If you’re struggling to find some games to keep you busy during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a few ideas that will help keep you busy, including some of today’s hottest and newest hits. Worried about flipping through pages? Don’t worry about it here. Here’s a list you can read without flipping pages.
Look, we all know it sucks that we’re having to self-isolated, stay in place or even deal with situations that require you to stay at home as long as you can. Truth is, we here at Blast Away the Game Review are in a similar situation. Quite like yourselves. We’ve dealt with flattening the curve and helping slow the spread of COVID-19.
Some of our team has even been working together in order to find games to help pass the time, but, we’ve done our best to pass the time. Some of us have taken this time to spend it with our families at home, locked in place together, laughing as we revisited timeless classics on older consoles, but what we didn’t expect? How many of those games we actually enjoyed and somehow passed up when we had the initial chance.
So, to help you have a few ideas, we’ve decided to grab some games, which we feel you can play without putting a strain on your wallet.
10. Days Gone| PlayStation 4 | $24.99
With the recent indefinite delay of The Last of Us II, some of us have taken the time to go back and visit some of the games we haven’t played in recent times. Among those games comes the Sam Witwer-led open-world title, Days Gone, which launched almost exactly a year ago.
In the game, you’ll be experiencing a world unlike anything you’ve ever seen, one where an unknown virus has taken the world by storm. It’s a game that doesn’t just mesmerize you, it takes you on an unexpected adventure, one that we still consider the best of what the PlayStation 4 has to offer.
Truth is, it still is. It’s storytelling elements both narratively and atmospherically are some of the best on the market. If you’re up for a game that will take you somewhere near 50-60 hours to fully complete, this one will be right up your alley. If you’re unsure about it, you can also check out our official review of Days Gone today.
9. Untitled Goose Game | PC, PS4, XB1 and Switch | $19.99
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to unleash mayhem on unsuspecting citizens, inanimate items or just the ability to be a pure pain in the arse? Well, then, Untitled Goose Game is probably right up your alley as it’s one of those games that will allow unsuspecting players to do just that along the way.
How all this chaos unfolds, however, will be a bit surprising as this is a stealth puzzler, one where you’ll find yourself going through the world, raining down mayhem along the way. There’s a reason that House House has a critically-acclaimed title on their hands and there is no exception to the rules with what is about to unfold when you play the game. For one that runs $19.99, this is one that will keep you busier than ever.
8. Green Hell | PC | $24.99
If you are wondering what it would be like to survive in the rain forest with your friends, picking leeches off one another, helping build a base, finding necessary equipment and making a place to call your home: This is the game for you. Green Hell has been receiving a steady flow of content updates on PC, giving it a chance to really grow and flourish before it releases on consoles.
Plus, you don’t have to do it alone, Green Hell just received its co-op mode, giving players a lot to look forward to when you get a chance to dive on in, survive the rainforest and well, do whatever it is you would do.
7. Bleeding Edge | PC and Xbox One | $24.99
When it comes to class-based titles, Bleeding Edge is one of those games that somehow snuck up on us almost completely unannounced. What it offers though, is something deep, something well-designed, but only really launching as a word-of-mouth title. When it comes to team-based and class-based titles, Bleeding Edge has a lot to offer fans, which includes a lot of fun to be had as well as objectives to complete together.
You’ll even enjoy a rather diverse and in-depth customization system to making your characters something you’ll enjoy and fit your playstyle more than they already do. The one thing you’ll need to know: This isn’t anything like Overwatch outside of the fact you will complete objectives using uniquely themed characters.
6. Tiny Brains | PC and PlayStation 4 | $9.99
If you’ve ever wanted to just see how well you and three of your best of pals actually are at puzzle games, then Tiny Brains might be right up your alley, putting you and your friends’ skills to the test as each of you play specific roles in each of the puzzles you will complete. While the story itself is mildly amusing, the puzzles are the real highlight, especially since they do require a moderate amount of cooperation.
Regardless if you are on PC or PlayStation 4, you’ll find that this game isn’t a pushover and it will take a good 10-20 hours to complete if you and your pals want to 10% the game.
5. PAYDAY 2 | PC, PlayStation 4, XB1, Switch| $9.99 – $49.99
When it comes to PAYDAY 2, it’s hard not to enjoy a game that changes perspective, putting players in the shoes of a group of heisters. Every character is unique, each one coming out of their shell with their very own personality. One of the nice things about the game, there’s a lot to it, dozens of missions and some that even will put even the best of squads to the ultimate test.
Each player will have an important set of skills to use, each one playing completely different than the other due to their distinct skill sets and traits. The heists even come off quite different from one another with heisters having to complete different objectives along the way.
4. Bloodborne | PlayStation 4 | $19.99
If you haven’t had a chance to jump into this Lovecraftian experience from the minds that brought you the Dark Souls and Armored Core franchises; you’re missing out. This is one of the most unique experiences they’ve delivered thanks to its multi-angled focus on all things macabre.
It’s a game that combines the open-world experiences that Dark Souls had to offer while letting a dark – yet somehow – beautiful story right before the eyes of players. Those who have managed to brave the campaign can also take on some heavy-hitting DLC that offers a brand-new challenge and an alternative story for fans to enjoy.
3. No Man’s Sky | PC, PlayStation 4, XB1 | $22.49 – $29.99
When it comes to games that offer a never-ending experience and a heavy set of consistent content drops, No Man’s Sky is one of those games that has taken what everyone loves about Elite Dangerous and helped it evolve even further. It comes out, there’s even a new content drop for fans to enjoy that brings the Exo Mech suits into the game.
The only thing you may need now? A crew to join and a universe to explore once you get the ball rolling on your adventures. Besides that, No Man’s Sky is massive, it is beautiful and the adventures are truly yours to be had.
2. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne | PC, PlayStation 4 and XB1 | $39.99
If you haven’t had the chance yet to enjoy a well-designed campaign, one that comes with hundreds, not tens, but hundreds of hours of gameplay for new and veteran hunters to enjoy. You’ll get to take on a quest as almost as titanic as the creatures you will hunt. Luckily, this is another game you won’t have to tackle alone if you can get your friends to join you.
Luckily for you, this means you won’t have to enjoy the hunts alone and your friends, whether they are veteran hunters or not, can work with you along the way. So don’t be afraid to jump in and enjoy the hunt!
1. GTFO | PC | $31.49 – $34.99
If you want a game that combines elements of survival horror and first-person shooter elements, then GTFO is one of those games you can’t pass down. While it does only currently work on an invite-only basis and strongly promotes the use of Discord in its current Alpha state, we can tell you know: GTFO is one of the most intense experiences we’ve had yet. It’s not a game you’re just going to fly through.
It is hard, it is punishingly hard, but: It’s a rewarding experience when you complete a deployment you have embarked upon. However, as this game is currently in development, you will find it to be getting updated rather consistently, which means one thing: New content is always just over the horizon.
About the Writer(s):
Dustin is our native video game reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the borders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. You can find him over on Twitter or Facebook where he interacts with his followers quite a bit!