We get it, you don’t want to spend the summer out in the actual sun. But don’t go spending the entire indoor summer on Fortnite, there are better ways to play the days away. The list of games below is guaranteed to give you the biggest bang for your gaming buck, no matter your platform of choice.
Or you could just go back to Fortnite’s fresh season 5. We won’t blame you.
Disclaimer: CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. Retail links are to Amazon unless otherwise indicated.
Persona 5: PS4
It’s the game that keeps on giving. Then it goes for another 50 hours. The Persona series comes to the PS4 in an entry that captures the essence of modern Tokyo while maintaining the series unique charms and JRPG tropes. If you like turn-based battle that ooze style, you’re in for a ride. Typically $60, Persona 5 is available for $29.99 on Prime Day.
Dragon Ball FighterZ: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Fighting games are like dining. Everyone has their preferences, from complex intricate flavors to the simple joys of a greasy spoon. As a Street Fighter devotee, you can guess where I place that franchise along that scale. Whether your an aficionado or a casual fan who button-mashed their way through Soul Caliber II, Dragon Ball FighterZ does a solid job of letting both audiences mingle via a mix of deceptively simple move lists and automatic combos. FighterZ is also available as a PS4 digital copy for $34.99 as a part of Prime Day.
Buy Dragon Ball FighterZ for PS4 (Digital)
Hollow Knight: PC, Switch
Don’t be fooled by Hollow Knight‘s indie beginnings or platformer trappings. After a slow introduction, Hollow Knight immediately becomes the mix of Metroid and Dark Souls you always knew you wanted. Its crushing difficulty, lack of hand-holding and slow burn storytelling may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s a particularly great cure for the Switch’s summer drought.
Monster Hunter: World: Xbox One, PS4
From one punishing game to the next. Monster Hunter has always had its diehard fans, but with this year’s World, Capcom lowered the barrier to entry without damaging the core monster-hunting experience that’s fueled the franchise’s longevity. If you want to spent your summer exploring lush tropical environments teeming with gorgeously-realizing wildlife (digitally, of course), there’s no better option. Assuming you’re fine beating up that wildlife in the process.
Buy Monster Hunter on PS4Buy Monster Hunter on Xbox One
Yakuza 0: PS4
Yes, there are other Yakuza experiences to check out on the PS4, but Zero is set in a fictional version of 1980s Tokyo and Osaka, plus it’s a prequel. What better way to start the cult franchise that will lure you in with its surprisingly heartfelt crime story, then keep you hooked with… real estate and hostess bar management. You read that right. Yakuza has to be played to be believed.
Fallout 4: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Recent Steam Sale favorite Fallout 4 is divisive among fans of the series’ roleplaying roots, but if you dismiss the game’s issues with stories and characters, there’s a captivating feedback loop to dive into. Venture into the wastes, kill some mutants, recover some materials, use them to build a diner in your settlement, rinse, repeat and then it’s suddenly 3 a.m. Plus, with Fallout: 76 right around the corner it’s about time you reacquainted yourself with the Fallout universe.
Buy Fallout 4 on PS4Buy Fallout 4 on Xbox One
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt Complete Edition: Xbox One, PS4, PC
If you haven’t played The Witcher 3 yet, just go do that now. And for those who never got to the game’s two fully-realized DLCs, there’s no better time to dive in and experience a duo of adventures whose heights rival and sometimes surpass those of the base game. And combined, they might steal away as many hours of your life as the main storyline.
Buy The Witcher 3 on PS4Buy The Witcher 3 on Xbox One
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Xbox One, PC
Yes, it’s been surpassed in hype and player counts by its Battle Royale rival Fortnite, and yes, plenty of bugs and technical issues remain. But if you’re willing to put up with those issues, and own a Xbox One X ($460 at Amazon.com) instead of the less-powerful base console, it’s still hard to deny PUBG’s live-die-repeat appeal.
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