While some people might need the frantic pace of first-person shooters or combat missions to release pent up tension in self-isolation, others are looking to video games as a way to lose themselves and relax into an engrossing story arc or fun activities.
Here are our top picks of games adults and kids can chill out to…
Firewatch
This game has seen a massive resurgence lately, and it’s no surprise given the beautiful and rugged Wyoming setting. Set in 1989, the game follows Henry, a newly recruited national park ranger who is responsible for keeping an eye on fires. His only lifeline is fellow park ranger Delilah, who Henry interacts with via walkie-talkie and becomes his sidekick as they uncover and try to solve a conspiracy involving the Shoshone National Forest.
The scenery is breathtaking, the soundtrack is soothing and the narrative is entertaining. A fully immersive game for anyone who loves hiking, mysteries and the North American wilderness.
Available on: PC/Mac/PlayStation 4/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch
Animal Crossing: New Horizon
This has got to be the official lockdown game – everyone is playing it and for good reason. No major strategy or thought is involved in Nintendo’s latest version of Animal Crossing, as players are tasked with building and decorating their perfect small island home.
You can visit friends, a.k.a. other players at their island homes, invite them over to hang out in your newly pimped pad, and even invite some animals over to make it feel more homely.
Animal Crossing is perfect for people wanting to lose themselves for a few hours (or days) creating a happy and comfortable world that they can control and operate. Think of The Good Place meets Willy Wonker’s Chocolate Factory.
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Untitled Goose Game
In times of crisis, we turn to cute animals – zoo cams, pictures of sheep retaking small Welsh villages, Arnold Schwarzenegger riding a bike through the backyard with his two ponies in hot pursuit. It’s the perfect distraction.
Untitled Goose Game works in the same way, only here you’re not the cute pony, you’re the goose wreaking havoc on a small British village – taking people’s lunch, destroying well-kept gardens, sabotaging toys and breaking and entering into just about anywhere you can fit. It’s a great laugh and brings back memories of being cased by angry magpies, pelicans, ducks or cassowaries.
Available on: PC/Mac/PlayStation 4/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch
Overcooked! 2
Lovers of food-based anime and cooking shows will love the challenge of cooking up and serving unique dishes to hungry customers while dealing with all manner of obstacles in an unconventional kitchen. Ever tried making sushi while the floor is collapsing or the counters are randomly moving?
You’ll have a great laugh in multiplayer mode trying to complete your orders in a magic wizard’s school, a hot air balloon, sailboat and many other bizarre locations.
Available on: PC/Mac
Stardew Valley
Like Sims but on a farm, Stardew Valley seems you create the farm of your dreams, live off the land, become part of a community, date town folk and explore mysterious caves!
A little bit of romance, nesting, adventure and neighbourhood diplomacy makes it easy to lose hours in this pixelated world.
Available on: PC/Mac/Playstation 4/Xbox One/Nintendo Switch/iOS/Android/Playstation Vita
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
This is one that everyone is coming back to right now because it’s set in an open world environment where players are tasked with exploring the Kingdom of Hyrule.
You can go as far and wide as you want with this, explore freely and there’s the opportunity to collect items to aid in objectives and solve puzzles and side quests for rewards. Exploration is rewarded here and it’s paid off with the game selling 17.8 million copies worldwide to date, making it the best selling Zelda game of all time.
Available on: Nintendo Switch and Wii U
