7 fast mobile games to try during work breaks in the UAE: Brotato to Call of Duty

Stuck at your desk staring at spreadsheets? It’s time to hit pause and let your brain breathe with a few minutes of fast, fun gaming. From the chaotic, potato-packed action of Brotato to the intense tactical showdowns in Call of Duty Mobile, these seven mobile games turn short breaks into tiny adventures. Quick rounds, satisfying progression, and bite-sized challenges make them perfect for lunch hours or a mid-morning reset. Of course, what you need is, a dash of strategy, a sprinkle of chaos, and a handful of zombie battles, and suddenly your work break doesn’t feel like work at all.

Need a quick adrenaline hit without leaving your desk? There's Subway Surfers, the endless runner that turns your phone into a mini thrill ride. You play as Jake, or one of his graffiti-spraying friends, darting down subway tracks while the ever-grumpy inspector and his dog give chase. Swipe, jump, and dodge trains, poles, barriers, and walls, collecting coins, keys, and power-ups along the way.

Why it’s perfect for lunch breaks: Rounds last as long as you like. One coffee, one cookie, one swipe and you’re off, reviving if you crash, chasing high scores, or zipping over trains with your trusty hoverboard. Power-ups like super sneakers, jetpacks, and coin magnets let you rack up points in seconds, making even a five-minute break feel like a full-on arcade session.

Subway Surfers keeps things fresh with daily challenges, seasonal hunts, and limited-time events, plus a growing roster of characters and hoverboards with unique abilities. Each session is a mini adventure, perfect for a mental reset between spreadsheets and Zoom calls. Fun, fast, endlessly replayable, and addictive in just the right way, it’s basically your lunch break in a game.

So next time your boss says 'quick break,' grab your phone, tap the screen, and surf your way to glory. Just don’t get caught…

Call of Duty: Mobile is your pocket-sized battlefield, ready to turn a five-minute coffee break into a fun spree. So, go ahead, dive into multiplayer chaos or drop into a 100-player battle royale, there’s adrenaline in every tap and swipe.

Multiplayer mode lets you squad up or go solo, with fan-favorite maps, Team Deathmatch, Domination, and even quirky limited-time modes like Prop Hunt or Sticks and Stones. Scorestreaks, special weapons, and endless customization mean every match feels fresh—plus, you can show off epic skins if you’re feeling fancy.

If you prefer survival thrills, Battle Royale mode drops you into a massive map where scavenging weapons, dodging enemies, and hopping into helicopters, boats, or ATVs is the name of the game. High-tier loot zones, revive systems, and character classes like Scout or Ninja keep you on your toes. Bonus points for surviving waves of zombies in Undead Siege or the classic Shi No Numa map, if you want some extra chaos before getting back to your inbox.

Fast, explosive, endlessly replayable, and free-to-play, Call of Duty: Mobile is basically your personal action movie in your pocket. One tap, one jump, one headshot—and suddenly lunch break just got more fun.

Brawl Stars is a solid choice for a fast, fun reset. This multiplayer arena game from Supercell lets you pick from a huge roster of unlockable Brawlers, each with unique abilities, and jump into short, action-packed matches against players, AI, or bosses. You can use normal attacks, charge up your Super, and equip Gadgets, Star Powers, Gears, and Hypercharges for extra flair — all in just a few minutes. With quick rounds, rewarding progression, and low mental load, Brawl Stars is ideal for a break to recharge, have fun, and return to work refreshed.

Your mission: stack, build, and balance towering skyscrapers higher than your caffeine buzz, without toppling over. Each block you place is a test of timing, precision, and your inner architect, and one slip can send your sky-high ambitions crashing down (literally).

Why it’s perfect for five-minute breaks: rounds are short, addictive, and endlessly replayable. You can build a single tower while sipping your coffee, then start a new one as soon as the boss calls back, each attempt nudging you closer to your personal record. Colourful graphics, smooth controls, and satisfying “click” feedback every time a block lands just right makes stacking as relaxing as it is challenging.

High Risers also spices things up with different environments, tricky moving platforms, and unlockable upgrades, so no two towers feel the same. It’s the ultimate mini escape, fast-paced enough to energise, simple enough to jump back into work, and surprisingly rewarding when you hit that perfect skyline.

If you need a fast, fun way to recharge during work, Brotato is a surprisingly satisfying choice. Developed by Thomas Gervraud and later Evil Empire, this top-down shoot ’em up roguelite has players controlling a potato fighting off endless waves of enemies. With multiple unlockable characters, each with unique starting attributes, every round feels fresh, giving just enough variety to keep your brain engaged without overwhelming it. Gameplay is simple but strategic: Waves of enemies automatically shoot, and after each round, you can upgrade weapons and stats using materials collected in-game. This combination of action, progression, and quick decision-making makes it ideal for short bursts of play.

Originally released on Steam in early access in 2022, Brotato quickly became a hit, selling over 10 million copies by 2025 and expanding to platforms like iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. Critics and players alike praise its addictive gameplay and replayability, making it one of the best ways to unwind between tasks. In just five to ten minutes, you can blast through waves, upgrade your potato, and return to work feeling refreshed, focused, and just a little more heroic.

Monster Hunter Now turns your real-world surroundings into a quick-action hunting ground. Developed by Niantic and Capcom, this 2023 AR mobile game places your avatar on a live map divided into forests, swamps, and deserts, where you can tap to battle monsters or collect resources. Large monsters only take 75 seconds per fight, while smaller ones can be defeated in seconds, making it ideal for short 5–10 minute breaks. Between fights, you can gather materials to craft armor or weapons, giving a satisfying sense of progress in tiny bursts.

The game also works passively: even when you’re away, resources accumulate, and marked monsters stay ready for later hunts. With six weapon types, 13 large monsters, and a terrain map that refreshes daily, every break feels fresh and rewarding.

The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land is ideal for a 5–10 minute work break. Originally released in 2015 and now available on iOS, Android, and PC, the game puts you in charge of a group of survivors in a zombie apocalypse. Your goal: maintain and upgrade your base while leading your team into fast, turn-based battles against the undead. You pick from six character classes, each specializing in close combat or firearms, and form squads of three for tactical fights that feel satisfying in short bursts.

Upgrading your base can be sped up with in-game purchases, but the real thrill comes from the combat itself, careful positioning, smart ability use, and quick decision-making make every minute count. With its mix of strategy, team management, and zombie action, the game is perfect for squeezing in a little adrenaline during a coffee break, a train ride, or between meetings. By letting you jump in and out of fights quickly, No Man’s Land keeps your brain engaged without derailing your day.