In today’s world you don’t often end up with hours of time to spare, so spending three days on a cryptic crossword may not be on the cards. The good news is there are plenty of games out there that offer a quick puzzle fix when you’re boiling the kettle or waiting for the next train.

Here are some speedy games that can be played in a jiffy:

The NYT Games section is ever-growing, with loads of games to choose from. The popular Mini-Crossword can be completed in mere seconds if you’re super quick, and Connections is the perfect head-scratcher for a coffee break that challenges you to group words by what they have in common. And we have to mention Wordle, a small daily anagram puzzle that’s a global sensation. You might already have a win streak going!

This match-3 behemoth almost needs no introduction. Its levels of exploding coloured sweets are moreish and challenging, requiring quick thinking, accuracy and planning several moves ahead. The further you get, the tougher the obstacles you come up against, including liquorice fences and the infamous five-layered frosting. If you’ve got time, there’s nothing better than clearing a few bright, challenging levels in this sweet gaming treat.

An anagram game mashed up with a crossword grid, your task here is to find all the words possible with a given set of letters. As you level up you’re given bigger sets of letters, but you get as many tries as you like, so Wordscapes is an easy way to expand your vocabulary on your commute. It’s consistently a favourite game for many, and you can play just a few minutes a day to feel like a right smarty-pants, plus the lovely nature scenes that act as backdrops are soothing if you’re a bit stressed.

Mix dominoes with a bit of solitaire and a smidge of mahjong, and you’ve brewed up Domino Dreams. Clear levels of chunky domino tiles one layer at a time, mahjong style, but you can only remove a piece if it matches the colour and number of dots on the piece you hold in your hand. Levels get trickier with more pieces, and you quickly learn to think about the odds of the pieces in front of you, and the tactical advantage of clearing a single tile that’s blocking the way. It’s tactile, fun and, importantly, fast to play!

If you love merge games but want a bit of a happy twist on the “revamping an old house” formula, Travel Town offers a sunny escape and the chance to spruce up a whole community. In just a few minutes a day, you can merge holiday-themed items such as sandy shells, pinwheels and lush plants, and see the rewards of cleaning up the town and upgrading facilities. It’s a feel-good puzzle with a travel theme – and you don’t even have to go anywhere!