Minigames are nothing new in the gaming sphere. The best minigames out there are sometimes so deceptively good they arguably deserve their own spin-off titles. First introduced in The Witcher 3, Gwent is one of these fan-favorite hits that eventually turned into a full-blown digital game.

But while minigames are most often associated with side-quest-heavy open-world action RPGs, MMOs also have lots of surprises in store for players willing to try something different. If you’re looking for a bit of fun, thus, the following minigames might be straight up your alley.

Clan Wars – RuneScape

RuneScape is one of the most popular fantasy MMORPGs around. In fact, even the Guinness World Records recognized it as the largest free MMORPG out there. And among the many quests and minigames awaiting players, Clan Wars is by far one of the most thrilling. Released in late 2017 as compensation for some changes proving divisive among the community, Clan Wars is available to both free players and members of the Gamer’s Grotto.

In this action-packed minigame, members of opposing Friends Chat channels can figure out who’s boss in player-versus-player combat. Many in-game clans take their Clan Wars seriously. Some highly-skilled gamers even spice up combat by choosing settings that mean losing all their items upon death, mirroring the intense difficulty of the perilous Wilderness region. Others can play it safer, though, by entering the free-for-all combat arena of the White Portal. A large-scale 2008 expansion also added the slightly more dangerous Red Portal arena, on top of new fighting and messaging options.

Duty Officer – Star Trek Online

Star Trek Online has no shortage of minigames. From stabilizing an Omega molecule to cutting off wires within seconds to prevent an explosion from resetting the game, there’s no end to the high-tension games in this sci-fi MMORPG. The duty officer system therefore brings a nice change of pace. This optional minigame centers around the logistics of managing your starship’s crew, which includes everything from enlisted personnel to junior officers and civilian members.

Introduced in season 5, this assignment system’s mechanics are akin to several collectible card games. Random booster packs allow you to acquire a roster of officers before sending each one of them into the missions they’re best suited to accomplish. Provided you’ve picked the right officer for the job, you then collect rewards like energy credits, temporary buffs, and skill points when the mission completes. And there are over 50,000 duty officers to choose from. Star Trek captains unite, and show off your best managerial techniques!

Bunker Bar minigames – Fallen Earth

Fallen Earth is set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic wasteland surrounding the American Grand Canyon. Taking hyper-realism up a notch, the game world of this free-to-play MMORPG is based on a real topographical map of the Big Canyon. While the United States took a hard hit in the wake of a series of natural disasters, casinos managed to survive the chaos against all odds. Slot machines and high-tech gambling devices are accessible in some of the underground Bunker Bars scattered across the map. Although they may not face fellow gamers, players can wager their chips in these seedy gambling venues.

But in case Fallen Earth’s limited choice doesn’t suit every player’s gambling tastes, many new casinos await. The newest platforms appeal to gamers by offering an extensive range of up-and-coming games from top-tier software providers. Newcomers may also rake in lucrative offers and bonuses. And reviewing hubs make choosing a new website to try that much easier by publishing thorough casino guides that account for many criteria like safety, fairness, and mobile compatibility.

Pet Battle – World of Warcraft

Pokémon meets classic World of Warcraft vanity pets in this turn-based minigame. The Pet Battle system is all about capturing wild pets to have them fight NPC’s tamed pets or hone their skills against fellow players. Getting the upper hand means unlocking new abilities to display during the next battle and expanding on the participating pet’s experience and levels.

As addictive as it might be, this fun minigame keeps things casual by tracking the number of wins only instead of showcasing the number of losses. Still, raising your companion’s level to the max and beating all Pet Battle quests is nothing short of an exhilarating goal to complete.

Looking for exciting minigames? From Gwent to Resident Evil 4’s Mercenaries, action RPGs and survival horror titles are packed with cool minigames allowing players to take a break from the main narrative. But MMOs have long followed suit. And the good news is, we’ve left out many a compelling minigame in our list, such as Final Fantasy XIV’s Adventurer Squadrons and LotRO’s Freeze Tag.