Ah, the nostalgia of childhood gaming! I spent countless hours immersed in titles like GTA: Vice City, San Andreas, and Bully. I even remember some cheat codes from Vice City—who could forget FannyMagnet and FightFightFight? Those were the days!

But alas, those times are gone. Now, as a programmer, indulging in such games on my Mac is a risky endeavor. If my boss catches me, I could lose my job. Honestly, my schedule is too packed even to consider playing GTA.

Yet, as the saying goes: "Where there's a will, there's a way." — George Herbert

I’ve unearthed nine quick games available via Homebrew that I can enjoy in my spare moments, all while staying under the radar at work. While they may not have the graphics of GTA, they’re perfect for alleviating boredom.

#1. netToe (Tic Tac Toe) This Terminal version of Tic Tac Toe includes three modes of play: - Player vs. CPU - Player vs. Player - Two players over a network (impressive!)

With three difficulty levels, the CPU randomly decides who goes first. Players can place their X or O by typing the coordinates of their chosen square. For example, typing "b2" places your mark in the center.

Install netToe: brew install nettoe Launch netToe: nettoe

#2. nsuds (Sudoku) If you're familiar with Sudoku, you'll find nsuds to be a similar experience.

It offers five difficulty levels, with each higher level starting with fewer pre-filled squares and less time for completion. After each game, nsuds provides a summary of your performance and keeps a cumulative score to boast about.

Install nsuds: brew install nsuds Launch nsuds: nsuds

If you're new to Sudoku, consider installing Nudoku, which features helpful hints and a cleaner interface.

Install Nudoku: brew install nudoku Launch Nudoku: nudoku

#3. nSnake (Snake Game) nSnake takes you back to the classic Snake game, but with added customization options:

• Snake speed
• Number of fruits on the screen
• Teleport walls
• Random walls
• Maze size

Install nSnake: brew install nsnake Launch nSnake: nsnake

For a simpler version, try naga.

Install naga: brew install naga Launch naga: naga

#4. yetris (Tetris) Feeling confined by classic Tetris? yetris allows for more customization:

• Hard-drop or soft-drop blocks
• Rotate blocks
• Preview the next seven blocks
• Hold blocks
• View game statistics

Install yetris: brew install yetris Launch yetris: yetris

For a tougher challenge, check out bastet, which deliberately provides unfavorable blocks.

Install bastet: brew install bastet Launch bastet: bastet

#5. typespeed Typespeed is a gamified typing tutor. You’ll need to type challenging words quickly to "zap" them before they exit the screen.

You can adjust the difficulty based on your typing skills.

Install typespeed: brew install typespeed Launch typespeed: typespeed

For a more formal typing tutor, try Klavaro.

Install Klavaro: brew install klavaro Launch Klavaro: klavaro

#6. MyMan (Pac-Man) MyMan brings the classic Pac-Man experience to the Terminal.

Despite its text-based design, it captures the essence of the original game remarkably well.

Install MyMan: brew install myman Launch MyMan: myman

#7. nInvaders (Space Invaders) nInvaders is a throwback to the iconic Space Invaders game, originally updated in 2003.

As you play, aliens will descend towards you, and you must eliminate them while avoiding their attacks.

Install nInvaders: brew install ninvaders Launch nInvaders: ninvaders

#8. rogue Rogue is a dungeon-crawling game where you seek rare ingredients for magical potions.

The game's layout and challenges change with each playthrough, ensuring a unique experience every time.

Install rogue: brew install rogue Launch rogue: rogue

#9. wordle Wordle, the wildly popular word-guessing game, is now playable in Terminal.

You'll have six attempts to guess a five-letter word, with color-coded feedback to guide you.

Install wordle: brew install wordle Launch wordle: wordle

For more engaging Terminal commands on macOS, check these resources:

Useful Mac Terminal Commands [macos terminal commands](https://nikhilvemu.medium.com)

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