Somewhere between checking job updates and silently judging people’s humblebrag posts. I started playing LinkedIn games. Yes LinkedIn has games now. And before you roll your eyes hear me out they’re surprisingly fun. Not quit your job and become a pro gamer fun but just the right amount of dopamine to keep you going during the mid-workday slump.
Wait LinkedIn Games Really?
This whole thing started a few months back when LinkedIn quietly rolled out three daily puzzles under LinkedIn News. Think of them like budget versions of The New York Times’ puzzle lineup but in a good way. Here’s the current trio.
- Queens: a logic puzzle with a clean interface and zero mercy
- Crossclimb: a word step puzzle that’s actually better than it looks
- Pinpoint: a word association game that’s well fine
This feels like LinkedIn is copying the NYT Games playbook it absolutely is. And honestly why wouldn’t they. The New York Times basically turned from a newspaper into a low key gaming empire. As of late 2023 NYT’s puzzle app had more user time than its news app which tells you everything you need to know about modern attention spans. So, LinkedIn basically looked around and said Hey, since everyone loves Wordle, what if we launch our own. And weirdly, it’s working.
Everyone Is Launching Games LinkedIn Is Just The Least Expected
This trend isn’t unique to LinkedIn. It feels like every platform that once pretended to be serious is now sneaking in a gaming tab.
- Apple News has games
- Netflix has games
- Even YouTube is experimenting with them
At this point your fridge might launch a daily puzzle next year. So why not LinkedIn If anything. It almost makes too much sense. Professionals especially knowledge workers often use puzzles as that tiny harmless mental break between tasks. And LinkedIn knows something very important keeping people inside the app even for just one quick puzzle is gold.
Why People Including Me Keep Playing
I wish I could say I only play these puzzles after working hours like a responsible, focused adult.
But nope Most days, I end up opening them sometime between a client email and a Slack message.
Sometimes I’m already scrolling LinkedIn to find a source or double-check someone’s role change. Other times my brain feels like a scrambled egg after rewriting a headline for the 14th time. And that’s when a little Queens puzzle hits just right.
You finish one feel a tiny boost of confidence and suddenly the same Google Doc you avoided for an hour doesn’t look so scary anymore. And apparently, there’s an actual reason for this.
There is Neuroscience Behind The Obsession
To understand why these tiny daily puzzles feel so satisfying, I dug into what researchers say about casual gaming. One conversation that stood out came from Ryan Douglas, co-founder of DeepWell DTx a company that creates therapeutic video games.
His perspective games interrupt the negative loops our brains naturally fall into. He used Tetris as an example. If you’re playing Tetris, he said, you can’t have a full conversation in your head about how terrible you are, or everything going wrong next week. Your brain simply doesn’t have the bandwidth.
When we play a simple game our brain temporarily pauses stress pattern thinking. It’s like doing a quick mental reboot without even realizing it. Douglas explained that games activate the limbic system which processes stress. The puzzles create small manageable challenges and when we overcome them. Even in a simulated environment our brain builds tiny pathways of confidence. You gain a sense of control, he said. And honestly That’s exactly what a lot of us need at random points during the workday.
The Beauty Of The One Puzzle Per Day Mechanic
One big reason Wordle succeeded is that it ends. You play once, you’re done. No endless levels. No energy system. No notifications begging you to return. Josh Wardle the creator of Wordle. Once said he built it specifically to not hijack people’s attention. He intended it to be a small moment of joy not a trap.
LinkedIn’s games follow the same flow and that’s why they work. One Queens, One Crossclimb & One Pinpoint. You get your hit. You feel good. You move on. Well unless you decide to check who among your connections also played today.
The Networking Twist Nobody Asked For
Here’s the most LinkedIn thing ever. After finishing a game, you can see which connections also played that day. Some people apparently use this as a conversation starter. Hey, I saw you solved Queens today want to discuss partnership opportunities.
Personally, I ignore it. But LinkedIn says engagement is skyrocketing.
- New player activity is up 20% week over week
- People are starting more conversations after playing
- Average time spent on LinkedIn is increasing
LinkedIn’s plan is working better than anyone expected. And honestly? If LinkedIn needed a way to keep people inside the app longer this is probably the smartest least annoying approach they could’ve taken.
Why LinkedIn Games Actually Make Sense For Professionals
Here’s a thing most people don’t admit LinkedIn is stressful. There’s a constant stream of promotions, achievements. I’m excited to announce posts, and people pretending everything in their career is going perfectly. The puzzles add a tiny pocket of normalcy. It’s a safe corner where you’re not comparing yourself to that one founder who somehow raised $8M after bootstrapping for only 3 months.
Instead, you’re just solving a harmless logic puzzle and feeling a small win before diving back into the noise. And that alone might be why people keep returning.
So Should You Play LinkedIn Games?
Absolutely, as long as you’re not letting them eat your entire morning. They’re quick, strangely satisfying and honestly a refreshing break from the ultra-polished professional universe. Just don’t fool yourself into thinking LinkedIn launched them purely for your mental health.
They want your attention just as much as any other platform. But hey if I’m going to procrastinate for four minutes, at least it’s with a game that doesn’t try to sell me coins, skins, or daily bundles. So yes, get on LinkedIn. Play Queens or Crossclimb & get your tiny burst of joy. And then as LinkedIn would like to gently remind you get back to the global grind.
