“Rating the Top Video Games of the Pandemic”

Rating the Top Video Games of the Pandemic

Krista Fardella, Staff Writer

As an avid gamer, I can appreciate the variety of games out there in 2021. However, not all games are created equally, and there is definitely a hierarchy in mind. My top favorite video games are Minecraft, Animal Crossing, and Papers, Please. These games all have a special place in my heart for many reasons. Minecraft has always been in my life and is a game with endless possibilities that is stress free. The reason Animal Crossing is my second favorite is because it’s a very peaceful and cute game, and it offers an escape from the stressors of school. And finally, Papers, Please is a game that I have seen people on YouTube play, and after playing it, I really liked it. Unlike Minecraft and Animal Crossing, Papers, Please is more of a story mode game. If any of these sound interesting, keep reading below to see my breakdown of each of these games.

There are many reasons why this game is my favorite. To start, let me give some background information about the game Minecraft was made on November 18, 2011. This game is all about surviving and being creative. There is also creative mode. In this game the sky is truly the limit. There are main achievements in the game like defeating the Wither and the Ender Dragon. These achievements take lots of time for most to achieve. But if hardcore battles are not your thing, then you can build houses, towns and anything in-between. This game to me overall is super fun and never gets boring. And you can also play with friends. I would give it a solid 9.5 out of 10.

Next is Animal crossing. This game is super cool as well. Animal Crossing is more of building up your village and constantly improving. It was released on March 20, 2020. Some things about the game that I like are you can also play with friends in creating a fun community. The game is not without its drawbacks, however. For example, when you talk to someone on your island, there are so any menus that you have to go through. I also feel like the game has more limitations than others. For example, Nook’s Cranny and the Able Sisters shops close at like 10PM, which is inconvenient for night owls. Another thing is that the game runs on actual days so progress is very slow, and once you name your island you can’t change it. But there are some redeeming features for the game in that it has a very cute style and there is lots to do to improve your island star rating. I would give this game a solid 7 out of 10 just because of all the menus and how the game runs on days in the real world.

The last game that is on my list is Papers, Please; in this game you work at the border and have to check peoples passports and decide to let them in or not. It’s a game that is super cool to me because of the story mode feature. The game was released on August 8, 2013. The game is all about making hard choices and has lots of information to check and remember. I really like the game for the story and the style of the game is super cool. I would recommend this game and give it a solid 8 out of 10.

These are my top 3 favorite games and the reasons why I recommend them. They all have their strengths and weaknesses but overall they are fun.