8 Best Games to Binge During Social Isolation

When COVID-19 forced everyone to huddle indoors, it didn’t take long for the arrival of gamer-centric memes. The general consensus is that gamers will have an easier time during quarantine than other people because we already spend our spare time diving into games rather than going outside.

While that may be true, we all know the truth: not all games are created equal. Being stuck inside the house for weeks or even months means you can take the time to really dive into those complex games.

But what games are worth both your time and your money? I’ve compiled the eight best games to binge during social isolation.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Sometimes, hit games are a product of hype. Other times, it’s a matter of timing. And the remake of Final Fantasy VII has both hype and timing on its side!

This game is jaw-droppingly beautiful, but Square Enix did more than give the game a graphical overhaul. Combat is now completely different, with dynamic battles where you control your characters directly. It plays more like Kingdom Hearts than classic Final Fantasy, but that makes each fight more engaging.

While this is only the first part of multiple remake expansions, it will still take at least 30 hours to complete. And many more if you want to unlock every secret! No better time than the present to dive into a deep RPG.

Super Mario Odyssey

In Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo hits the sweet spot of difficulty and depth. The platforming gameplay (which is all about moving, jumping, and throwing your hat to take over creatures) is easy enough for gamers of all ages. And it doesn’t take that long to simply progress from beginning to end.

However, it takes a ton of time to collect every power moon in every kingdom and unlock every hilarious Mario outfit. And even once you unlock everything, you can get countless hours of fun out of creating meme-worthy Mario screenshots.

Easy enough for your kids, deep enough to keep you busy all year. That’s Super Mario Odyssey in a nutshell.