The heat is blazing outside this summer, but you want to hang out with friends. Video games have become a great alternative to playing in the outside heat and connecting with friends and family. Here are a few recommendations I have!
As a gamer, I wanted to provide others with some gaming recommendations as an alternative to going outside this summer. The following games target different audiences and genre, and I hope you find one that clicks with you and the people around you.
1. Those Looking For a Quick Racing Game: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was created by Nintendo. The Mario Kart franchise has been around since 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Mario Kart has been played by families of many generations and is a classic racer game for many.
This game can be single and multiplayer. Four people can play on the same Nintendo Switch console at once, but through a local wireless connection across multiple Switches, up to eight people can play. If you and eleven friends have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, all twelve of you can connect and play together online.
In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, each player can customize their kart by selecting the model, wheels, and glider. Each modification and model have different stats that effect how the vehicle drives. During races, there are power-up items that can be picked up and used, aiding a player into winning a race by inconveniencing the other racers.
2. For The Minigame Lovers: Mario Party Superstars
Another Nintendo Switch game for the whole family, Mario Party Superstars. The first Mario Party game was released in 1998. It is a board game with extra steps and challenges implemented.
The premise of Mario Party is to collect the most stars and coins while facing off against the other three competitors. Up to four people can play Mario Party Superstars and can choose from a roster of 10 Mario characters.
Each player takes turns rolling the dice and moving on the board to interact with it. Players can pick up items that can aid them in collecting enough coins to buy stars. After each person has moved on the board, that ends a round and leads to one of many minigames to be played. Winners of these minigames are rewarded with coins.
3. Feeling Creative or Adventurous: Minecraft
Minecraft, released in 2011, is considered a classic. I have been playing Minecraft since I was 12, and my friends share the same sentiments as I do with Minecraft.
In Minecraft, players are able to play in survival or creative mode. Survival mode allows players to collect achievements and explore the randomly generated world around them. In creative mode, players have access to everything in the game and are able to make anything that can come to their mind. Minecraft is a fun game if you’re looking to adventure into an unknown world or build whatever comes to your mind.
People of the Minecraft community have also made countless servers that can hold hundreds of players at once. Those with larger friend groups or family can include everyone in Minecraft on a server!
4. For The Horror Lovers: Dead by Daylight
If you’re looking for something scary and fast-paced, give Dead by Daylight a try. Players have the option to play on a team of four survivors or as the killer hunting the survivors. Players can also set up custom games and play with friends as both survivors and killer.
The survivor team’s goal is to power five generators and the exit gates in order to escape the killer. While doing this, survivors must be aware of their surroundings and be able to outsmart the killer when in chase.
The killer’s goal is to kill all survivors before they can escape. The killer is able to hinder the survivors by damaging generators and using their special abilities to corner survivors and get them when they least expect it.
All characters, survivors and killers, are able to pick from an assortment of perks unlocked over time. Survivors can bring items with add-ons to improve the items use. Killers bring add-ons to improve their special abilities. All players in the lobby can bring offerings to aid them in getting points, picking a map, or increasing their chances of winning.
5. Those Looking For a Little Romance: Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a farming simulation game, but there is a story behind the quiet life in Stardew Valley. There are plenty of characters to interact with and get to know, and different routes that effect the changes that happen in Stardew Valley.
There is also a romance factor to the game. Players can interact with twelve non-playable characters that can be romanced, which can lead to marriage and kids. These romances open up these NPCs’ stories and you learn more about their personalities and stories. Each character that can be romance differ from each other and have different experiences.
Stardew Valley has a co-op option where you can invite up to eight friends to your farm. All players can participate in the direction the story goes and pick a suitor to romance.
If you’re looking for a relaxing game with romance, this one is for you!
6. Those Who Can’t Pick One Game: Roblox
Roblox has been around since 2006 and offers a variety of video games that users on Roblox have made. From roleplaying games to competitive games, Roblox offers people of all ages different types of game play to choose from.
There are games like Dress to Impress where you create outfits based on a category and gain votes from people in the lobby and try to get the most while following the rules. Other games include Murder Mystery 2 where players try to determine who the murderer is while avoiding being killed. Roblox also offers some job simulator games such as Work at a Pizza Place.
Many players can play on the same server of a game and there are so many options and genres to choose from!
Gaming in The Summer
Video games are available at different costs and appeal to different audiences, but they are a great way to connect with others across the world. Gaming can be hard to pick up, but if you start with a game that appeals to you, it can be easier to start the hobby. Anybody can enjoy a video game, especially if it helps to avoid this hot summer heat.
