With many of us locked up in isolation and lots of time to kill, video games can provide a fantastic distraction and mental stimulation, with questing, puzzles, adventures, enthralling narratives and sprawling worlds to explore. In this list, I’ll be covering some of the best games to play, replay, or share with your family!
Number 10 on our list is Telltales the Walking Dead Season 1
Telltale is known for its story-driven adventure click games; with The Walking Dead bringing Telltale mass amounts of fame and attention with its success for immersive, dramatic and impactful narrative and its fast-paced decision-based gameplay. Upon the release of the first 'episode,’ in 2012, fans fell head over heels in love with the dynamic duo of ex-con and silent type, Lee, with his found family daughter Clementine. A young girl Lee, happens across, at the start of the outbreak, quickly affirming he must protect her at all costs from the horrors of their new world. Players willing to dive into the bleak world of The Walking Dead will find themselves continuing to play for that ray of hope that is, Clementine. Players will make decisions that will determine the outcome of the story, by who lives and who dies. With an addicting storyline and lots of replay-ability to see all those alternative endings, the Walking Dead Season1is a must-play for fans of the apocalypse.
Number 9 – Witcher 3
The Witcher franchise has recently reached massive amounts of fame, not just amongst players and book readers of the series, but of casual Netflix viewing audiences. It has expanded the already incredibly popular franchise, and while Witcher 3 is the final game in the trilogy, it is a very accessible title, despite the size of the lore, cast of characters and world of The Witcher games.
Witcher 3 is an open-world fantasy RPG where you play as series protagonist Gerald of Rivia, with the narrative following his quest to find his lost adoptive daughter, Ciri. The game trilogy follows central plot points of Andrej Sapkowski’s books, but largely follows a narrative that differs from the books, unlike the Netflix show. In Witcher 3, explore the vast, detailed world, with hours of gameplay and story to play it’s a perfect fit for fans of fantasy, the Witcher, or action, and adventure!
Number 8 – Horizon Zero Dawn
Similar to that of The Witcher 3, Horizon Zero Dawn offers a fantastical world for players to explore, with an equally mystifying story. Horizon takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, eons after the collapse of humanity's futuristic society. Now, the world is a very different place. A wild place now filled with animalistic robots, tribes, and bunkers holding secrets, locked away in the earth, It offers lots of action and hooking gameplay, with a strong female lead in Aloy, an outcast of her tribe seeking the truth of her heritage.
Number 7 – Pokemon Let’s Go! Eevee/Pikachu
This entry into the long-standing Pokemon series provides a sweet, adorable, and faithful companion in the form of either the iconic Eevee or Pikachu. If you’re looking for a virtual pet, friend, or a long adventure filled with cute Pokemon, this game is for you! It’s also a great game if you’re looking to keep kids entertained.
Number 6 – Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the most recent title of the franchise, offering a cute island get-away of your own making! Perfect for kids and adults alike, it offers hours and hours of creative play in making your island paradise. It’s relaxing, enjoyable and might just be exactly what you need to unwind during this stressful time. Plant trees, flowers, fish and build your very own island getaway.
Number 5 – The Last Of Us
The Last Of Us is a dark, action stealth-survival, taking place in a post-zombie apocalypse world. Whilst on the darker side of things, it still presents a dramatic and enthralling tale, featuring Ellie and Joel, a sort of found family father and daughter. The Last of Us has been out for a long time, but still provides a quality replay. And with the sequel ready to be released soon, now is the perfect time to play the original.
Number 4 – The Spyro Reignited Trilogy
The Spyro Reignited Trilogy provides a fun, kid-friendly fantasy adventure as you take control of Spyro, traversing through a remake of the original three Spyro games. For the price of a single game, you can traverse Spyro the Dragon, Ripto’s Rage and Year of the Dragon. It’s filled with plenty of colourful and fun levels and is not very difficult, providing a player with plenty of hours of fun.
Number 3 – Resident Evil 2 Remake
The Resident Evil 2 Remake from Capcom provides both fans of the original series and new fans alike with a visually appealing take on a sudden, visceral zombie apocalypse as an infection sweeps Racoon City. With protagonists, Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy, Resident Evil 2, like its predecessor, is an action survival horror, with a focus on accuracy and conservation of resources like ammunition and health. With intense sequences and an addictive player loop, it’s a perfect time killer.
Number 2 – Insomniacs Spiderman
Next on our list is Insomniac’s Spiderman for PS4. With a well-written story, the virtual city of New York to explore, and all of Spiderman’s web-slinging skills, this game offers hours of fun and action as one of the best Spiderman titles yet.
Number 1 – Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 offers players one of the largest and most lush open worlds to explore, alongside the greatest western tales in video game history. Even as I write this, I love to have some footage of the game playing in the background, just for how beautiful and scenic it is. With a large open world set in the wild west at its end, Red Dead offers hours and hours of gameplay, story, and side missions as you play this third-person Rockstar masterpiece.
So whether it’s killing time, looking for creative inspiration, or simply another world to delve into, these games are what I recommend to help you escape, even just for a little while, away from all the stresses we face right now.