A veritable bevy of new Play Now games have been added to GGE in recent days. Two of which–Indestructo Tank and Dolphin Olympics–have been gnawing away more of our time than their simplistic gameplay would suggest possible.

How do these games pull this off? Some of it has to do with the simplicity of course: the arrow keys are all you need for either game. In Indestructo Tank, your Tank doesn’t actually have any weapons. Instead you use your tank to crash into and destroy as many enemies as possible, stringing together huge airborne combos along the way. Much like a Hummer, your only weakness is your fuel consumption. Run out of fuel before you pass on to the next level and you’re finished.

Coincidently, Dolphin Olympics contains no weaponry either, and the gameplay is essentially the same. In fact, you can almost use the same sentence to describe both games: You use your [dolphin] to [launch] into [the air] and [pull off] as many [sick tricks] as possible, stringing together huge airborne combos along the way. There’s a time limit instead of a fuel gauge in Dolphin Olympics, but you get the picture.

Another factor that keeps us four-keying our way to massive scores is the inclusion of online high score tables with multiply categories. Well, we could never be skilled enough (or have enough spare time) to even attempt to approach the Everestian heights of the current high scores, but it does allow us to compete against each other at work. And seeing frustration contorting a coworker’s face as they fall just short of besting one of the (very few) record I currently hold is like manna for my soul.

I could go on about the similarities between the games, and why they’re so addictive; unrealistic, but consistent and satisfying physics; simple, but difficult to master gameplay; instantly accessible and recognizable controls… but maybe you should just try them for yourself–Mark just beat my combo score on Indestructo Tank, so I gotta get on that.