*NOTE FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: The following is a guest blog from a friend of Pwns Media, Jordan. You can see him talk gaming, sports, movies, etc. on Twitter at @swannyszn. We thank Jordan for contributing to our website and would encourage anyone else who wishes to write for Pwns to reach out to @MarkPiselli13 for more details.
Hey, everyone! Are you bored? Like really bored? Do you feel like quarantine will just never end? Want to get into gaming to try and pass the time or just want some recommendations? Well, here are 5 AWESOME video games to help get you through these tough times.
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PS4, Xbox, Switch)
Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim may have been released in 2011, but that doesn't mean that it's outdated. If you're into RPGs, medieval combat and DRAGONS, then this is the game for you. Even if you’ve never touched an RPG (role-playing game) before, Skyrim is super easy to just pick up and play with little to no confusion. With loads of customization options, a massive map (and I mean MASSIVE) and a thrilling story lines, there's always something new to discover with this game. I’ve been playing Skyrim for YEARS now and still haven't completed all of the accompanying quests and story lines. That alone should tell you just how expansive this game is. As detailed above, you can pick it up on pretty much any console, including Nintendo Switch, so there’s pretty much no excuse for you not to play.
2. The Borderlands Series (PS4, Xbox, Switch)
Borderlands is a first person space western "looter-shooter" series published by 2K Games and developed by Gearbox Studios. First released in 2009, it quickly rose in popularity due to its fun game-play and co-op elements. Each of the games revolve around you, a Vault Hunter, as you seek out the mystical Vaults to etch your name in history and get absolutely rich. Of course, nothing is ever that simple, as you run into a good deal of trouble along the way. Game-play is similar to an open world Call of Duty style campaign, along with RPG style looting and customization. The story lines are all super engaging and seasoned perfectly with lots of crude humor, which just adds to the overall charm of the series. If your friends are gamers as well, they can drop in anytime you're playing, which makes for a lot of fun. But, be warned, as more non-CPU players enter the game, your enemies become increasingly more difficult. Borderlands 2 is my personal favorite and I’m currently playing through Borderlands 3, which released last year. Endless loot options + gore + crude humor = amazing game.
3. God of War (PlayStation Exclusive)
The God of War franchise has been a cult classic ever since the first game was released for PS2 way back in 2005. Since then, there have been a few sequels, a prequel, and even a few games for the PSP before the release of God of War (2018). The latest iteration takes place in the realm of Midgard as you (Kratos) journey with your son Atreus to take his mother's ashes to the highest peak in the realms. While the older games were heavily reliant on combos in combat, the new God of War takes the combat and completely revamps it into a RPG style open combat system. Combat is now very fluid and easy to control, the visuals are absolutely STUNNING and, of course, the story itself is incredible. The open world is extremely fun to explore and, on top of all else, there are collectibles to be had all over the place. Even if you've never played a God of War game before, do yourself a favor and grab this bad boy for PS4.
4. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS4, Xbox, PC)
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order follows the story of Cal Kestis, a Jedi who survived the Great Purge (Order 66) and was forced into hiding. The game takes place 5 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, in a world where the Empire now reigns supreme and the Jedi Order has...fallen (see what I did there?!?) Cal soon meets a former Jedi and joins up with her in hopes of rebuilding the Order from the ground up. If you're a Star Wars fan, this game is everything you've ever wanted. The landscapes you traverse are all incredibly beautiful to look at, with something new catching your eye with every turn you make. Maybe most importantly, The lightsaber combat feels soooooo good. Slicing and dicing your way through Stormtroopers and hostile wildlife is exactly as fun as you'd expect it to be. As you progress through the game, you unlock more force powers for Cal to use; you'll also find collectibles scattered throughout the different worlds that allow you to customize your outfit, ship and even your little droid buddy, BD-1. Lightsaber customization is probably my favorite aspect of the game, as there are plenty of options to choose from to make your lightsaber truly your own -- something Star Wars fans like myself have always dreamed of. Be warned: this game is hard. But then again, you didn’t expect rebuilding the Jedi Order to be easy, did you?
5. The Last of Us (PlayStation Exclusive)
I just couldn't make a video game list without putting The Last of Us on it. This game was originally released for PS3 back in 2013, but eventually got a PS4 remaster. Based 20 years after a catastrophic outbreak that essentially turns people into zombies, Joel is tasked with smuggling Ellie into a group called the Fireflies in an effort to potentially save humanity. This game will hurt your feelings. No matter which way you look at it, your feelings are gonna get hurt and that's what makes this game so good. I don't wanna get toooooo deep into the story, because this is a game that everyone should play and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. And while I'm not necessarily a huge fan of the combat in the game, the visuals are absolutely beautiful. You wouldn't think that a destroyed city could look so amazing, but they found a way to do so and it really helps drive home how hopeless the world seems. On top of it all, the story is absolutely top notch as well, easily one of the best I've ever seen in a video game. Covering loss, love and having the fate of humanity on your shoulders, The Last of Us is truly a masterpiece. I honestly can't recommend this game enough.
- Swanny