Video Games to Play When Bored


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What are Video Games?

Simply put, video games are a form of digital media involving the user or the player interacting with a graphical user interface created by a developer. Through these interactions stories can be told and even virtual characters can be created called "Avatars". Video games come in many different story generes, from casual to fighting, driving or building a tycoon. Many people can create games now that programming software and knowledge are everywhere! Video games can run on all different platforms such as Microsoft's Xbox, Sony's PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, and more.

What are Some Casual Games?

In the gaming world, casual games take a more relaxed approach to video gaming. These games are designed and created to target a large audience and are more family friendly. These games involve mostly mastering the mechanics of the game "mechanics are the rules and the way things work", such as being a high level in a cooking games and unlocking more complicated dishes, or increasing money flow to your home base allowing you to buy better upgrades. I will draw upon some of my favorite games but I will also include the best rated casual games from news sources.

Stardew Valley - A cozy game were you move to your grandfather's old farm, as the player your job is to fix up the farm, meet people, explore and farm!

A Casual Game
Animal Crossing New Horizons - A game were you start a new life on an island, meet villagers, gather resources to build shops and a town hall, and explore to recruit new villagers!

A Casual Game
Minecraft - A casual game about building and conquering the land clearing it from monsters that spawn as well as going to different dimensions to find different structures.

A Casual Game
Among Us - a multiplayer game that has little players in suits run around and complete tasks, however there is a imposter who kills crewmates. Your job is to find out which one is sus.

A Casual Game

What are Some More Competitive Games?

Unlike the style of casual games, there are more competitive games, which are the games that have rounds or called matches. Each match could be around 2-3 minutes with longer ones being as long as 15 minutes. The objectives are simple but unlike casual games that do not have a timer competitive games do! So completing a task requires accuarcy and speed. I will include all of the competitive games that I know, but I will keep it family friendly, because this is a college project. Competitive games are best played with a controller or keyboards as mobile may not offer the most user friendly experience.

Rocket League - A round based game where players use cars to play soccer, the team with the most goals wins! Bump into each other and use your boost to win!

A Casual Game
League of Legends - A fast paced game centered around summoners (players) working to get inside the opposing teams base to destroy the inhibitors to win the game!

A Casual Game
Mario Kart 8 - A fast paced racing game were players can choose thier own Nintendo character and customize karts to race other players, but look out for the bannan peels!

A Casual Game
Overwatch 2 - A game with many competitive game modes such as players protecting a payload from the enemy pushing it into thier base. Players compete on how many times they eleminate the other team.

A Casual Game

What are the Most Common Gaming Platforms?

As time goes on gaming evolves to accomodate many different players in all different gaming situations. Pc is by far the most played and even most prefered by most gamers. Pc offers the power to run complex games thanks to Microsoft's Windows 11, having the best equiptment means gameplay will be smooth. Consoles are next ranging from the Nintendo Switch, PSP or PlayStation Portable, Steam Decks, Microsoft's Xbox and the Sony PlaySatation.

Microsoft Xbox One

A Game Console
Sony PlayStation 4

A Game Console
PC, Hover for a cool effect!

A PC
The Nintendo Switch

Nintendo