Video games have been around for decades. They have the ability to captivate players and can teach life and job skills, increase brain function, encourage physical exercise and more.
The Sims has been a top seller for years, and Baldur’s Gate 3 is so beloved that it even helped revive the fantasy game market, and gave birth to Stardew Valley.
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The most popular video games are often the ones that make the most money. These AAA (Triple-A) titles typically have a big budget, a large development team, and a massive marketing campaign. But they’re not the only video games that sell well. In fact, there are tons of independent games that also find success on the charts.
One of those games is Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Despite its dated graphics and relatively shallow gameplay, the game manages to hook players in droves. The main reason why New Horizons has been so successful is its incredible level of freedom. While the core loop remains the same from past games, New Horizons adds a few new elements to spice things up. The game has always been incredibly jam-packed with collectibles, but the sense of satisfaction you get from checking them all off your list is as good as ever. Additionally, the game adds a museum that lets you view and collect fossils.
In addition to that, the game introduces a new way to get items called Nook Miles that can be earned by selling fruit or helping at the museum. It’s a great idea that allows the player to do more and go further in the game.
In addition to all that, the game has a lot of beautiful furniture sets and other items that look gorgeous. The best part, though, is the terraforming feature that lets the player create and customize their island to their heart’s content. That, along with a few new songs by K.K Slider, makes the game even more unique and personalized. Essentially, this is the type of game that feels like home.
2. Grand Theft Auto IV
After the success of GTA III, Rockstar Games really started to push their franchise. With Vice City in 2002 and San Andreas in 2004, they showed that they could do 3-D free-roaming as well as it had been done before, and GTA IV was the culmination of all their efforts. Mission-wise, it was the best of all the Grand Theft Auto games to date. It even improved the mechanics from past entries, making car chases and shootouts feel more mature and realistic than they had been before.
But that’s not all the game had going for it. The story was strong and the voice acting was some of the best in the business. There is nothing like playing a GTA game and slipping into the world of another person, where you can eat a meal with a friend, or take a girl on a date. Grand Theft Auto games have never been perfect, but this particular entry was a filet mignon in a sea of greasy burgers.
The other big thing about GTA IV is that it was the first current-gen installment to focus on criticism of American society. It was a bold move, and while some of the humor may not be as funny as it was in previous GTA entries, it was still pretty darn clever.
It should also be mentioned that this is one of the few times where a game from outside the AAA (or Triple-A) genre made the list. Its inclusion in the top ten shows that gamers aren’t just into their big blockbuster releases, but that they also love games of all shapes and sizes. And that’s what makes the gaming industry so interesting – there is something for everyone out there.
3. The Sims 4
A game about life in all its forms – the good, the bad and the flatulence – The Sims is as immersive as it is familiar. You can play with a single person or a whole family of them, all of which you will get to know intimately over the years. You will see them strive for success and struggle to find love, grow old and die, all of which can be quite dramatic, as one of my Sims did when they urinated on themselves and set their house on fire!
A few tweaks here and there make The Sims 4 a more polished, intelligent and well-rounded experience. Emotions are new, giving Sims a more varied emotional spectrum (happiness, sadness, focus, uncomfortable, flirty and so on) which can be triggered by specific activities or objects such as sleeping in a cheap bed or going out to meet a friend. You can also give them jobs that will allow them to earn money, pursue their hobbies and socialise with other Sims. Sims now have smartphones, which you can use to call other Sims, check their schedules and travel to places.
But perhaps the biggest change comes in the way it plays, which has been reworked so you can move from one neighbourhood to another without having to wait for a (blessedly short) loading screen to end. You can even walk around neighbourhoods with a camera, watching Sims stroll past houses and shops as they go about their business.
What’s more, The Sims 4 doesn’t have any of the gimmicky additions that plagued its predecessors such as toddler life stages and swimming pools. While fans will be upset to lose these features, they can rest easy knowing that The Sims 4 is a smarter, more polished and much slimmer game that will still keep them glued to the screen as their Sims lives ebb and flow.
4. Hotline Miami
Developed by Dennaton Games and published by Devolver Digital, Hotline Miami is a top-down shooter set in 1989 Miami where bizarre messages on your answering machine seem to be urging you to commit acts of violence. The game overflows with raw brutality and hard-boiled gunplay as you play a character named Jacket on a murderous rampage against the local Russian mafia. Its high-octane gameplay requires speed, precision and experimentation as you battle through an endless escalating cycle of bloodshed and death. One mistake means instant death, forcing you to adapt and retry each level over again until you can achieve perfection. The game features a mask system, gameplay modifiers and surreal atmosphere that make it one of the most memorable indie hits of its time.
In addition to its punishing gameplay and unforgettable soundtrack, Hotline Miami has also been lauded as an influential video game. It helped pave the way for the indie game boom of the 2010s and is credited with influencing developers to create bolder games that challenge players. Its controversial themes and story are considered to be important social commentary for its era. It spawned a sequel and an anime-style comic book spinoff, as well as several fan games.
The Hotline Miami Collection contains the two legendary games in the neon-soaked series. It was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2020 and later ported to Stadia, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Xbox X/S. The game received generally positive reviews from critics and was nominated for several awards. It was praised for its visual style, brutality and soundtrack, but some complained about the controls and its ending. The game is regarded as an important cultural moment and has been compared to classic indie titles such as Chrono Trigger.
5. Kerbal Space Program
Kerbal Space Program is a space flight simulation game in which players direct the space program of a race of green aliens. The game features a pseudo-realistic orbital physics engine that simulates rocket thrust and torque, gravity, Lagrange points, perturbations, Lissajous orbits, halo orbits, and tidal forces. The game also features a rudimentary AI that can perform tasks such as setting sails and communicating with satellites.
The game’s physics model is accurate enough that it could be used in educational settings to teach students about Newtonian mechanics, calculus, and the trial-and-error processes of rocket science. The free demo provides enough material for a classroom use, but the full version is a better choice for those wanting to explore the game’s full potential.
KSP 2 offers major upgrades over its predecessor including new star systems, interstellar travel technologies, colonies, multiplayer, and more. Its graphics are enhanced with a new rendering system and its sound design is improved with live recordings of rocket launches, VAB construction noises, systems-heavy wind effects during flight, atmospheric scattering, and a fully orchestrated original score.
The game is incredibly flexible and can be played by anyone with an interest in rocketry or space exploration. In addition to its educational value, the game is incredibly fun and challenging to play. The game’s clumsy alien astronauts (called Kerbals) bring rocketry down to the layman’s level, and their blunders and failures make the game more realistic than most other space simulators. They can even fail to achieve orbit if they don’t have enough fuel. This is a must-have for any serious space fanatic. The sequel to the acclaimed Kerbal Space Program, KSP 2 delivers new spaceflight technology and exciting new parts, stunning visuals, a fully revamped UI and Map View, and rich new environments to explore.
