How Video Games Bring Us Together

     

How Video Games Bring Us Together | Why Gaming Is A Blessing In Disguise

This blog is purely to show appreciation for the phenomenon that is video games and gaming in general. All opinions are solely the writer's and the writer will be responsible for any and all backlash.

SURVIVING, NOT LIVING

    Whether we like it or not, we are more or less all bored. Being stuck inside will do that to you. One way or another, we will find a way to access the Internet. Dealing with online activity is something we can all be guilty of doing. In fact, I hope I can speak for my fellow gamer friends when I say that video games are lifesavers. 

    Not a day goes by where we don't power up the PC or console, grab our controllers or keyboard and mouse, and just do what we want to. Nowadays, online multiplayer games are more accessible and possibly the most popular cure for boredom. 

    Take a look at the top platforms streaming games right now. YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook are blowing up, not literally, because of streamers collaborating via online multiplayer games. Watching gaming streams also makes us feel like we are in on the jokes that happen between these streamers. That feeling of inclusivity is one of the things that keep us from dying of boredom.

SINGLE AND SATISFYING

     Of course, there are many great single-player games that are out there that are also being streamed. There are a lot of amazing games studios out there that make literal blockbusters. I cannot list them all down, so please bare with the ones that came off of the top of my head. I will give some extremely deserved honorable mentions at the end of this segment of the blog.

Game studios like Bethesda made these amazing open world exploration game franchises like The Elder Scrolls, the most recent Fallout games, Dishonored, and a couple more extreme and immersive titles. 

    

Games from Bethesda Game Studios

Sucker Punch, the studio that made the colorful inFAMOUS series, also made Game of the Year nominee, Ghost of Tsushima. They are also currently working on more epic, open-world games.

Art from inFAMOUS: First Light

In-game screenshot from Ghost of Tsushima

Santa Monica Studio made the gigantic Game of the Year 2018 winner, God of War, and are currently working on its sequel (which will be the fifth in the game series). 

In-game screenshot from God of War 2018

Naughty Dog, the studio that made the cinematic Uncharted franchise, which rivaled the Tomb Raider franchise for years, also made The Last of Us parts 1 and 2, both being game of the year winners 2013 and 2020 respectively.

Art from Uncharted 4

Art from The Last of Us Part 2 Trailer

    Single player games are always a go-to when looking for a good time gaming. Many of our favorite story-based games are single player. Experiencing their worlds first-hand gives us the opportunity to truly impact the sequence of the stories. A couple of honorable mentions I have are Grand Theft Auto V, Super Mario, The Witcher 3, and Bloodborne. 

    However, not everything relies on a great story for a great game. Let's have a look at the online multiplayer side of things.

THE MORE THE MERRIER

    On the multiplayer side, we have many credible contenders. Among Us, the elimination game that has taken the world by storm two years after its release, is free-to-play on mobile devices, is barely $3 on the PC, and is making its release to the Nintendo Switch soon. It also won 3 Game Awards including best multiplayer game of 2020. This explains why so many people still play it to this day. Many people, myself included have dabbled in the manipulation and subterfuge that came with the game. 

Among Us is coming to the Nintendo Switch

Valorant, the 5 v 5 First-Person Shooter being compared to the likes of Overwatch, Team Fortress 2, and Paladins, is free-to-play on PC. As a Valorant rookie myself, I have yet to find a game where I didn't enjoy myself. If you loved the aforementioned games because of their quirky characters and abilities, Valorant is certain to find its place in your FPS-loving, spam-clicking heart.

Artwork from Valorant

Minecraft, the block-based building and role-playing game wherein you can build literal worlds with your friends, is worth the price considering all the possibilities in the game. It is a phenomenal game for role-playing and getting together. Building in the game is simple and helps explore and expand your imagination. The game is also compatible with shaders, so you can enhance your gaming experience even further.

In-game screenshot from Minecraft

Minecraft with shaders on

Finally, there's Rust: another open-world game that features the ability to build, raid, and scavenge with other players. It only came back into the light recently and a lot of streamers joined certain servers where they could play roles in a community. Although I haven't played it personally, watching others play it online and interacting with other players always brings a smile to my face.

In-game screenshot from Rust

Of course, I couldn't name every amazing multiplayer game. Some honorable mentions are Super Mario Party, Fall Guys, Overcooked, and Animal Crossing. Each game gives the players a role to play. Be it good or bad, the games give us all something to do so that no one feels bad or like they miss out.

THE FICTIONAL WORLD AND YOUR PLACE IN IT

    Speaking of role playing, when in different communities online, gaming as a certain character can be easier and more comfortable than gaming by yourself. Imagine you're in a Minecraft or a Rust server with some friends. Building some things together makes you feel a sense of accomplishment, does it not? You feel as if you've contributed to something in the community. 

Playing Minecraft with Friends

Let's say that you decide to develop a story with these friends and you want to act it out and add to the lore of the world. While doing this with your friends, the bond between you and them will strengthen.

    Feeling competitive? Hopping into a game of Valorant or Among us with friends lets you play a role, but in a life-or-death situation. Of course, you can also hop into other games such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Fortnite should you want to experience more critical and tense situations.

Among Us artwork showing the life and death matters taking place in the game

Playing online with others gives us many opportunities to make new friends and discover new people with the same interests. Let me tell you why you should grab these opportunities while you can.

THE JOY OF PLAYING TOGETHER (AND IN GENERAL)

    I'm sure playing online with friends will help connect you to each other. Playing online brings us to completely different worlds and helps kill time until whatever time we want. This helps us stay connected and have fun with friends while staying inside.

   Regardless of player capacity or popularity, video games are, as far as I know, one of the things that we can all relate to. Be it the many great single player games, or the great multiplayer games out there, I'm sure we can all agree on one thing. Video games are great, and they always have been.