The dark nights are coming, and with them comes a lot of bad weather, and what that means if you have a lot of hours on your hands to use up on gaming. Sure, there are some great movies and TV shows, too, and you might even want to grab a book to read while you’re at it – but games help you pass hours and hours in the blink of an eye.
Here are a couple of games that will help you while away the hours and keep boredom at bay.
Valheim
One of the coolest things about Valheim is that it is beautiful to look at. It manages to capture all of the environmental magic that you want when playing a game. Is the concept totally new? No, because at its heart, Valheim is a gathering and survival game – and there are plenty of those on the market already. But what it does have is – it is one of the most simple to learn and play, but still with enough depth to it to keep you engaged.
The boss battles can be a challenge, and you’ll be looking to make sure your band of Vikings is prepped and ready to take on those bosses.
You can play this on PC and grab it on Steam.
Monster Hunter World
Monster Hunter is just a solid, great game to play. Monster Hunter World enriches that experience and delivers a really good co-op RPG that is absolutely action-packed. For those who love to play games with friends, this is a great option. You’ll roam around looking for beasts to kill – and the fighting is top-notch. There is a lot to do in the game, and as always, the monsters are mammoth in size, and you’ll have to work out how you can take them down quickly. The big focus will be kitting yourself out with the gear to make sure that you can progress through the game.
You can get this one on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS5, PS4 and PC.
Sudoku
For those who just aren’t into hacking and slashing your way through a game but want a mental challenge that could be considered more on the relaxing side – sudoku is the one for you. People who have never played before tend to get put off because numbers are involved, but once you get the hang of it – it can easily pass the hours.
You’ll tend to start on the easier levels, where you need to work out fewer numbers, and before you know it, you’ll be playing sudoku with symbols and numbers! It can be as challenging or relaxing as you like.
Stardew Valley
Cozy gamers can and do spend hours playing Stardew Valley, and that has a lot to do with the fact it has all of the life experiences we all typically enjoy. Sleeping, eating, and growing things… Killing bats once in a while.
Stardew Valley is a wholesome game, and perhaps one of the best things is that even in the cold evenings, you can still invite friends over to spend time with you on your farm – if you want.
Perhaps the best thing is that with a game like this, you can play as seriously or as relaxed as you want to. You can play alone or with friends; you can join in with the events or not – a game for those who like to play at their own pace.
Though most people play on the Nintendo Switch, you can also play on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, and PC.
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
For those who have multiple people in the house, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is the perfect game to help you pass a few hours. Who doesn’t love a good old Mario Kart tournament? Even the most relaxed people might get a little heated up when you’re zooming around the track in the first place, but then you get the Blue Shell warning! Nightmare. You don’t need Mario Kart 8: Deluxe; any of the precious Mario Kart games will be fine, but there are 32 courses, over 8 cups, and some DLC too.
And for solo players looking to complete the game, rumor has it that it will take about 52-53 hours to complete all the objectives.
You can play this one on the Nintendo Switch.
Cocoon
Get your puzzle-solving brain ready – because Cocoon offers up more than its fair share of problem solving. Cocoon combines cool mechanics with plenty of puzzles, and with each thing you solve, you get to learn more about the world that you find yourself in. Perhaps the most important thing about puzzle-solving is that the games are tough enough for you to have to think about them, but once you’ve solved them, you are going to feel like a genius pretty quickly.
The boss fights are expertly tuned, and the adventure itself is a lot of fun – put the orbs in the right place, and you’ll see things come to life.
You can play Cocoon on the PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Series X.
Baldur’s Gate 3
No list of games to play for the next year at least will be complete without Baldur’s Gate 3. It makes an excellent transition from a tabletop to a digital one and keeps much of what makes tabletop games great in the first place. In keeping with the games that have come before it, and for those who have played DnD or D&D-type games, the smallest choice will make a huge impact, and there are so many outcomes.
This game offers particularly high value, though, because the replay options are as endless as you can imagine. And while there are guides to help online, it is good to try and get as far as you can before looking for answers!
If you’re on the lookout for the newest titles or games that aren’t even out yet, here is what you need to know: 10 Upcoming Steam Games You Need To Look Out For.
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