Choose a game break that fits how your colleague feels

The same colleague may want a fast laugh on Monday and quiet concentration on Thursday. Asking “What game should we play?” can feel like another task when the person is already tired. Two questions make the choice easier: how much time do we really have, and do we want to talk or focus?

Count the whole break

The game catalogue gives approximate play times, not a promise about the whole interruption. Allow a minute to send a Guest link and a moment to return to work. If the calendar leaves eight minutes, a five-minute title is a safer invitation than a ten-minute one. If either person has to leave at a fixed time, say so before you start.

• About five minutes available: Rock Paper Scissors or Tic-Tac-Toe is listed at about three minutes. Keep it to one match.

• Ten minutes with room to settle: Memory is listed at about five minutes; the leftover time can be a genuine pause.

• Fifteen minutes free: Connect Four or Dots & Boxes is listed at about ten minutes. Check the room settings before assuming the match will fit.

A longer board game may be enjoyable later, but do not start Chess, listed at about thirty minutes, inside a narrow gap simply because both people like it.

Match the social energy, too

For a colleague who wants to chat, Rock Paper Scissors leaves room for a short conversation before or after the match. For someone who would rather look at the board, Memory offers a shared focus without requiring small talk. For a person who likes a bit of tactical back-and-forth, Connect Four has a clear board and a simple aim. None of these choices measures personality; ask what feels good today.

“I have twelve minutes. Would you prefer a quiet Memory game, a quick Rock Paper Scissors round, or just a break away from the screen?”

That third option matters. Rest can be solitary, and a game is only restorative when both people want it.

Agree on an ending before starting

Say “one match, then back at 2:15” rather than allowing a rematch to appear automatically. If the game ends early, leave the extra minutes unused or chat briefly. If it runs long, follow the room's rules and stop when you need to; do not pressure the other player to rush. A simple “thanks, that was fun” is enough to close.

After the match, check whether the pace actually fit: was there time to open the link and stop without rushing? Use that answer when comparing games next time, rather than treating a catalogue estimate as a promise.