Last night, it was announced that Metro Manila will be placed under a community quarantine (or ‘lockdown’) starting March 15 to April 12, 2020 to stem the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. While things are now pretty serious, especially as COVID-19 is now a pandemic, this doesn’t mean we should all panic and hoard everything. What we should all do is follow safety guidelines such as frequent hand washing, practice social distancing, and covering coughs/sneezes with a tissue or inside your elbow. This also means that everyone should stay at home when they can.
If you’re one of those lucky enough that’s allowed to work from home, or are a student, chances are you’ll have plenty of time on your hands because of the outbreak. And what better way to keep yourself busy while at home than to play games, am I right?
To help you decide which game to play during this month-long quarantine, we chose five fairly-recent games that you might not have played yet; they also all offer hours upon hours worth of game time!
Death Stranding
Released back in November for the PS4, Death Stranding is Hideo Kojima’s latest game, and his first non-Metal Gear game in years. Death Stranding offers unique core gameplay that focuses on traversal and delivering packages instead of combat. While it may not be a game for everyone, it’s definitely an interesting and rewarding experience that’ll take around 40-50 hours to finish (even more if you’re a completionist).
Plus, the game’s setting where people are isolated in communities and don’t want to go out is kinda reminiscent of what’s happening now, don’t you think?
Judgment
Another PS4 title release last year is Judgment, an action game for the PS4 that flew under-the-radar when it released last year. The game is a spin-off of the Yakuza series, and it features a gripping detective story that’s paired with a fun beat-em-up combat and an incredibly-detailed game world. What we love most about Judgment is the sheer amount of mini-games and side missions that will definitely eat up hours of your free time at home.
Even if you haven’t played any of the Yakuza games, Judgment is actually a great game to start with; who knows, it might just be your entry-point to the long-running franchise!
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The sixteenth entry in Nintendo’s Fire Emblem series might just be the best!
Released last year on the Switch, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an RPG that marries fun tactical-RPG gameplay with social simulation elements. While the game is worth playing based on combat alone, the game’s social element where you build your relationship with the various memorable characters makes the game a must-play. Better yet, the game is made for multiple playthroughs, as each “house” you select at the start of the game offers a unique twist in the story.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Unlike the first three games on this list, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a new game, in fact it was released for PC and Xbox One just last Wednesday (March 11).
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an action-platformer/Metroidvania title, and it’s a sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest. ‘Will of the Wisps’ features a moving, heartfelt story that’s complemented by a gorgeous art style and a beautiful orchestral score, making it an experience you won’t soon forget. The game is also the perfect title to play if you want to transport yourself into a beautiful world, to at least forget about all the things happening right now for just a bit.
Nioh 2
Rounding our list is Nioh 2, an action-game for the PS4 with punishing difficulty akin to the Souls games or Sekiro. If you do pick this up to play during the city-wide quarantine, then you’ve chosen the best time to do.
Given its difficulty, Nioh 2 will likely take tons of hours to complete, most of which you’ll spend dying. But as with most action titles with insane difficulties, there’s nothing that can beat the satisfaction of beating that boss fight after over 10 times of trying. If you’re up for a big gaming challenge, Nioh 2 is a game you should definitely check out!
And there you have it, five games that we recommend you try out while you stay at home during the Metro Manila quarantine. While you game, remember to keep safe and follow safety guidelines!