With many of us facing another lockdown, we take a look at some of the games that will help you pass the time.
In deepest, darkest lockdown, there are plenty of new games arriving on the scene. But not all of them will make you feel good. A few are even actively trying to make you feel bad and that’s part of their charm (we’re looking at you, first boss in Demon’s Souls).
But sometimes you don’t need harrowing stories, dark environments or vicious combat. Sometimes you just need to get out of that funk. So put aside your copy of Cyberpunk for a moment because we’re driving out of the dark city and into a land of feelgood, heartwarming and genuinely good-for-you games.
For when you need something to smack you round the face with charm or silliness.
It couldn’t have come at a better time. Just as the world was going to pieces, Nintendo gave you the tools to make your own world on your own island. It’s therapy in resource-gathering form. Animal Crossing is a slow-burner at first, so you’ll need time on your hands to get to the good stuff. But once it’s part of your daily routine, it’ll take you to a better, brighter universe faster than Ratchett’s new Rift Tether.
Mischief is your middle name in this unnamed indie classic. It’s a quick quack dive into a goose’s life where you terrorise locals with your poultry hooliganism. Now you can finally vent all that pent-up rage you’ve been harbouring against groundskeepers and quiet village folk. Whether you’ve always wanted to be a jerk in goose form or you just want more silliness in your life, Untitled Goose Game is bound to leave you laughing. Or honking.
It’s a simple enough premise. You’re a boy made out of sackcloth and every obstacle you face is built from art and craft supplies. It’s not the most refined platformer in the world but it’s chock-a-block with charm. If you were buoyed by the delights of Astro’s Playroom then Sackboy is a way to hold onto that feeling using your new adorable knitted hands.
These games are the good friends that simply sit with you and slowly warm your soul.
It’s a grey, grim old town and you’re going to make it beautiful again. And while you’re painting this town with living art, you’ll be hard-pressed not to feel a little brighter on the inside too. If you’ve ever had an imaginary friend, this is the chance to team up with them to take on all the bullies in your life. It’s the gaming equivalent of stepping in out of the winter downpour and drying yourself by the fire - or painting yourself a fire and feeling it spring to life.
Unless you already live in a fairytale world and can ride on the back of an owl over an enchanted forest, you’re going to need Ori in your life. This game is so beautiful that it makes other side-scrolling platformers blush. And we’re not just talking visuals. The creative movement this game gives you is nothing short of magic.
It’s a game about death and grief so you might wonder why it's on this list. But between the gorgeous art style, the uplifting music and the amusing characters, this game gradually lulls you into a state of serenity. It’s soothing and funny and heartfelt in all the right places. And if you team up with another player in co-op, they get to play as your character’s cat. I mean, shouldn’t all games have that option?
Games to shake the cobwebs off you and do your heart good too.
Didn’t you say you wanted to be dropped in a Days Gone world without a gun? Well, Six to Start have got a horde of zombies to quicken your pace during your morning run. This one’s a mobile download but you can complete the first season of the game for free. Even if running is your sworn nemesis - when the choice is between legging it or having your legs torn off, you’ll soon put one foot in front of the other.
Ever since the original Wii Sports, Nintendo has cornered and courted the movement market. And Mario Tennis does it with red plumber style. The single-player mode is a little short in the leg - and not just because of the tennis attire - but the special shots here bring the same kind of knock-them-off-the-map satisfaction that a final smash brings in Mario Tennis’ more violent cousin.
Ubisoft has been striking moves on Just Dance since 2009 with the longest-running dance franchise. And it’s one of the best games to survive the Xbox and PlayStation's sketchy motion capture experiment. These days you don’t need motion controls to play, you only need to download an app which will do the tango with your console. It’s a simple way to bring the Friday night raves you’ve been missing right into your living room.
For when you need another human being to laugh with, cause mayhem with, or try to shoot you (digitally) in the head.
In these times of uncertainty, what you really need is a game that will unmask all your friends as the deceitful liars they are. Unless of course, you’re the one with your hands in your pockets, hiding the blood that won’t come off no matter how hard you scrub. Whether you end up betraying all the people who love you, or vice versa, this is a bonding experience like no other.
If you’ve lived on this earth long enough to have experienced Tetris on a Game Boy, a 90s home computer or even an Electronika 60, then Tetris Effect could be the nostalgia trip your heart sorely needs. And it certainly is a trip. With newly added co-op and competitive modes, you and your friends can easily lose yourselves in this kaleidoscope of sounds and spectacle. And if you do it in VR, you might see falling blocks on the inside of your eyelids forevermore.
Your task: to win the crown. Your competitors: far too many people. Your mutual enemy: basic physics. One of the best surprises of 2020, Fall Guys is a hallucinogenic free-for-all where nobody is safe from gravity. It’s relentlessly hilarious. And even though no shots are fired there’s enough carnage here to make other battle royales feel faint.
Okay, maybe sometimes you do need a community of blood and violence. Sometimes the blues can be shot out of you. If you’re a serious COD player, you probably need a break from shooters. But if you’ve only ever skimmed this franchise and you don’t take your K/D too seriously, then squadding up with your mates and rioting around Warzone’s 150 player death trap might just be the medical syringe to what ails you.
Looking for more recommendations? Head to our collections to find everything from games that take you on an adventure to games that can ruin your relationships.
No comments yet. Be the first.
