I don't like the skipping rope game but it's entirely optional. On the other hand, I enjoyed the odd game of Tetra Master if I was doing well (though I really preferred Triple Triad) and Chocobo Hot & Cold is - as Kishi said - the best mini-game in the entire series. The sword fight was good fun too. All of it apart from the latter is entirely optional anyway and so I never mind and actually rather liked IX's mini-games.