment in the Mortal Kombat franchise and a sequel to Mortal Kombat X.
Released in April 2019, Mortal Kombat 11 is available on Windows, Nintendo, PS4, and Xbox One.
Anyone who played this game knows about the awesome graphics, storyline, and characters which is why it made the list of addicting games. My favorites being Liu Kang and Johnny Cage.
12. Overwatch
Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer, first-shooter game developed by Blizzard Entertainment.
Overwatch assigns 12 players into two teams. Each player can select from a huge roster of characters like Genji, Lena, Zarya, and Widowmaker. Each hero has their own unique skills and abilities.
The goal is for teams to complete certain missions and objectives in a limited timeframe.
The creators of Overwatch have added new heroes, maps, and game modes after its initial release in May 2016. These additions come at no extra cost, so feel free to immerse yourself in the new game modes and other cool features. These new features puts this game squarely on the most addicting games list!
13. Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal is a first-person shooter game developed by id Software and is the sequel to Doom (2016). It was released on the 20th of March 2020, making it the fifth game in the series. It’s also available on PS4 and Xbox.
Doom Eternal consists of two game modes. Single-player and multiplayer which is also called “Battlemode”. In Battlemode, players can play as a Doom Slayer, or a demon.
There’s a third mode in development called “Invasion Mode”. Here, players will be able to join other player’s single-mode games and fight them. This is what makes Doom Eternal one of the most addicting games!
14. Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is an action-adventure game that follows Jin Sakai, a samurai dedicated to protecting Tsushima Island during the first Mongol invasion of Japan in the late 13th century.
This game was released on the 17th of July 2020 and is available on PS4 and Xbox One.
You play as Jin Sakai. Travel on horseback to different parts of the world and engage with enemies in direct confrontations or use stealth to your advantage and strike silently.
Your mission is to protect your clan by rebelling against the invading Mongols led by Khotun Khan. As you fight the Mongols, you’ll spend hours without realizing any time has passed. This is definitely one of the most addicting games available!
Conclusion
One of the best things a person can experience is getting lost in a video game. While you’re in front of that screen, nothing else matters. And these 14 addicting games will allow you to easily get into that state of blissful zen.
Enjoy it!
