EuroFiles

4 relaxing summer games to cope with the heatwave

Not sure what’s going on where you live, but the UK is having an actual summer this year. We’re in the midst of a heatwave and many Brits just can’t cope. I’m loving it, but when the afternoon temperature starts to soar, an action game or FPS isn’t what’s called for. I’ve selected the most relaxing summer games – keeping you cool, when it’s hot outside.

Shape of the World

It was while playing Shape of the World, that it struck me just how perfect that game was for a hot day, which led me to thinking about other games and hence this column. Shape of the World is an experiential game, which means there are no enemies, there’s no story and the gameplay is minimal, with gorgeous graphics and a relaxing, ambient soundtrack. The floaty physics makes it feel like you’re going for a swim through alien worlds. With echoes of Proteus and an aesthetic resembling No Man’s Sky, Shape of the World lets you explore with no enemies to shoot at and no dialogue choices to sweat over. The ultimate in chilled out gaming.

Skyrim

As much as I don’t really dig Skyrim, it does do snow really well. If it’s really hot outside, then openworld snowscapes are the way to go. Left to your own devices, you can ignore the story and the dragons (unless viewing from afar as they soar serenely) and just trudge through forests and up mountains, taking pictures of the sun glistening in the frostiness of it all.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins

I’m not sure this one will help to cool you down, but chilling out in ancient Egypt always seems like a good idea. You could opt for the tourist mode or just jump into the main game and soar like an eagle. The eagle mode is one of the most relaxing things about Origins, letting you detach from the world and admire the view. And it really is some view. Even the forts full of soldiers seem more peaceful from up above, as the people scurry about their business. Alternatively, just line up that perfect shot of pyramids, eagle, sunset in photo mode. It’s the feelgood game of the summer.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

It’s gorgeous. It’s Zelda. Um. That’s all. But really, you can just look for buried treasure, chill by the camp fire or go hang gliding like a pro. It’s all yours for the taking in Breath of the Wild. Main mission? What’s that? Do or do not, Link don’t mind either way.

Those are the relaxing summer games on my list. What’s on yours?

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Chella Ramanan

Chella hails from the UK and joined Gameindustry.com around the year 2000. It was so many moons ago, she can't quite remember. Back then, the only women you saw in the games industry were in bikinis and vertiginous heels at trade shows - oh how times have changed, kind of. Chella started as a humble reviewer, but soon became our European Correspondent and keeps us on top of industry happenings across the Pond. She tends to like the weird Japanese games we've never heard of, so that's good for making us look all-encompassing and stuff. Chella does like games, so don't be fooled by the copious amount of columns devoted to bemoaning the lack of variety in the industry. When she's not surfing (the sea, not the internet) or camping up mountains, Chella likes a good action RPG (especially if it's sci-fi), anything with a good narrative and like we said, the weirder the better. She's also a regular in the GiN Lounge, but that's just because we like her accent.

One Response

John Breeden II says:

July 13, 2018 at 1:17 pm

Hmm. For me, anything with deep role-playing that takes my mind off the heat and lets me hold up in the AC. I have been playing Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire with its nautical themes is perfect on both counts. Nothing like sandy beaches and crystal blue water. Great place to visit other than the pirates and sea snakes!