d boxes within a certain time limit. Your progress is recorded via business-style charts and you're rewarded with upgrades to your tiny home. Eventually you can move your way on up from a part-timer to a specialist. Like its real-world equivalent, the premise of Boxlife sounds painfully boring, but thanks to the clever puzzle mechanic is actually incredibly addicting.

And in Rhythm Heaven, factory work actually gets musical. The very first mini-game in this collection, dubbed "Built to Scale," has you assembling mechanical components on an assembly line. The twist, though, is that you have to do it in time with the music, flicking your inanimate carbon rod at just the right time. The mini-game belies a simple truth: music can make anything fun.

9. Plumber
In the real world: Not only is being a plumber hard, physical work, it can also be pretty gross at times. Imagine having to unclog all of the crap that people let down their drains. Hair, garbage, and plenty of other things I'd rather not think about. It's not a pretty site. It's also not the most respected job in the world, as the most common symbol of a plumber is a dude with his butt crack showing.

Above: Yep

In videogames: Video game plumbers, meanwhile, are very respected. In fact, a certain plumber named Mario is the most recognizable face in all of games. And the only pipes he has to unclog are ones filled with Piranha Plants.

Meanwhile, he gets to race cars, save princesses, referee Mike Tyson fights, and play every sport from tennis to baseball. He's been to space, to the Olympics, to the past, inside a giant lizard... seriously, the list goes on an on. He was even portrayed by Bob Hoskins in a feature film. Not bad for a lowly plumber.

Above: Let’s just pretend it was a lovely film and move along…

10. Bug collector/archaeologist/ fisherman/deliveryman/etc.
In the real world: Just imagine that in order to keep a roof over your head, you had to take on all of these careers. On its own, each job is a full-time gig, so being forced to do all four would leave you absolutely drained. You'd be dirty, wet, and constantly smell like fish. And sleep? Forget about it.

Above: Get up, you asshole! Tom Nook needs his bells!

In videogames: In each entry in the Animal Crossing series, this is precisely what you have to do. Thanks to an insane (and constantly rising) debt to that crook landlord Tom Nook, the game becomes a constant struggle just to make ends meet. You'll go on errands for forgetful animals, hunt and catch bugs and fish and dig up rare fossils, all in the hope of finally paying off your debt.

PROTIP: YOU WILL NEVER BE FREE

The thing is, there’s something alluring about paying off Nook and getting that bigger house, even though you know there’s always another upgrade waiting around the corner. Maybe it’s the desire to show off to some virtual talking animals. Or maybe it’s to fill it up with more and more virtual furniture and decorations. Whatever it is, it's enough to make you take on a seemingly unending list of virtual jobs to get it.

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