Top 10 Time Management Games

With so many time management games out on the market currently, it’s so hard to pick out the good ones! I hate seeing people waste their money on games that they only play 10 minutes of, even if they’re only a dollar. These things add up, you know!

I think what makes these games so appealing is the feeling of accomplishment that you get when you play them. If the game is good, it captures you, and it gives you a feeling that you’re actually in it. I mean, how awesome would it be if humans were actually as efficient as Flo, Sally, or Nikki when it comes to running a diner, spa, or supermarket; or if our everyday job consisted of having enough power and control to prevent boats and flights from crashing? That’s talent right there!  Anyways, I don’t want to say too much or I’ll give the whole list away! So here we go, here is my list of the top ten time management (iPhone) games.

10.  Jojo’s Fashion Show

Jojo’s Fashion Show 2 reminds me of The Sims when you get to chose what outfit you want your character to be wearing. However, in this game, you have a theme like “Bollywood” or “African”. Then you are given different clothing articles that you can mix and match to find an outfit that matches the theme. This includes: tops, dresses, skirts, pants, shoes, and various other accessories. I love this game because it allows you to get creative. As well, it’s not as redundant as other time management games.  I didn’t rate this at the top of my time management games list just because it isn’t as versatile as the other games. That is, I’m not sure I could see my boyfriend playing and enjoying this game as much as I do!

9.  Airport Mania:  First Flight

Airport Mania is like running your own airport in the comfort of your own… iPhone! In this game, you direct planes, board and unboard passengers, and repair the planes as need be. It’s fast-paced and addictive. I also like this game because, like Harbor Master, you aren’t controlling just one character, you are controlling the whole situation/scene. It’s an overall fun game, but I didn’t put it past the top 5 because I wasn’t too fond of the graphics.

8.  Harbor Master

At first, I was very hesitant to purchase this game. It looked extremely boring. The only reason why I purchased Harbor Master was because of the high ratings it had on the App Store. Well, let me tell you, this game is addictive! The purpose is to try and get the boats into the right harbor to unload their cargo. If the docks are full, you lead the boat in another direction until the dock is available. However, you also have to make sure that boats don’t crash into each other. You can only imagine how busy it gets in the later levels! Despite having a bird’s eye view in this game, the graphics are still fantastic; simple yet realistic.

7.  Cake Mania Celebrity Chef

In Cake Mania Celebrity Chef, you are trying to make a cake based on the customer’s order. There are several stations, and step-by-step you create a cake until you’ve reached the finished product. It’s similar to Bar Star, but I felt like Bar Star kept things more interesting because the players were introduced to a larger variety of products more frequently (i.e. we saw more drinks introduced vs. cakes). I chose the celebrity edition over the original Cake Mania version because of the cute, recognizable characters in the game. As well, the graphics are a lot better. I just love how colorful and bright this game is!

6.  Miriel the Magical Merchant

Miriel the Magical Merchant is like the baby of Cake Mania and Supermarket Mania if they had a kid. In this game, you are mixing and matching ingredients to satisfy customer orders. This game has a touch of fantasy filled with cute and inventive characters.

5.  Supermarket Mania

Supermarket Mania features a young girl named Nikki, who works in a grocery store. Her job is to keep the shelves stocked at all times. I especially love the fast-paced music, and the great graphics in the game- it really feels like you’re in a grocery store. There are 50 levels in the game, which will keep you entertained for many hours. As well their upgrades are quirky and cute. Definitely worth picking up.

4.  Bar Star

Bar Star made it onto my top five list of time management games because, although similar to Diner Dash, it has its own unique twist which is what makes the game so good. Instead of having the basic setting where tasks can get redundant (the duties are all the same), and where the difficulty comes from the increase in customers, Bar Star is different. There comes a point in the game where you will have to mix cocktails, and in order to do so, you have to chose the right glass and ingredients. However, as the game progresses, more ingredients are added to different parts of the bar, and it’s easy to get them mixed up. Therefore, memory comes into play with these games. I’d say Bar Star is one step up in difficulty from all the other time management games so far on the list. Besides that, this game is set inside a bar, and you’re learning how to mix drinks. How much better can it get?

3.  Turbo Subs

Turbo Subs involves making a sandwich requested by the customer. This game, however, added in a few obstacles such as thieves, which gives it a nice, hilarious touch. I also enjoyed the upgrades: appliances and condiments, as well as the creativity and attention to detail that they put into the game. That is, not only were you able to serve subs, the customer also had the option to purchase snacks such as cotton candy and chips, as well as drinks. However, because the game is similar to Diner Dash, it did not make it on the top of the list.

2.  Sally’s Spa

Sally’s Spa revolves around a spa (obviously!) managed by Sally (double obviously!). Manage spas all around the world in places like New York, Paris, Rome, and Japan!  This game is so addictive, and like most of the other time management games out there, it’s easy and mindless. However, that’s what makes it so great! Don’t you always get this nice, warm, fuzzy feeling when you win a level in a game? I know I do, and from this game, it’s almost impossible to lose! Bottom line: this game leads me satisfied. The graphics are also great!

1.  Diner Dash

Diner Dash is the most classic and timeless time management game out there. In this game, you play Flo, the waitress who manages a diner. You get to seat customers, take their order, drop the order, bring them the order, check them out, clean their dishes, bring the dishes to the washer, and repeat! This game is entertaining, and I never get tired of it. Okay fine, I will admit, I do get tired of this game, but a few months later, I always come back to it!

by Lesley Yuen