Video game

14 best video games to play during the summer – For The Win


Summertime is one of the best times of the year to pick up video games. School being out of session and the unbearable heat combine for lazy days spent trying to keep cool and occupied.

Of course, it’s nice to soak up the sun outside when you’re able, but we all need some variety in our lives, don’t we? With the vast swaths of video games out there, fans are spoiled for choice as to what to play in 2022.

And yet, there are some video games that feel just right to play during the long summertime months. Whether it be based on the gameplay, the setting, or vibes alone, these are the 14 best video games to play during the summer, as picked by staff writer Mary Clarke and GLHF writer Kyle Campbell.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Mary: The gorgeous vistas and sprawling landscapes of Breath of the Wild make for the perfect summer getaway. Plus, the game is tailor-made for you to explore at your own pace as you find your own adventures and make your own fun as Link in this latest Legend of Zelda romp.

Resident Evil (2002)

Kyle: Look, maybe Resident Evil isn’t about soaking up the sun but consider this: it takes place in summer. Not to mention I spent many afternoons as a kid solving puzzles in the Spencer Mansion as everyone else was melting outside. Heat? No thanks — give me shade. Thankfully, there’s plenty of it in a decrepit house at night full of zombies! 

Stardew Valley

Mary: I always gravitate towards Stardew Valley in the summer, more so than the other seasons. The cozy farming — and dating! — simulator is perfect for long summer nights as you meticulously plan out and tweak your farm’s design to your heart’s content. After all, those strawberries aren’t going to pick themselves!

Super Mario Sunshine

Kyle: Imagine frolicking about a beautiful island paradise, only stopping to squash some goombas. Super Mario Sunshine isn’t everyone’s favorite outing with the legendary Italian plumber, but it’s brilliant. Nothing radiates summertime vibes quite like blasting everything and everyone with a giant back-mounted water gun.

Final Fantasy X

Mary: The tropical seaside paradise of Spira is the backdrop of Tidus’ adventures in one of the best Final Fantasy games of all time. The world is gorgeous, the story is fantastic, and the cast of characters you meet during this adventure are some of the most memorable in video games. Plus, don’t we all wish blitzball was a real sport?

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Kyle: There is no better competitive game to watch than Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Seriously, look up “Doctor Doom combos” on YouTube, and you’ll get it. Most of those highlights will be from the Evo Championship Series, which happens every summer in Las Vegas. Therefore, this counts! Cheeky qualifications aside, most hardcore fans came to love this series due to those massive midsummer tournaments. Plus, getting together with friends to beat the tar out of each other is a hell of a bonding experience.

A Short Hike

Mary: A Short Hike is the perfect summer game for those who like camping and the outdoors. While not a long game by any means, A Short Hike is a wonderful summer palate cleanser that dials up the cozy vibes to 11.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Kyle: Who among us hasn’t gotten together in the summer with friends to fling blue shells at one another? You probably have memories of doing precisely that mid-childhood birthday party — so do two or three generations of adults by now. Maybe this is a hot take, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe does it better than any other entry in the series.

Spider-Man

Mary: While Spider-Man may take place in the fall, I find it to be quite the laid-back summer game. Having the freedom to traverse New York City at high speed while swinging through and over the buildings is a feeling like no other. To me, Spider-Man hits all the right notes for a summertime adventure, right down to the blockbuster Marvel superhero plot!

Splatoon 2

Kyle: The interactive equivalent of a tie-dye shirt. Whether it’s the little Inklings sporting shorts and flip-flops or the food-fight-like tone to matches, Splatoon 2 is like a messy day of summer camp. Sure, the net code is atrocious, but whatever! What’s important is you can shoot fish with weapons full of paint because, in the end, isn’t that what we all want to do?

Nintendo Switch Sports

Mary: Don’t want to go outside in the sweltering heat? With Nintendo Switch Sports, you don’t have to! Get all the heart-pumping adrenaline of playing sports such as soccer, tennis, volleyball, bowling, and more from the comfort of your living room without getting heat stroke in the process.

Power Wash Simulator

Kyle: Are you looking for a steady stream of serotonin? Nothing beats Power Wash Simulator. There’s something ridiculously satisfying about blasting dirt and muck off the family’s aging van, only for it to look brand-new moments later while shimmering in the sun. 

Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag

Mary: Nothing says summertime to me like pirates! And there’s no better pirate video game out there on the market than Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, which puts you in the shoes of the dashing rogue Edward Kenway and his assassination adventures. The cities you traverse in the Caribbean are all vibrant and lush, and the naval combat is second-to-none as you carve out your legacy during the Golden Age of Piracy.

Golf With Your Friends

Kyle: Mini putt is a proud warm-weather pastime. Golf With Your Friends takes that often flamboyant iconography and dials everything up to 11. It’s almost like a rollercoaster — one that will (playfully) earn you some frenemies.



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