If you’re stuck at home with nothing to do because of quarantine, it just might be a good time to try out some games you might have missed. Video games are a good way to practice social distancing; either by immersing yourself for hours in an epic single player role player game, or by keeping in touch with your group of friends through multiplayer games. With a lot more free time on your hands, these five games are worth getting into.
- Tabletop Simulator
Board game geeks, this is your dream PC game. Scheduling game night with the boys doesn’t have to end because of the quarantine. Tabletop Simulator is the ultimate board game sandbox where you can play an endless amount of tabletop games with your friends online. Playing board games with your mates and joking around through voice chat is a great time sink when you’re all stuck at home. Veterans of the tabletop genre will surely get their money’s worth with this purchase due to the wide selection of games available. Even newcomers to board gaming can enjoy Tabletop Simulator, as the classic entry level board games such as Monopoly and Scrabble are also playable. If your group of friends are new to tabletop games, it’s a good challenge to learn and teach each other new board games every time you get together.
2.Chess
A timeless classic. If you’re a beginner when it comes to gaming, this is a good place to start. It’s a very accessible game as the skill level required to start playing is quite low; you only need to learn the basics of how to move your chess pieces to enjoy playing. However the skill ceiling is immeasurably high, so you can spend hours on end trying to improve at the game. If you find enjoyment in strategy and the pursuit of self-improvement, Chess might just scratch that competitive itch for you. Purchase a chess board if you’d like to give your eyes a break from all the extra screen time they’re getting. On the other hand, you can play online for free on several websites (chess.com, lichess.org) and get better at the game by challenging other chess enthusiasts online.
3. The Pokemon Games
Everyone knows what Pokemon is. For the uninitiated however, Pokemon games are all about capturing Pokemon (short for pocket monsters), and leveling them up in order to defeat other Pokemon trainers. To progress through the games, you must collect gym badges, 8 of which are required to enter the Pokemon League and become the Pokemon Champion. These games have been the playground of gamers since the 90’s, and for good reason. The Pokemon franchise has withstood the test of time because of its solid gameplay mechanics. Even if you’re stuck at home, you can journey through the regions of Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh and many others, bonding with your Pokemon on the path of becoming the Pokemon Champion. If you’re a total newbie to the games and want to get into Pokemon, I’d recommend starting at Generation V on the Nintendo DS with Pokemon Black/White, and then playing their sequels Black 2/White 2. If you want the best of the best, play Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver. Other Nintendo games also available theoldschoolgamevault.com.
4. Terraria
Even though the game was released all the way back in 2011, Terraria is still a PC game worth considering. The game has received continuous updates since its release, with the game finally reaching its completion with the Journey’s End update that was released early 2020. A lot of people dismiss Terraria as just another 2-D Minecraft clone, but I’d argue it is the superior experience. The game is easier to run, it has better bosses, clearer game progression and a more refined crafting system. The game is a lot more fun with friends, as you can build bases together and split up tasks to make the game easier for each other. Regardless, the game is still very enjoyable in single-player mode. If you and your buddies want an RPG game where you can explore diverse worlds and let your creativity flourish, purchasing Terraria should be a no-brainer.
5. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Heralded as one of the best, or if not the best game of this generation, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a game you need to experience. Even if you’re unfamiliar with Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild is a good starting point as the plot is fairly disjointed from past entries in the franchise. The game gives you that dose of freedom and exploration that you have been missing by being locked up inside your house. Those interested in rock climbing or hiking should definitely give this game a go, as exploration is a key aspect of Breath of the Wild. With a gargantuan world to map out and discover, you will end up spending hundreds of hours on your quest to save the Kingdom of Hyrule. The game is playable on the Nintendo Switch. If you’ve ever thought of investing in a Switch, being stuck in quarantine is a good time to get one.