Written by contributor Courtney Blanton
It’s safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic had more than enough of us spending more time in our homes than ever before. Quarantine life wore out its welcome well into the early stages of its enforcement, which is where games stepped in and became our saving graces!
I played several games on my Nintendo Switch Lite console during this ordeal and although it was hard to narrow the list down, I did my best at providing titles with different elements, difficulty levels, and hours of gameplay.
5. Firewatch
Firewatch is a game that was perfect for this year of quarantine! It provides the right amount of summer outdoor fun with accommodating elements for all gamers: walking simulation, exploration, puzzle-solving, and more. This game took me under six hours to complete and left me with an emotional gaming hangover for weeks after.
4. Harvest Moon: Light of Hope (Special Edition)
This was the first game I purchased for my Switch Lite and I quickly fell in love. The gamer is provided a casual, laidback experience and can quickly establish a routine of chopping down trees, tending to animals, and repairing structures around the farm. I ended up finishing this game in about thirty hours, but even after completing the main storyline, there’s the availability of marriage and children which provides even more gaming hours!
3. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
This is a game I have only recently begun playing as I scored this one from my local Gamestop during Black Friday for $26.99! From videos I watched prior to purchasing, I can only best describe this one as anime meets the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Players get to choose between three houses, where he/she will further improve upon certain skill sets.
The game has plenty to offer and lots of hours of gameplay to enjoy. Once I finish my first playthrough, I intend to play two more to experience all the houses and choices that come with those selections.
2. My Time At Portia
This was a game that I discovered due to a YouTube review by Ircha Gaming, whose channel I have quickly become a fan of. I enjoy the gaming reviews she uploads and I have bought several games based on her input, which has never disappointed me!
The game has been described as “Stardew Valley on Steroids,” and “Stardew Valley 3D.” I can agree with this summarisation; players get the typical storyline of inheriting a farm, tending to animals, growing crops, and all that comes with Stardew Valley while also getting to mine, build, and explore a city that forbids modern technology.
I have put in almost thirty hours into this game, but unfortunately I recently somehow accidentally deleted twenty-five(ish) hours of gameplay, which has caused me to not pick up the game since. No worries, I plan to get back into the game I just need time to recover from the loss.
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
I’m sure this one was expected, but I can’t hide my overwhelming love for this title! I will admit that the sole reason I bought a Switch console was because of this game. I’ve always enjoyed farming simulation games and this one provided that aspect among other things.
It didn’t take long for me to spend hours of my life on this game; I’m currently 130 hours in with no signs of slowing down. With the developers constantly rolling out seasonal content, there’s always something to keep gamers returning to this one without fear of boredom.
