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In an age of hostility towards politicians, it’s hardly surprising that a photo of the MP Nigel Mills playing Candy Crush during a House of Commons committee on pension reform caused a stir. Yet who among us has not wasted a few idle moments gaming when we should have been working?
The trouble is that while games have become more accessible and addictive than ever, the human willpower to resist has yet to catch up. So here are ten of the most addictive games that might get you fired. Download with caution.
1) Candy Crush Saga
For the uninitiated, Candy Crush Saga involves nothing more than matching up rows of tiles into groups of three. If that sounds dull, it has proved otherwise for the half a billion people who downloaded the game by the start of this year, according to an IPO filing from the creators King Digital Entertainment.
2) Angry Birds
Players of Angry Birds are asked to fire cartoon birds at a series of increasingly complex structures, the aim being to destroy the evil green pigs. Like most addictive games the concept is simple, but it has spawned a franchise of themed games, including Star Wars and Transformers versions, as well as a host of merchandise.
3) Plague Inc
As implied by the title, Plague Inc is a virus simulator, with the player aiming to spread the epidemic around the world and kill the global population. This is harder than it sounds, owing to difficulties transporting it overseas and humanity’s annoying habit of attempting to find a cure for the bug, which you must upgrade as you go in order to counter their efforts.
4) Fruit Ninja
Apparently a favourite of prime minister David Cameron, Fruit Ninja is a game in which players have to cut through fruit using a touchscreen. Slicing multiple fruit with one swipe boosts your score, and the game lasts until you lose all your lives by missing fruit before it hits the ground.
5) Plants vs. Zombies
Plants vs. Zombies pits a host of vegetation against legions of the undead, with the player on the side of the greenery. Taking place across a number of gardens, you must marshal your forces to keep the zombies from reaching your house, with an array of upgrades, power-ups and new enemies to discover along the way. The sequel adds even more to the mix.
6) Tetris
Now 30-years-old, Tetris has lost none of its powers to entertain over the years, with many versions remaining true to the simple drop-blocking formula. The newest edition from EA adds a few other game modes, as well as the option to compare your scores on Facebook with those of your friends.
7) Doodle Jump
Doodle Jump is a simple platform game where the player has to climb as high as possible as without crashing into obstacles or enemies. A number of themed worlds feature, with several spin-off games including a festive Christmas edition, and players can compare their score to others on a series of global leaderboards.
8) Temple Run
Another title in the spirit of "endless" gaming, Temple Run challenges players to work their way through an obstacle course for as long as they can survive. Along the way you collect coins and power-ups, the final aim being to boost your score as high as possible.
9) Cut the Rope
As implied by the title, Cut the Rope challenges players to guide candy into the mouth of a reptilian creature by slicing ropes, with a convincing physics engine making it all possible. Sequels to the original have added to the gameplay and story, but the core style remains.
10) Clumsy Bird
Clumsy Bird is similar to the popular game Flappy Bird that was pulled from e-stores amid criticism that it re-used artwork from the Super Mario series and its creator Dong Nguyen’s desire to escape the media attention. Like other "endless" games, players have to guide the bird through an obstacle course, the aim being to last as long as possible without dying.