With a cruel combo of lockdowns and quarantines, it has been a challenging (stronger adjectives available) year to be a traveler. But there is one novel form of travel that has remained impervious to international restrictions – in fact you don’t even have to leave your home to enjoy it. We are talking, of course, about video games.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Winner of Game of the Year at the 2015 Golden Joystick Awards and widely considered one of the greatest video games of all time, the third instalment of the beloved Witcher series is as good an introduction to the world of modern gaming as you can get.
Based on the fantasy novels of Andrzej Sapkowski, the Witcher 3 sees players take control of Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunter for hire, as he searches for his adoptive daughter Ciri. This quest will take players through the giant, war-torn land of The Continent, shuffling through the packed streets of grand cities, sailing to far-off islands and wading through thick swampland, all while occasionally downing tools for a quick round of Gwent (the frighteningly addictive in-game card game). Though its setting may be highly fantastical, the game has a very human story at its center, brought to life by a talented voice cast that includes Game of Thrones star Charles Dance.
World of Warcraft
A behemoth of the gaming industry, World of Warcraft played a leading role in shifting the perception of video games from puzzles to be completed to realms in which to exist. The game is the planet’s most popular MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), which means the world in which it is set, Azeroth, is populated by avatars of real players (millions of them) as well as computerized characters.
Stardew Valley
Who said you need fast-pace storylines and cutting-edge graphics to create an immersive world? Thanks to its charming, retro appearance and rewarding, easy-going gameplay, Stardew Valley has garnered a strong cult following since its release in 2016.
In the game, players take control of a character who is the beneficiary to a rundown family farm in the delightful backwater of Pelican Town, and are tasked with returning it to profit. Between planting crops and tending to livestock, players will have the opportunity to explore more and more of their surroundings, meeting the jovial townsfolk, attending various time-specific festivals (honoring both real-world holidays and in-game events, like the arrival of the fluorescent jellyfish) and even finding a partner to share your wholesome, salt-of-the-earth existence with. Unlike most of the games on this list, Stardew Valley can also be played on smartphones and tablets, making it a good choice for would-be gamers without consoles.
Red Dead Redemption 2
If you spent your youth embroiled in imaginary gun battles with outlaws in the Old West, then Red Dead Redemption 2 will delight your inner child. The hotly-anticipated prequel to Sony’s Red Dead Redemption has become one of the best-selling games of all time, winning numerous awards in the process.
Set in the final days of the American Wild West, the game sees players slip into the spur-heeled boots of rugged outlaw Arthur Morgan, who must lead his gang of misfits through the perils of a rapidly modernizing (law-abiding) world in which they no longer belong. While the game’s plot, characters and gameplay all drew praise from critics, it’s the game’s setting and scenery that takes center stage, and to this end, there’s nothing more enjoyable than simply roaming freely through the wild, ever-changing landscapes atop your trusted mount, with the sense of serenity shattered only by the occasional bust-up with a rival gang or local sheriff.
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