Public transport journeys can turn ordinary travel into something a bit more fun. It could be a 10-minute bus ride or an hour-long train trip, and many commuters look for ways to make the time fly by. Most of us switch between a mix of different forms of entertainment to stay entertained. Someone who is on the way to a meeting might well want to choose to play some games or switch off by watching a new series.
Game Time on the Go
Games are a popular choice for keeping people entertained. In recent years, mobile casino-style games, especially pokies (also used to refer to slots), have gained traction in commutes. They all share a simple premise as players spin the reels and see if the symbols match. Mechanics vary a lot. Some pokies stick to the original three-reel model, while some are more based on poker imagery and gameplay (this is where the term pokies originally comes from).
Most of them things simple and straightforward. Some go big with lots of reels or cascading symbols that clear the way for new drops. The mechanics of how to win on pokies will vary from one machine to the next.
Themes stretch across every interest, and they shape bonus layers. A pirate-themed slot might introduce treasure chests that unlock mini-games. An undersea slot might use expanding wilds to create popping fish animations.
That variety suits many moods. Short commutes might call for a quick spin or two. Long rides might lend themselves to immersive sessions, where the graphics and sound pull attention away from the morning routine. Smoother load times also help with no waiting for levels or loading bars.
Other mobile games also shine on commutes. Puzzle titles ask players to match tiles, solve riddles. Strategy games may spread deeper sessions across several rides. Casual party-style games pack bite-sized fun into short bursts – many people drawn to games like Idle Breakout just want something that doesn’t require loads of thought.
Games like poker can also be popular. They require a bit more thought, and some varieties are built around strategy and bluffing. People may not just play, but also watch the big tournaments or top players doing their thing…
Audio Adventures
Not everyone wants visual games. Music listeners might switch to podcasts or curated playlists. That’s a simple switch and proves undemanding yet engaging. A lot of commuters turn to audiobooks. We know how popular things like true crime podcasts are! These story formats turn daily travel into immersive storytelling. One popular episode can make a bus ride feel like a plot twist.
Podcasts often cover specific topics or just center around comedy (the most popular podcast genre). They play well during longer commutes, pushing the time out of view as voices fill the space with insight or humour. Short daily news summaries also help people catch up without fully opening an app.
Reading on the Move
E-books and e-mags still claim their share of commuter attention. Bicycle seat checks and stop-and-go platform moments get easier when a few pages fit in a pocket-sized screen. Fiction lovers enjoy quick chapters. Magazine fans flick through sections on travel or fashion between stops. With most people choosing to use their commute for entertainment (according to studies), there are still a lot who choose the old-fashioned way of reading a book.
Some people pair reading with sketching or note-taking, jotting down ideas or doodling while riding. Drawing apps with stylus support allow creative minds to shape sketches between stations. Some people would rather put on an audiobook and drift into another world while they wait.
Video Snippets and Shorts
Not all commutes are crowded. When space allows, short videos offer another entertainment route. TikTok or YouTube Shorts attract bite-sized attention. Quick cooking demos or travel tips fit tight schedules. Web-series episodes and vlogs that run 10–15 minutes also sit nicely into medium-length rides.
Some commuters build playlists of personal recordings with DIY guides or friend-made content that brightens the morning. People do get annoyed if you are playing clips out loud on public transport. One favourite trick: enabling local audio on video apps so the clip plays silently unless tapped.
Chat, Social, and News Scrolls
A silent commute doesn’t have to mean boredom. Scrolling through social feeds and friendly group updates helps keep in touch. Some days, that’s enough to pass the time pleasantly. Others lead to quick personal chats or photo exchanges. These can be the kind that make short trips feel social and allow us to keep up with others.
News apps can also give people an update on the day’s weather or what is happening in the world.
A lot of these methods carry more meaning than a quick message or checking the mirror before work. They offer segments of personal time, even in crowded trains.
