The holiday break is just around the corner, which means students may have time off. In order to fight boredom, finding a good single-player game that is worth the time, and in some cases money, can make or break a vacation.
Starting off cheap, or rather free, is I Want Watermelon. It can be found on the app store for phones and is a great way to pass the time. It’s a simple puzzle game that reminds many of Tetris, but with circles and various fruits. The goal of the game is to get a watermelon, and it can be fun to have competitions with friends. However, the game can get annoying if you keep losing. The bar at the top (if a fruit goes over it, you lose) can lag a bit, and you may lose even if there was something above the line that is no longer there. People who like small phone games to help pass time would enjoy this game. Plus it’s free. What have you got to lose?
However, if you would rather play a more intense survival game, then Don’t Starve is probably better. Don’t Starve is a game that can be found on Ios and Android, the Nintendo Switch, Microsoft, the Ps4 and Ps3, and the Xbox One. The prices average at about $10 to $15 and have high reviews. The game is a survival game with a slight atmospheric spook effect. Don’t Starve is especially fun to play during the fall, and it starts you off with waking up in the middle of the forest. The game has several characters with various perks and disadvantages that can be unlocked as you play. There are a total of three DLCs for the game and another version called Don’t Starve Together, which is multiplayer. However, the game can be stressful, especially as night falls and the monsters come out. Or if your character starts to go crazy or hungry. Overall, it is a must-have if you love dark fall aesthetics and survival games.
If you’re worried about Don’t Starve being too stressful, then you may like Stardew Valley more. Stardew Valley is a single player farming simulator, though it can be played with friends. Averaging a price of $15, the game can be found on Ios, Android, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Ps4, and Xbox one. It is a relaxing game with several paths in a storyline that can be avoided, though it isn’t recommended. The game can get boring if played for too long, and it does take time to progress in, but if you enjoy slow-paced gameplay, this game is for you.
The Fatal Frame, or Project Zero, series is a great storyline and atmospheric survival horror game with the occasional jumpscare. It includes a total of five games, each game costing about $15, with all the storylines and characters being related in some way. The fifth game, Fatal Frame V: Maiden of the Black Water, is available on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Ps5, Ps4, and Xbox Series X. The fourth game, Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, is also available on these platforms. The third game, Fatal Frame III: The Tormented, can only be found on Ps3 and Ps2, with a remake on the Wii. The second game, Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, is on Ps3 and Ps2 and the Xbox with the first game, Fatal Frame. The game features ghosts that can only be fought off with a camera, or in the occasional case, a flashlight. The boss battles are more strategic and reaction time based, which is either helpful or challenging. There are sensitive topics such as suicide and cults in several of the games. The game overall is well liked, and it’s definitely more intense than it sounds.
The final game series is a puzzle, storyline, and adventure game called The Legend of Zelda. However, the popular Breath of the Wild and new Tears of the Kingdom games aren’t the base of this review. For a darker and more interesting storyline, Twilight Princess is a straight-forward game that isn’t as open-world based like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom. If you enjoy open world games more, then they would be better options. But if not, Twilight Princess is the way to go, with a beautiful soundtrack and well-written and developed characters, plus an interesting boss and difficult, but fun, puzzles. The main problem is it is an older game, so it can’t be found on newer consoles. Instead, it can be found on the Wii, Wii-U, and Gamecube. Buying a new console for the game probably isn’t worth it, but if you have one, the game runs an average of $25 at Gamestop. Overall, the game is underrated and, while not worth getting a new console, is worth the cost. The graphics, again, are older, but it’s probably better this way, considering realistic graphics would make the character transformations more disturbing.
Being bored over break is the worst! So why not avoid that and pick up a new game? Whether you’re a gamer or not, anyone can enjoy a good game.
