Many of us fear the Linux terminal and might even hesitate to open it. Why is that? Probably because it’s all text, endless commands, and not a single graphical button in sight. It gives off the vibe of a serious, no-nonsense boss. Strictly business and no fun allowed.
But here’s the twist: you can actually flip that perception on its head. With a few simple commands, you can turn your serious-looking Ubuntu terminal into a playground that you’ll look forward to opening and interacting with.
Now, I won’t lie, these games can’t compete with triple-A titles in terms of graphics. What they do bring, though, is plenty of fun, challenge, and a dash of nostalgia. They’re lighthearted, addictive, and the perfect cure for boredom. That’s my promise to you.
While the installation instructions here are for Ubuntu and Ubuntu-based distros, many can be installed on other Linux distros! Just search your repositories for the package name to see if it’s available.
Moon-Buggy: Linux Terminal to the Moon
The first game I would like to talk about is Moon-Buggy. This is a quite simple game to get into, yet surprisingly addictive. You drive a tiny buggy across the surface of the moon with one goal: avoid crashing. To survive, you’ll need to jump over craters and shoot down rocks blocking your path.
The first few seconds may feel slow and easy, but don’t let that fool you. The game quickly ramps up in speed, pushing your reflexes and timing to the limit. It has that classic “just one more try” feeling that keeps you hooked.
I love how such a simple concept delivers so much fun, something I had forgotten about. But, I’ll admit, I haven’t made it past level 3 yet. Can you beat me?
The in-game controls are:
- Spacebar to jump
- A to shoot
- Q to quit the game
Another thing about this game is that it’s perfect for those little waiting moments—say, when a package is installing. Instead of scrolling on social apps, just start moon-buggy in your terminal, you will love it. But be warned: time flies in this game, and you might look up an hour later still trying to beat your high score. So, put a timer!
How to install
On Ubuntu 24.04, installation is straightforward:
sudo apt install moon-buggy
To start playing, type moon-buggy into your terminal.
Pacman4Console: Waka Waka
Even if you’ve never played Pac-Man, chances are you’ve at least heard of it; that’s how legendary this game is. A timeless classic that defined arcade gaming. Released in the 1980s, Pac-Man is still loved by many, and now you can play right inside your Linux terminal.
Just like the original arcade version, the objective is simple: eat all the dots in the maze while avoiding the ghosts. But don’t be fooled—it’s not easy. Those relentless ghosts will chase you down, and one wrong turn means game over.
The gameplay is straightforward, but the tension and excitement make it surprisingly thrilling. You’ll find yourself leaning forward, gripping the keyboard, and maybe even jumping off your chair when you clear a level. But don’t forget to turn on your fan or AC, because it is going to get hot really fast.
On Ubuntu, install with:
sudo apt install pacman4console
Then, to run, type pacman4console in the terminal.
Ninvaders: Space Invaders in the Terminal
NInvaders is a recreation of the legendary 1978 arcade hit Space Invaders, but in ASCII from right inside your terminal.
You take control of a cannon stationed at the bottom of the screen, and waves of aliens march steadily toward you. The objective is simple: blast every alien before they reach the ground. But don’t get too comfortable, these aliens aren’t defenseless. They’ll fire back at you, and dodging their shots while trying to line up your own can get tense.
At first, the aliens will move slowly, giving you a chance to aim carefully. But as you wipe out more of them, the rest of them start moving faster and faster, ramping up the difficulty just like the original arcade version. This gradual speed increase makes every round even more intense; shooting down the last few of them gets really challenging.
That’s why Ninvaders is a game I highly recommend downloading. The mechanics are simple but deliver a punch.
For the controls, you move left and right using the arrow keys. Space bar is for shooting.
On Ubuntu, install with:
sudo apt install ninvaders
Run it by typing ninvaders in the terminal.
Bastet: A Twisted Version of Tetris
As a child, I used to spend a lot of time playing Tetris, but Bastet is a version of Tetris with a cruel twist that makes you feel as if the game is toying with you.
In regular Tetris, which was challenging enough on its own, you patiently waited for that perfect piece to clear four rows at once. In Bastet? Don’t count on it. The algorithm is designed to frustrate you by not giving you the piece you need, making the game even harder.
This twist also makes the game surprisingly fun in its own devious way. It forces you to adapt, be creative, and think outside the box—because the box is actively working against you. You’ll find yourself grumbling, on your toes, maybe even cursing, but you’ll also keep hitting “play again.” Because you want to take revenge against the game.
So, if you’re up for a challenge that will test your patience and adaptability, Bastet will keep you grounded (like it did to me). Infuriating? Yes. Addictive? Absolutely.
Apart from the twist we discussed, the gameplay is similar to the original Tetris, where you follow certain rules:
- Arrange falling blocks to complete horizontal lines
- When you complete a line, it disappears, and you score points.
- The game ends when your stack reaches the top of the screen.
On Ubuntu, install with:
sudo apt install bastet
Type bastet in your terminal to run the game.
Tint: The Original Tetris Formula
After being relentlessly trolled by Bastet, you might crave a kinder, fairer version of Tetris, and that’s where Tint comes in.
Tint is a Tetris clone that sticks to the original formula: random pieces, line clears, and increasing speed as you progress. No evil algorithms plotting against you, no deliberate sabotage, just classic Tetris gameplay that feels relaxing at first and then ramps up into the familiar, heart-pounding rush.
I’d actually recommend playing Tint first before moving on to Bastet. Even if you’ve played Tetris before, Tint works as the perfect warm-up to get your fingers and reflexes ready for the brutal challenge Bastet throws at you.
To install Tint on Ubuntu:
sudo apt install tint
Type tint to launch the game.
Nsnake: The Classic Nokia Snake Game
If you grew up with a Nokia phone in the late ’90s or early 2000s, you probably remember the Snake game. A tiny screen with a pixel snake, and hours of obsession. With Nsnake, you get the same experience in your terminal.
The rules are exactly as you remember: guide your snake around the screen, eat the dots to grow longer, and avoid crashing into yourself. The longer you last, the more intense it gets. What starts as a calm, simple game quickly becomes a nerve-wracking test of reflexes.
For me, this game brings back memories of when friends would gather and challenge each other to beat the high score. Getting the highest score in the circle gives you a special kind of bragging rights and a sense of accomplishment. Nsnake captures that same competitive spirit. Invite your friends to play the game, compare scores, and see who comes out on top. A simple but timeless way to spark some friendly rivalry and share moments of joy.
Apart from that, the thing I love most about Snake is how perfect it is for killing time when you’re waiting for something. Personally, I often open it up when I’m resting between tasks, and it gives me a quick jolt of refreshment. And of course, there’s that addictive, yet rewarding “just one more try” feeling that keeps me playing the game, something far better than mindlessly scrolling on my phone.
To install the game:
sudo apt install nsnake
Greed: For the Numbers Nerds
In this game, you start on a grid filled with numbers. Each number tells you how many spaces you’ll move in a particular direction, and once you leave a spot, it disappears behind you. The challenge is simple yet devilish: cover as much of the grid as possible without boxing yourself in.
If you enjoy puzzle games mixed with strategy, Greed is a real treat. It forces you to think several steps ahead, almost like a chess match with yourself.
Personally, I find it a bit too intense for “killing time,” because the game pulls me into hyper-focus mode—what was supposed to be a quick break suddenly turns into a full-on gaming session. For that reason, I usually lean toward something lighter like Nsnake. Still, if you’re in the mood for a brain workout, Greed will definitely keep you hooked.
To install the game
sudo apt install greed
Then, type greed in your terminal to run the game.
Hangman: A Classic Guessing Game
I used to play this game a lot back in school whenever we had a free period, and now I get to enjoy it right inside my terminal. In Hangman, the computer secretly picks a word, and your job is to guess it letter by letter. For every wrong guess, a part of the stick figure is drawn on the gallows.
At the start, the words appear as blanks (for example: _ _ _ _ _).
- If your guessed letter is in the word, the blank gets filled.
- If not, another piece of the hangman is drawn.
- You win if you figure out the word in time. You lose if the stick figure is fully drawn first.
To install the game, run:
sudo apt install bsdgames
Then launch by typing hangman in your terminal.
Here’s the cool part: when you install bsdgames, you don’t just get Hangman—you unlock a whole collection of classic BSD games in your terminal, like worm, tetris-bsd, and trek. You can see the entire BSD games list on this Wiki page, but not all of them will be available on your distro. To see what games are available on your system, type:
dpkg -L bsdgames | grep '/usr/games/'
Terminal games like Moon-Buggy, Pacman4Console, nInvaders, and nSnake prove that gaming doesn’t always need cutting-edge graphics or 100GB of storage space. Sometimes, the simplest games deliver the most fun, whether it’s in your terminal or even games right in your browser.
So next time you’re waiting for a system update, or just need a quick mental break, fire up one of these ASCII classics and turn your serious-looking terminal into a mini arcade.
