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.

Have you played any of these games listed? If so, leave a comment along with your thoughts as I’d love to hear them! 

The post Five Fantastic Nintendo Switch Games Played During 2020 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

I must confess, I am honestly stoked about the upcoming games Nintendo is preparing to release for the rest of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. For those of you who don’t know, simulation games are my absolute favourite from the game shop to play; however, some of the titles I’ll be mentioning in this article are NOT from that category but have made myself look forward to adding it to my gaming collection.

The Survivalists (Released October 9th 2020)

Hunt (or be hunted by!) animals for food and an array of mythical enemies, who aren’t necessarily pleased to see you. Get quests from a Mysterious Stranger or find them washed up on the shore. Prepare to trek into a procedurally generated wilderness, with a variety of biomes, for an adventure that’s unique to every player.

I recently played the demo for this game and found myself getting Stardew Valley vibes; the game is similar in pixelated style and layout. The gamer plays as an islander who has been shipwrecked and must rely on the elements of nature in order to survive.

Remothered: Broken Porcelain (Released October 13th 2020)

The truths buried in the Ashmann Inn will not be discovered easily – its many mysteries are intertwined and guarded by the looming threat of the stalkers, powerful hunters trapped in time and the confines of its walls. Survival will take more than just quick reactions as a strategic and resourceful approach will quickly become critical in this haunting adventure. Be smart – knowing the best time to sneak, flee or fight imminent dangers can quickly make the hunters become the hunted.

This is an upcoming sequel to Remothered: Tormented Fathers that is perfect for gamers who have previously finished the first game, for gamers wanting to try out the series, and for gamers who enjoy the psychological horror genre!

Red Lantern (October 23rd 2020)

The Red Lantern is set in Alaska, where you play as The Musher as she sets out to train a dog sledding team and start a new life. With your trusty crew of dogs, navigate the ever-changing landscape and events in the Alaskan wilderness as you find your way home. Combining roguelike elements into this story-driven adventure game, where hundreds of different events can occur, you’ll have to fend off bears, resist frostbite, care for your dogs, and maybe receive a moose-licking.

There are so many things I’m looking forward to about this game: the Alaskan setting, playing as a Musher, and experiencing what this game’s story has to offer!

Empire of Sin (Releases December 1st 2020)

Build a ruthless 1920’s criminal empire, and outsmart, out-gun and outlast your opponents in Prohibition-era Chicago.

Out of the games I’ve mentioned so far, this is the pick most out of my gaming comfort zone. However, being set during the roaring 20’s, role-playing as a mafia member, and strengthening your criminal following? What’s not to find appealing about this game?

Are any of these games I mentioned on your radar as well? Let me know in the comments below!

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During the nationwide quarantine brought on by the pandemic COVID-19, Nintendo saw a huge spike in sales for their Switch and Switch Lite consoles. Being unable to interact socially with others had millions of people stuck at home and feeling boredom fairly quickly; however, the biggest accelerating factor for the company’s increased revenue was the release of the now very popular game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Along with this in-demand game, I will be breaking down a few other simulation games that I have grown to love playing on this console!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Released on March 20th 2020, this simulation game contributed to mass chaos as gamers everywhere went out seeking the Nintendo consoles and a copy of this title…myself included! Prior to purchasing this one, I really did not know much about the gameplay at all. However, rest assured because it is not that difficult to catch on; it honestly gives me fond memories of my elementary school days playing the online game Poptropica.

In the beginning of the game, you will be introduced to Tom Nook and his associates: Timmy and Tommy. They will help create your passport and during this process, the gamer will be able to customise their character and choose from four island maps; once you have completed this step, the gamer will land on the selected island and be given the opportunity to converse with neighbours, create an island name, and find out their native fruit (this is a feature that you cannot select yourself).

After the initial gameplay, the gamer will be free to roam the island collecting seashells, clumps of weeds, fruit, and other items to sell for some bells; bells are the form of currency in the game and there are endless ways of accumulating profits. The gamer will also learn how to craft a multitude of projects as their character progresses, even being able to collect new recipes from visitors during online play, message bottles found on the beaches, and from purchasing via Timmy and Tommy.

I have been playing this one for almost two months now and I’m finding it to be quite enjoyable, especially if you purchase an online membership with Nintendo.

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope (Special Edition)

To be honest, this was an unintentional purchase as I was browsing the game shelves at my local Walmart. After purchasing and bringing it home, I discovered that this is one of several games under this franchise. I have had this one about as long as ACNH and have found it to be my most played game so far!

In the beginning of the game, the gamer will find their character has been involved in a shipwreck and wound up on a town in disarray; the character has been saved by a resident of the town and has decided to take up living in the area after recovery. During the gameplay, there are several things to busy yourself with: growing crops, tending to livestock, chopping down trees, crushing rocks, picking flowers, etc!

The scenery of the game changes to correspond with the four seasons, so players will never find themselves bored of the imagery. The game also has music, although it’s not the most enjoyable, but can be disabled if the player does not want that element of distraction or hates the sound.

I have met so many characters during my amount of hours invested into this game and completed quite a few tasks, but there are still so many things to unlock in this game as common when playing simulation games like this one. If you were a fan of Facebook’s Farmville or Frontiersville, then you will probably become a fan of this one!

Stardew Valley

This game does not require too much information as it is practically the same gameplay as the Harvest Moon franchise, but with more flexibility. The player will create a farming character, select a location for the farm, and set about doing the same types of activities as the above game. The only key difference for this one is that it is pixelated in a format similar to that of Minecraft. If pixelations and farming simulations are your thing, you will enjoy this game; if you purchase and find yourself unhappy with it, this is one of the cheapest simulation games out right now so at least you can feel better about not wasting your hard earned cash.

My Time At Portia

This is the latest simulation game that I have accumulated for my console; I was previously reluctant to purchase this title, but after watching some YouTube videos involving reviews and gameplay, I decided to take the leap and buy.

Described as Stardew Valley on steroids, I can agree with that statement. The gamer will be given a house and a plot of land and set about building various equipment and tending to animals and crops similar of that to other games I’ve mentioned before this one. The key difference, however, is the game’s graphics; this one looks very realistic and more functioning than that of others in this article. I think that this would be a hit for those simulation gamers that find a lot of games for the Switch to be lacking in the graphics department.

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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The Animal Crossing franchise is broadening its horizons this month with the release of the first ever Animal Crossing instalment for the Nintendo Switch! Animal Crossing: New Horizons will take players to their very own deserted island, a little piece of paradise to explore and make their own.

New Horizons is the fifth main instalment in the Animal Crossing series and it has been eight years since the fourth instalment, New Leaf, which was released on the Nintendo 3DS in 2012. Fans of the franchise are ready and raving for the chance to play on the Switch, a hybrid system that can be used both as a home console and portable device.

Many elements of New Horizons will be familiar to seasoned players. You play as a customisable human avatar, moving into a new town, creating a home, welcoming various animal neighbours, and performing activities such as fishing, bug-catching, watering flowers, and earning in-game currency known as Bells. With your Bells you can purchase clothes, furniture, and more to further customise your game.

In New Horizons, your new home is a deserted island, which you move to having purchased a too-good-to-miss vacation package from Tom Nook. Nook is a recurring character throughout the series who both helps the player and is often all too keen to take your hard-earned Bells for mortgages, extensions, and more.

“Your island getaway,” says Nintendo’s official website, “has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean.”

There are also some new features that have never been seen in previous Animal Crossing games. You will be able to customise the landscape more than ever before, creating pathways, modifying cliffs, hills, ramps, and stairs. There’s an additional in-game currency option, Nook Miles, which can be exchanged for premium items. You may even come across castaways washed up on the shoes of your island!

There will be an emphasis on crafting on New Horizons, using resources like wood, weeds, rocks, and flowers to craft your own tools and furniture. There are also enhanced customisation options for your character, with a range of skin tones, eyes, noses, and mouths to choose from and lots of different hairstyles, clothing and accessory options.

The game is available for pre-order, and Nintendo have also released a special, limited-edition Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch console. The Joy-Cons are pale green and blue, while the dock features waves, a small island with Tom Nook and his nephews Timmy and Tommy standing on it waving a flag. There are also a couple of new Switch and Switch Lite travel cases available featuring New Horizons designs. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be released for Nintendo Switch on Friday March 20th 2020.

Will you be playing New Horizons? Let us know in the comments below!

The post ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ Is Almost Here! appeared first on The Nerd Daily.