By As a person with ADHD, I often struggle to stay focused when playing games.
Most of the time, I have at least a 6 or so games installed on my PC and I jump between these games, instead of sticking to one game until the end.
Due to this issue, one of my favorite types of games to play is those mindless games that you can play while watching a video.
These games help keep my ADHD brain occupied enough to focus on the game as they require minimal brain function to play, so you can just mindlessly play them on a second screen while watching a video or doing some other mindless task.
I have a 10-inch tablet next to my monitor for playing videos while playing games. If you have a second monitor or a laptop, it would work too.
In this list, I’m sharing some of the best mindless games to play on a second screen, while watching videos, or even while doing some work.
1. Black Desert Online
Black Desert Online, or BDO, is a highly addictive MMO that features stunning graphics and very grindy gameplay.
This game is the grindiest MMO out there and that’s actually a good thing for ADHD players. There are several different ways you can play the game
You can grind for leveling your character, grind for better gear, do trading, fishing, farming, and much more. All these tasks involve doing mindless tasks, which are perfect for doing while watching a video.
When you level up your character, you get a strong dopamine rush and it makes you keep going. You can create multiple characters in the game so there’s no end to replayability. And you can even set auto-play options to play this game while minimized.
2. STALCRAFT X
I’ll be honest, this game looks stupid and funny on the surface. But it’s one of the most addictive games I’ve played.
Stalcraft X is an MMO inspired by the STALKER universe. It pretty much has the same locations and gameplay mechanics of the Stalker games, only with blocky and weird graphics.
There’s something so satisfying about the progression system in this game. It has repetitive and grindy missions that give you a sense of accomplishment at the end of each session.
You can grind for new gear, weapons, and missions by doing repetitive tasks to farm resources. These tasks are perfect to play while watching videos or listening to a podcast in the background.
3. Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous is one of the favorite games to play while watching a podcast.
It’s a very grindy game that has lots of activities that involve mindless gameplay. Like space travel, jumping between systems, farming materials, and my favorite of them all, mining asteroids.
These activities involve very little focus so you can easily play this game while watching videos on a second screen.
4. Factorio
Building a factory that runs on its own sounds a bit tedious and boring, but this game balances its gameplay on addictive mechanics to get you hooked from the start.
Factorio is all about building an automated factory where you can create massive empires and structures that runs on its own.
In the early gameplay, you’ll have to put some thought into it. But after that, you can play this game mindless for as long as you want.
5. Satisfactory
Satisfactory is like a 3D version of Factorio, where you build an automated factory in first person view.
Satisfactory is highly addictive and involves the same mechanics as Factorio. You will be farming resources, building structures, and exploring a lot in this game.
Most of these tasks are repetitive and addictive. You can easily do them while watching videos.
6. Sims 4
Being a god involves less work than you think. In Sims 4, you get to play god on the sims you create and control their life however you want.
You get to build and upgrade the house, guide the sims on their career, choose their partner, make babies, and so much more. All this stuff is done in auto-play. You can fast forward or play slow. Your choice.
Personally, I couldn’t get into this game, but my wife loves it.
7. Civilization 6
Civilization 6 is not a game for everyone. It involves strategy and careful thinking. So it’s not exactly a mindless game. But you get to take breaks in between.
This is another game that I couldn’t get much into. The turn-based strategy is not my thing but many players say this is one of the best franchises ever made.
Civilization 7 is also out now but it’s got mixed reviews and it’s not as engaging as Civ 6. Plus Civ 6 is super cheap now, often goes at 90% off during sales.
8. Tropico 6
I actually love Tropico more than Civilization. This game is more about city-building than building empires, but it does it with a bit of humor.
In Tropico 6, you get to play the role of a dictator who does voter fraud to stay in power and control the nation with an iron fist. Your goal is to build a city and keep it profitable. And there’s a lot of humor involved in it.
You can do other work or watch videos while you build the city and the game has a pause function as well.
9. Minecraft
We can’t forget about Minecraft when talking about fun games to play on second screens. This game has been keeping people busy for decades.
Some of the tasks in Minecraft require focus and attention but it also has repetitive and mindless tasks, like resource farming and exploring, that can be done while doing other tasks on a second screen.
10. Path of Exile
A great thing about Path of Exile is that you can play this game with one hand while doing something else with the other hand (no, not that. Get your mind out of the gutter).
Path of Exile is an ARPG that has a lot of grinding aspects to it. You will be mindlessly clearing mobs and maps to far resources to upgrade your builds. And it’s perfect for playing while watching videos.
11. Kenshi
Kenshi is a sandbox survival game where you start at the bottom. Like literally at the bottom without any skills or abilities.
Your goal in this game is to develop your skills one by one and guide your character through a path. This involves training them in combat, trading, farming, and more.
It’s a very grindy game with many paths to explore. Most of the activities involve a lot of waiting around and traveling the massive map. Pull up a video and enjoy the grind.
12. House Flipper
House Flipper is a game about renovating houses. This involves cleaning trash, rebuilding, painting, and furnishing. All these activities are super satisfying to do in the game.
These tasks involve some attention but you can play while watching videos or podcasts.
If you’re into this type of games, check out Super Market Simulator. It’s another addictive game you can play in the background.
