Games that pass the "3 am test"
What games have passed the “3 am test” multiple times? We asked the PC Game Spotlight subreddit this question, and they gave us a list of some of their favourite addictive games.
From Civilization to The Sims, from Diablo 3 to Crusader Kings 3, we got recommendations for a wide variety of PC Games that can keep you up all night – you know, for the good of your productivity.
You might have guessed that some of these games are pretty obvious. We all know that Civilization games are perfect for the “just one more turn” mentality, and many of you mention it in your own submissions. Factorio, Satisfactory, and Rimworld also get a lot of love in the thread, while Minecraft is another game that can make you lose track of time – especially on a portable device like the Switch Lite.
Best games that have kept people up all night
F.E.A.R. and its DLC are definitely keeping one user up late on their Steam Deck, but I would have expected more recommendations for The Sims. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t consider that to be a “game” in the same way as some of the other titles on the list.
There are also a few surprising recommendations for the Kenshi and Subnautica games, although I can definitely understand why they would keep you up. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is the lack of Vampire Survivors recommendations – especially considering how many people mentioned Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines.
Otherwise, it’s a pretty expected list overall. Stellaris, the Total War: Warhammer series, and the Trails games are all up there. I’m not sure I’d necessarily recommend them all, but they are certainly addictive. I’m sure you’d probably get a similar list if you asked the Steam community at large, but it’s always good to see what other PC gamers consider to be their “addictive games”.
Diablo 3 is mentioned as a game that has passed the test, but Diablo 4 has been a disappointment for one user, while Street Fighter 6 and Baldur’s Gate 3 Early Access are also recommended by some.
In fact, a lot of you mention the Baldur’s Gate series, with some even recommending Witcher 3 instead, despite the former being a classic RPG series. Opus Magnum and Hunt: Showdown are also games that have addictive qualities.
More games that have kept people up at night
Describing Subnautica as a “survival/exploration game set in an oceanic alien planet, with elements of horror and a deep storyline,” it’s not hard to see why it would be so addictive. Middle Earth: Shadow of War, Smite, and various Pokémon games are also mentioned.
Inscryption, CS:GO, Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, The Forest, and Plague Tale: Innocence are also mentioned. In fact, a lot of you mention the Witcher 3, which I’m surprised by. I don’t think it’s the best game ever made – certainly not one of the best open-world games – but it’s a solid RPG game nonetheless.
Age of Empires, Heroes of Might and Magic, Civilization, Roller Coaster Tycoon, Destiny, The Last of Us, Skyrim, Dust: An Elysian Tale, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, LoZ: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Phantom Hourglass are also mentioned.
In terms of multiplayer games, Vampire Survivors, Rimworld, Prison Architect, Total War, Anno, Factorio, and Space Engineers are all mentioned.
