Best Online Games for When You're Sick & Bored

You’re running a temperature, feeling bored and fatigued, and stuck in bed or on the couch. What’s the best thing you can do when feeling sick or bored? How about some relaxing online games that are easy, soothing, and will add some relief to your day?

When you're not up for high-energy entertainment, the right online games can be a comforting companion. From simple card classics to slow-paced puzzles, these games don’t demand quick reflexes or intense focus—they’re low-stakes, calming, and easy to enjoy even when you're feeling your worst.

Why Relaxing Games Are Perfect for Sick Days

When you’re sick, your body needs rest—but your brain still craves a little stimulation. That’s where relaxing online games come in. Unlike fast-paced or competitive games that require high focus, soothing games help you stay lightly engaged without draining your energy.

Mentally, low-pressure games can help ease anxiety and boredom. Studies have shown that puzzle games like Solitaire or Sudoku may support stress reduction by encouraging flow states—those moments where you lose track of time and simply focus on the task at hand. For someone stuck in bed, that kind of gentle distraction can be surprisingly therapeutic.

Physically, these games are easy on the body. There’s no need to sit upright, use two hands, or rapidly react to on-screen chaos. Most relaxing games can be played with one finger on a tablet or phone, making them ideal when you’re curled up under a blanket trying to recover.

So while sleep and fluids are essential, don’t overlook the power of calm, cozy gameplay. It won’t replace medicine, but it might just lift your spirits and make the sick-day hours pass a little faster.

The best relaxing online games for when you're sick

When you’re feeling run down and out of it, high-energy games can feel like too much effort or brainpower. But these games offer a gentler, more comforting experience that doesn’t require you to be at 100%.

1. Classic Solitaire

This timeless classic is ideal when you’re feeling sick. It’s slowly paced, has no time limit, and has a hypnotic rhythm that’s almost meditative. In fact, card and puzzle games like Solitaire have been shown to help reduce stress and improve focus over time—great benefits when you're trying to get some rest.

Even better, you don’t need to download anything or create an account. Just head to 24/7 Solitaire to play for free on your browser. The site is clean, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly, making it perfect for a day spent on the couch.

Feeling festive? 24/7 Solitaire offers fun seasonal variations like Spring, Fall, and Winter decks, as well as themed options for holidays like Cinco de Mayo and Valentine’s Day. Whether you're sniffling through the holidays or riding out a rainy-day cold, there's a deck to match your mood.

2. Spider Solitaire

For a slightly more challenging variant of Solitaire, you could also try Spider Solitaire to pass the time when sick. It keeps the same relaxing pace but adds a little twist that can gently re-engage your brain when you start to feel more alert.

Spider Solitaire comes in three difficulty levels:

• 1-suit (easiest)
• 2-suit (moderate)
• 4-suit (hardest)

You can start simple and level up as you begin to feel better, giving you a way to gently challenge yourself without overwhelming your foggy brain. Like Classic Solitaire, Spider Solitaire is available on 24/7 Solitaire and includes features like move tracking, undo buttons, and auto-complete.

3. Word and puzzle games

If you’re unsure what to do when bored and sick, word and puzzle games are always an ideal choice. There are no time limits, the stakes are low, they’re gently stimulating, and they can even help your overall concentration. These games provide a quiet distraction that won’t tire you out.

Here are a few cozy options to try:

• Word searches: Soothing and straightforward.
• Crosswords: Light brain exercise without pressure.
• Sudoku: For number lovers who enjoy patterns.
• Nonograms: Calming pixel art puzzles.
• Jigsaw puzzles: Digital versions are great when you don’t want to sit up at a table.
• Game shows: Play versions of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire or Family Feud online for light, interactive fun.

You can find most of these for free online, and many of them work beautifully on mobile too.

Online games that don’t require quick thinking

If you’re feeling too under the weather to concentrate, some other online games don’t require quick thinking or fast reflexes. These games let you play at your own pace, often allowing you to pause or space out without losing progress.

1. Turn-based strategy games (Lightweight)

Less complex turn-based strategy games are a good choice as you can take long pauses between moves, which lends itself well to when you’re tired or dozing off. These include:

• Checkers
• Chess
• Go
• Risk
• Clue

They’re great for low-pressure mental engagement. Many browser-based versions even let you play against the computer or set custom rules to make gameplay easier when you’re not at your sharpest.

2. Idle games

You can also try some idle games if you’re looking for things to do when you’re sick at home and bored. Idle games are games that require minimal interaction and often have real-time elements. They’re the best choice when you want something to do while binge-watching an old favorite or trying not to fall asleep.

You’ll wonder how you lost hours without blinking while playing games like Cookie Clicker, Idle Frontier, and Tap Titans.

3. Cozy story games

Or if you want something more narrative-based, try one of the many cozy story games out there like Unpacking, which follows a nostalgic woman’s life over two decades across several homes. Or Abzû, a colorful, cell-shaded adventure where a scuba diver explores the unseen treasures of the ocean. And if you don’t want to leave bed, run your own Little Corner Tea House or poke around the adorable world of Cats & Soup.

Looking for a sick day companion? Try 24/7 Solitaire

When you’re sick and bored, there’s no better way to pass the time than to play some fun and cozy online games whether they are things you’ve never tried before or timeless favorites.

For the most classic card games, go to 247 Solitaire for a free, browser-based platform that tracks your stats and offers variations for every type of player. You’ll never have a better sick day.

DISCLAIMER: The games on this website are using PLAY (fake) money. No payouts will be awarded, there are no "winnings", as all games represented by 247 Games LLC are free to play. Play strictly for fun.