It’s hard to believe it, but the academic year is coming to a close. Whether you are excited to leave Athens or are begging for it to go slower, no one is looking forward to the stress of finals week. Here are eight games to play during your study breaks to help relieve that stress:
1. Overwatch
If you have 30 minutes to spare, you have the perfect amount of time to go through a match or two of Overwatch. The diverse set of characters and their abilities bring a new experience each time players hop on.
2. Fortnite
The craze of battle royale doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop anytime soon, and Fortnite has been the prime reason why. The game has taken social media and YouTube by storm. It’s a perfect game to jump in and play a match or two without feeling as if nothing has been accomplished. Every game is different, which is perfect for those short bursts of gaming.
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best installment in the franchise, and one of the reasons why is because of the portability of the Nintendo Switch. Being able to bring the game on the go shows how perfect the game is for small sessions. Players can log a track or two and come back to it later. With the best graphics, courses and roster of characters, this game shouldn’t be overlooked.
4. Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth
Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth was created for quick gaming sessions. With each game lasting about 30-45 minutes, there’s no reason why this game shouldn’t be on the list. Players can navigate through the random generated dungeons while taking down monsters trapped in the basement, which is a blast. It’s the game that never gets old no matter how many times its played.
5. Celeste
Celeste is the sister of Super Meat Boy in the sense that the player will die an endless number of times while simply trying to get from point A to point B. It’s the type of platformer that makes players think about how to solve the puzzle by dying several times. If there is a section that can’t be passed, players can put the game down and study for the finals they have in a couple of hours.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
What’s there to be said about Breath of the Wild that hasn’t been said before? It has a lush open world, secrets to be found at every corner and 120 shrines to complete. The game is perfect to play on the go because of the Switch’s portability and the ability that players have to go through a shrine and move on with their day. A player can feel accomplished by simply just exploring the world, collecting a Korok seed, completing a shine or completing a side quest. Breath of the Wild transports players into Hyrule — even when the stress of exams is lingering over their shoulders.
7. Super Mario Odyssey
The idea of collecting 999 moons seems insane on paper, but somehow Super Mario Odyssey manages to pull it off. Players can just jump in to collect a few moons or stay for a while and play for a longer period of time.
8. Cuphead
The nature of Cuphead isn’t simple. It's a fast-paced platformer, and its combat and tough-as-nails bosses make it perfect for short run-throughs. Let the stresses of finals week exit your body by letting out your frustrations on animated carrots and dragons. Trying out a boss for a while and putting the game down is an excellent way to play when there are only minutes to spare before the big test.
