It's playtime

The daily news is dreadful, our memory is full of holes, our old bones ache, our friends are all sick. These days it’s sometimes hard to get out of bed. Wouldn’t it be great to escape real life for a while and get wrapped up in an activity that’s just plain fun? How about doing something not because it’s good for us, but for the pure joy of it?

Why not try video games? They’re not just for kids. You can go exploring, have adventures, build whole worlds. You can play on your own, or with strangers, friends, or even your grandchildren (won’t they be impressed!). I’ve tried to come up with a starter set of game titles. I picked games that had little or no violence, or at least let you decide how much there will be. If you want violent games you don’t need help from me, they’re easy to find. But the ones I chose focus on adventure, puzzles, problem-solving, simulation, strategy. They all can work on an ordinary desktop or laptop or cellphone. They’re free or inexpensive. Some of them have a bit of a learning curve, but that’s okay, you want a game with some depth. I researched these as best I could, but I haven’t played them, so do your own research too.

If you’re interested in any of these games and want to know if you can run them on your own computer or phone, just go here or here and type in the name of the game.

Abzu

• You’re a diver, exploring the sea
• Single player
• Costs under $30 Canadian

Candy Crush Saga

• Tile-matching puzzle game
• Single player
• Free

Forge of Empires

• Build an empire, starting with Stone Age huts
• Single player or multiplayer
• Free

Freeciv

• Each player becomes the leader of a civilization, taking your tribe from the Stone Age to the Space Age
• Single player or multiplayer
• Free

Gone Home

• Solve a mystery as you walk through an abandoned house
• Single player
• Costs under $20 Canadian

Minecraft

• You can do whatever you want: build things, explore the world, face daring challenges
• Single player or multiplayer
• Costs about $40 Canadian

Outer Wilds

• Puzzles to solve as you explore space
• Single player
• Costs under $35 Canadian

Sims 4

• A life simulation game. You create virtual people, place them in homes and build their lives
• Single player
• Free

Stardew Valley

• You’ve inherited an old farm. Learn farming, make it thrive, join the neighbouring community
• Single player or multiplayer
• Costs under $20 Canadian

The Talos Principle

• Puzzles with a philosophical flavour
• Single player
• Costs under $40 Canadian