Games to keep you company in self isolation
Computer games is one of the best forms of ‘staying at home’ entertainment.
As global concern over the COVID-19 virus continues, most of us have realised we are likely to be stuck at home for a few weeks at least.
Even if you are working from home, it’s important to have some time for entertainment as well, and one of the best forms of ‘staying at home’ entertainment is computer games.
Whether it’s space travel, virtual model railways, fantasy and adventure, or pretty much anything else you may care for as a distraction, video games have got you covered – so on that note, here are some long, involved games which you can get really stuck into while we wait for the pandemic storm to pass.
RED DEAD REDEMPTION II
An epic tale of the end of the Old West, Red Dead Redemption II is quite simply one of the best games ever made.
Set in a fictional part of the American West circa 1898, the game casts you as outlaw Arthur Morgan, a member of a gang let by the charismatic Dutch Van Der Linde, who has big dreams which are always dependent on pulling off just one more big heist to come to fruition.
Everything you could want from an epic Western is here – gunfights, barroom brawls, duels, hunting, fishing, exploring, it also has an online element, Red Dead Online, where you can posse up with your friends (or go it alone) and engage in all sorts of classic Wild West activities including bounty hunting, trading, robbing banks and trains, getting into gunfights, or just travelling around and exploring.
If you’re looking for a game to saddle up for while you’re riding the self-isolation trail, this should be your riding partner.
TRANSPORT FEVER 2
This transport simulator, developed by Urban Games, puts you in charge of running the passenger and freight network for an entire region. Starting in the 1850s and progressing to the modern era, the game is a rail fan’s delight, with everything from steam engines to trams and trucks at your disposal.
There are a mind-boggling array of vehicles to use, creating a detailed and involved experience that’s part virtual model railway and part business simulator.
Even if you just want to build and run a transport route, there’s something extremely satisfying about watching all the elements working together to get passengers and freight where they need to be. It’s quite a time sink and exactly the sort of thing to help occupy any spare time you have – not to mention you can get right down at vehicle level and travel around your network as well, if you want a virtual sightseeing trip.
ASSASSIN’S CREED: ODYSSEY
Part of Ubisoft’s long-running Assassin’s Creed franchise, this game is set in Ancient Greece and casts you as either Alexios or Kassandra, Spartan mercenaries who find themselves caught up in the Peloponnesian War and the machinations of Athens, Sparta, and a mysterious cult.
The action in the game – which often involves lots of cinematically leaping off high places to stab people who have the misfortune to have crossed you – is very satisfying, and includes a naval combat component where you can sail around the Aegean Sea in a trireme and do battle with pirates and rival naval forces.
With a beautifully realised and gorgeous world, great gameplay mechanics, plenty of combat, and great writing, not to mention some brilliant touches of humour, it’s a superb experience that will take a long time to get through and offers a huge range of things to do – as well as a great main story, too.
SID MEIER’S CIVILIZATION VI
Putting you at the helm of one of dozens of civilisations, this turn-based grand strategy game from Firaxis is the latest in a long-running and critically acclaimed series that tasks you with guiding a civilisation through literally all of human history, from the Stone Age to the future.
Depending on the settings, a single game can take an entire day to get through, and with so many different civilisations, maps and strategies to pursue, it’s easy to invest a lot of time here across multiple play throughs.
From founding cities to researching technologies to waging wars, it’s all covered in this truly epic game which can keep you occupied for a very long time as you decide to have just one more turn.
THE WITCHER III: WILD HUNT
Another frequent appearance on “best game ever” lists, this sprawling action-adventure role-playing from CD Projekt Red casts you as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia who finds himself changing an ancient evil phenomenon which abducts humans for purposes unknown.
If you are a Netflix fan you may recognise the name from the popular series The Witcher, starring Henry Cavill as Geralt – and if you liked the show, you’re going to love the game.
With everything a good but somewhat gritty fantasy epic needs, from action to adventure to intrigue and even some mature content, it’s a superb narrative experience for players wanting something to really get involved in – when you factor in the expansions, there’s potentially more than 150 hours of game to get through here.
Make sure you toss a coin to your Witcher – or more importantly, the team at CD Projekt Red who made the game – and play this one if you like a good fantasy/adventure.
KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM
If you have ever wanted to try your hand at being a literal rocket scientist, then I cannot recommend this game from Squad highly enough. You research and build rocket ships and other spacecraft, then launch them and take them to other planets in the game’s solar system.
While the crew are quirky aliens named Kerbals and the planets have different names, the actual science is the same as our world. Developing and building your rocket ships and space planes – which range from looking like they’ve been made in someone’s back yard to sleek, futuristic designs is also a lot of fun; doubly so when the design proves flight-worthy too.
Successfully undertaking your very first manned lunar mission is a hugely satisfying experience, and the game presents itself with such appealing quirkiness that spectacular failures are funny rather than frustrating.
This is definitely one to have on the radar, especially if you think you’ve got the right stuff to be an astronaut.
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