Video games have been part of many people’s lives for a good few decades now, whether that be the casual gamer who plays a couple of hours of the Sims every week or a diehard fan that couldn’t imagine their life without games.
While most games allow you to try your luck, explore, are packed with action and adventure, or require more brains than brawn, many have one thing in common; they can change your life and alter your perspective for the better.
Undertale
Undertale sees you take on the role of a child who has fallen into the Underground, a secluded and terrifying region, locked beneath the earth’s surface. Your job is to find a way out and escape back into the real world.
Undertale has been heavily praised for its story-telling and narrative. It has a unique way of teaching people that your decisions and how you treat those who cross your path seriously impact your future. It is a must-play for anyone who hasn’t tried it yet.
Firewatch
On the surface, Firewatch seems like a straightforward game. You play the role of a fire lookout in the Shoshone National Forest a year after the fires that swept through Yellowstone National Park.
What sets Firewatch apart is the sense of loneliness and isolation you feel right off the bat. All you have is a radio to communicate, and whatever happens, you have to deal with it yourself. Once again, a lesson in trusting your own ability is given when something goes wrong, and no one is there to help.
Portal 2
Portal has become famous as one of the best puzzle games on the market. Portal 2 offers more of what fans want; you must solve puzzles and escape areas by strategically placing portals around the room.
Portal 2 is a game that will make you smarter, improve your puzzle-solving abilities and allow you to solve intricate problems under pressure. While you will spend the entire time having fun, you will get smarter too.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Amnesia is a horror/survival game that puts you in the role of Daniel, who is exploring an abandoned castle. He must discover the secrets that lie in the castle and figure out why he has amnesia and can barely remember who he is.
Amnesia is the definition of a game that requires you to keep your cool and try to stay calm under pressure. You are faced with monsters and spirits who do everything to scare you. As long as you stay focused, you will defeat the game and discover the truth.
Getting Over It
Getting Over It has tortured gamers since 2017. The point of the game is simple; you must use a hammer, well-timed swings, and physics to ascend the level. You must use the point of your hammer to hook onto ledges, boulders, and whatever else you come across.
Timing your jumps and swings poorly, or being in a rush, will almost inevitably lead to a mistake and you falling all the way to the bottom of the level again. Getting Over It teaches one very simple but very important lesson, patience.
The Last of Us
The Last of Us sees you take on the role of Joel, a smuggler, who must escort a young girl named Ellie across the post-apocalyptic United States. You must use stealth, fighting, shooting skills, and ingenuity to reach your final destination.
The Last of Us has become famous for its story-telling and how it teaches players about compassion, relationships, and even love. The story grips you, and the decisions you make can be heart-breaking at times.
Any RPG
RPGs, or role-playing games, are unique because you have complete control over a virtual life for a small amount of time. The decisions you make, the paths you choose all directly impact the outcome of your story.
RPGs, in many ways, represent real life; that is the point of them. They teach you about good and bad decision-making, the rewards and punishments for being selfish and selfless, and working towards building your skills to achieve more than you could ever imagine.
