It’s officially October! And you know what that means? It’s time to break out the pumpkin spice scented candles, fluffy blankets and hot chocolates. All the shops are full of spooky Halloween decorations and costumes, and horror movies are all the rage. People are sharing their favourite books to read and their favourite movies to watch while stuck inside, out of the cold and rain. But what about video games? Around this time of year, I love curling up on the sofa to play “cosy” video games. Here are a few of my favourites this year.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing is perfect for those who are new to gaming since there’s no time limits, boss fights or violence in general. New Horizons revolves around customising your island home and inviting weird and wonderful animal characters to live on your island. You can do whatever you want in Animal Crossing; decorate your island, go fishing, catch bugs, craft items, design clothing or talk to villagers. The game works on a real-time clock system, so time passes realistically, and the game changes with each season and time of day you are playing in. This means the game is approaching its gorgeous autumnal period, with marmalade-coloured leaves falling from the trees and pumpkin crafting recipes available left and right.
You can play Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch.
Undertale
Looking for spooky games to play that won’t scare the pants off you? Then Undertale might be the game for you. Undertale is a top-down RPG (Role Playing Game) that sees you exploring an underground world full of monsters. The game flips our expectations about RPGs and encourages you to go down the pacifist route rather than the traditional “monsters are bad” approach. Undertale has horror elements and is notoriously difficult (if you decided to go down the “genocide route”). However, it’s full to the brim with wholesomeness and lovable characters and your in-game choices matter. After its release in 2012, Undertale grew a massive fanbase and became one of the biggest indie games of all time.
You can play Undertale on Steam (PC), Playstation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is regarded as one of the best JRPGs (Japanese Role Playing Game) on the market. Created in collaboration with the Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli, the game features hand-drawn animated cutscenes and its visuals are like an anime come to life. The main character, Oliver, travels to a fantasy world to save his mother. Along the way, he meets countless friends and foes, including Drippy- a fairy who was banished to live as a doll- who helps Oliver travel to his world. Being an RPG, it does have a focus on combat but does a great job of balancing story with action. Ni No Kuni and its sequel are great for immersing yourself in for nights on end.
You can play Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch on Steam (PC), Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
Stardew Valley
Inspired by games like the Harvest Moon series, Stardew Valley is a farming simulator and RPG. The game begins when your character inherits their grandfather’s farm in Pelican Town (in the aforementioned Stardew Valley) and moves out of the city to renovate the farm. You can meet the townsfolk, complete quests for them and marry certain characters. Like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can do whatever you want at whatever pace you want. You can fish, mine, farm or craft. I love to wrap myself in a blanket, make myself a cup of tea and relax while playing Stardew Valley. The game also has a clear message and encourages you to shop locally and take your time in life to do what you enjoy.
You can play Stardew Valley on Steam (PC), mobile (iOS or Android), Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Mixing Halloween elements with child-friendly gameplay, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is perfect for playing this Halloween without being bombarded with jump-scares (despite how fun they can be). You play as Super Mario Brother, Luigi, as the famous Nintendo characters are invited to stay at a luxurious hotel that turns out to be haunted. Luigi- in true ghost-busters fashion- uses the Poltergust G-00 to defend himself against the ghostly inhabitants of the hotel. As someone who can’t handle horror games, games like this are amazing for the spooky season without being scary or gory. I haven’t played Luigi’s Mansion 3 yet but I’ll be completing it this Halloween season.
You can play Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Nintendo Switch.
Minecraft
Minecraft has recently regained the popularity it had, after its release in 2011. Everyone has at least heard of Minecraft. Blowing up on YouTube in 2011, this survival simulator grew popular with almost everyone with a console or gaming PC. The game allows you to explore unique worlds, fight monsters, mine for diamonds, farm the land and build ANYTHING. People online have shown time and time again that the only limit is your imagination in Minecraft; with many recreating pixelated versions of fictional worlds from books and movies or building intricate cities and castles from scratch. Minecraft is the perfect multi-player game for cold autumn nights with your loved ones.
You can play Minecraft on Steam (PC), mobile (iOS and Android), Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One.
Coffee Talk
If gaming isn’t your thing, Coffee Talk is a brilliant game to start with if you want to get into it. This game is a talking simulator, focusing on story rather than gameplay. You play as the owner and barista at a coffee shop in an alternate version of Seattle that’s home to fantasy races such as Elves, Vampires and Werewolves. The gameplay consists of talking to customers, listening to their problems and making coffees. The game’s beautiful soundtrack is perfect for chilling out with a pair of headphones on. I adore Coffee Talk, and I’m currently on my second playthrough.
You can play Coffee Talk on Steam (PC), Playstation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
As you can probably tell, I have a soft spot for my Nintendo Stitch Lite (as seen in the photos). I love my Switch since I can play wherever and whenever. I can throw it in my bag before heading off to uni, so I have something to do in between lectures. I can play on the sofa or bed while Ryan is playing on the Playstation. Gaming is all about finding what works for you. I prefer games that have an emphasis on story or creativity, with very little focus on combat or winning and losing. Especially at this time of year, I want to chill out since university is building up steam, and I’m starting to prepare for my coursework. But, everyone is different; some people thrive off being challenged in big, complex boss battles and platforming levels. What type of video games do you like? What have you been playing recently? Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for reading x
Photography: Ryan Duff
Thrifty Mango 