Play Monsters vs Aliens (DE)(Independent) Online

Monsters vs Aliens for the Nintendo DS came out in 2009, published by Activision. It was part of that wave of licensed games that tried to capture the feel of the movie, and on the DS it was a decent little action platformer. It fit right in with the handheld's library of straightforward, pick-up-and-play titles.

You control Ginormica and B.O.B., switching between them to use their unique abilities. The main goal is to fight off an alien invasion, which involves a lot of running, jumping, and smashing through levels. Ginormica's height lets her reach high platforms and deliver powerful punches, while B.O.B. can ooze through narrow pipes and stretch his body to attack distant enemies. The game mixes simple combat with light environmental puzzles, asking you to figure out which monster to use to clear a path. The pacing is brisk, and it's not particularly difficult, making it an easy game to just zone out with. It feels like a solid, uncomplicated distraction, the kind of thing you play for twenty minutes without overthinking it.