Well, the sh*t has hit the fan.
We’re all off of college or school, or working from home due to the coronavirus, self-isolating in some cases, so what can we do to keep ourselves entertained during the next two weeks?
Netflix, and TV can only last so long, but as gamers, we all know that this time is really a blessing in disguise.
It’s now that we finally have a chance to get through our backlog of games, get online for the social interaction we will eventually crave, and replay some of our favourites.
In fact, if you’ve been having a tough time deciding what to play, here are some of our favourite games to play during the impending apocalypse (jokes).
8. 'Fallout 3'
A post-apocalyptic wasteland ravaged by a nuclear war is the best virtual holiday destination in our eyes. 'Fallout 3' is one of the best games of the Xbox 360 and PS3 generation. It has a great story to play through and nearly one hundred quests, including the DLC add-ons. The world is richly developed and exciting, the period music is iconic, and while the graphics may not hold up, the game will keep you immersed for months. Just maybe avoid the talk of FEV virus if you’re seeking complete escapism…
7. 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare' / 'Call of Duty: Warzone'
Online multiplayer may not be your thing, or maybe it is, but either way in the coming weeks, we may find ourselves craving social interaction from outside of our household units. Thankfully, one of the biggest games over the past few months has just released a new free to play 150-person Battle Royale that will keep you entertained for as long as you let it. And of course, the base game it’s attached to has an incredible solo experience if you aren’t feeling too social, or fail to gain the coveted W.
6. 'The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim'
Following on from the same vein as 'Fallout 3', 'Skyrim' has been a cultural mecca for fantasy genre loving gamers since its original release in 2011. The lore is dense, and you’ll find yourself lost in the game world long before you realise you’ve been playing for over 300 hours. With 273 quests and an infinite amount of radiant quests – this will keep you ticking over for as long as needed.
5. 'Red Dead Redemption 2'
Because it’s 'Red Dead Redemption 2'. Nothing else required to say here apart from if you haven’t played it - what are you doing with your life? And if you have played it - why aren’t you playing it again?
4. 'Pokémon: Sword and Shield'
Time to catch ‘em all and battle your way to the league finals of the Galar region. This year’s release of Pokémon marks the first time a main series Pokémon game is available to play on a home console. Therefore, the next while offers the best opportunity to get playing a game from home on the big screen that’s largely been restricted to portable gaming up until this point.
3. 'Grand Theft Auto V'
2013 was a great year, besides the current-gen consoles being released, we were also graced with the release of arguably one of the greatest games of all time. 'Grand Theft Auto V' has been a best-seller across the board for the past seven years, and the longevity of the game is primarily attributed to its densely built online experience and community, along with the cinematic single-player campaign. Given the numbers, chances are you have a copy of this game at home (if not two), and we recommend firing this one back up to kill the boredom if you haven’t already.
2. 'Fortnite'
Is there really any gaming list that can be written these days without mentioning 'Fortnite' in some shape or form? The game is still truly alive and kicking, taking over the world for the past year, and the likelihood is you’re probably playing this game more than any other in your library at the moment. While education centres are closed, grab your best squad or duo and drop into the island for the chance to win another coveted Victory Royale.
1. 'Call of Duty: Black Ops', specifically 'Call of Duty: Zombies'
Right, so this is maybe slightly left of the field, as usually games in this franchise have a shelf life of a year at best, but the pure joy of getting a few friends to fight off hordes of zombies is an experience that is unrivaled with enough time to do so.
You’ll spend hours together, trying to reach higher and higher rounds on maps like Kino der Toten, Moon and – if you’re lucky enough to have the World at War maps – Der Rise. While other titles in the series have included variations of the zombies game mode, we don’t think that any have lived up to the original Black Ops.
Training zombies around the map, or lining them up on a holding point to destroy with a ray gun, machine gun, and thundergun combo is immense fun, and the game teaches teamwork skills more than any other.
