For many students around the world, schools are going virtual this year. As a result, students can now have access to their phones and computers anytime to play games, whether it be in between classes or after your group finishes a project in a breakout room on zoom and still have time to spare.
If you're looking for a game to play while you're bored in class or roaming around your house with nothing to do, you came to the right place.
I'll be going over my top ten favorite games that I've fallen in love with during the pandemic.
#1 Fireboy and Watergirl
For those you who don't know this game, you're missing out. In this fun and straightforward adventure, you play as both fireboy, a boy who can walk through lava, and watergirl, a girl who can walk through water. There are multiple installments of this game, from ice temple to forest temple.
You get to try to figure out puzzles, collect gems, and try to reach your characters' designated exit. If you have a sibling at home, you can play with them! You can find this game on Cool Math Games or by searching it up in your browser.
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Apply Now#2 Piano Tiles
This is a classic. The rules are simple: tap on the black keys that appear on your screen in order to make sound and play a piece that you choose. Not only does this practice your reflexes, but it's also a nice way to listen to music.
You're given a number of hearts, and as long as these hearts don't go away, which they do if you mess up too many songs, you'll be able to play as much as you want. For a quick, musical game, I highly recommend Piano Tiles. To get it, just go onto the App Store and download it on your phone.
#3 BTD Battles
This game can be described in three words: monkeys fighting balloons.
Basically you are collecting bananas and using them to buy monkeys which make more bananas from popping balloons in which you can buy even more monkeys. It might seem dumb at first, but once you start, you will never be able to stop.
You can upgrade your monkeys, and there's even one monkey called Supermonkey. One of my friends introduced this game to me, and now I've probably invested a good twenty hours into this game. It's found in the app store, and it's a perfect way to spend time.
#4 Mario Kart
Instead of having to invest hundreds of dollars in a Nintendo Switch and a Mario game, you can now download Mario Kart on the App Store. In this game, you can play as a variety of Mario characters such as Toad and Peach, racing across different maps against people around the world.
You can challenge your friends to races to see which one of you is the best Mario Kart player. This game was so much fun to play, and it's constantly updating with different maps and challenges each month so give it a try for some fun.
#5 Pokémon Masters EX
Everyone's probably have heard or know someone who is obsessed with Pokémon Go. From the same brand, there is Pokémon Masters EX. In this game, you get taken to an island where you try to meet different trainers to fight and get stronger.
However, instead of catching pokémon, the player gets to collect trainers, otherwise known as sync pairs. The story, in my opinion, is kind of boring, but the battles and events that the game hosts are really exciting and challenging. If you're looking to become a Pokémon master and to be the very best like no one ever was, then you need to download this from the App Store.
#6 Among Us
I'm sure everyone knew this game would make it on the list. What's there to say? You play as either two things: the crewmate or the imposter.
In the game, the crew mates are trying to complete various assignments while the imposter is trying to kill everyone. The crew mates can have meetings to discuss whether to kick a person off their spaceship if they find him/her suspicious.
Personally, I loved the game, even though I was awful. But I highly recommend anyone who is bored to go download this game from the App Store. It's fun, exciting, and sometimes very frustrating, especially when you get accused of being the imposter even if you were just matching wire colors.
Am I speaking from experience? Yes I am.
#7 Fruit Ninja
If you have one to two minutes to spare, try out Fruit Ninja. Some of you might remember this game from your childhood. In this game, you are learning from a sensei to master the art of fruit slicing. If you're ever really bored during class, downloading this on the App Store is a good idea.
It doesn't take much skill or time before you become a master at fruit slicing from the app, and for some of you, you can get a chance to relive your childhood.
#8 Blackbox
If you're a puzzle lover and love confusing, complex mind games, this game is perfect for you. The rules are simple: fill in the box. However, you don't know how so you have to mess with your phone in different ways to try to turn your box on.
From having to go into settings to change a button to having to wait hours doing nothing, the joy you'll get when you light up a box is worth everything. It's a great game from the App Store, so if you're looking for a challenge, this is it.
#9 SimCity BuildIt
Love construction and building things? That's exactly what SimCity is. It's a game in which you use money to buy buildings to grow your city to be the best. You can trade and compete with players around the world as well as friends and family.
There are challenges throughout the game and endless possibilities for how to build your city. Though it might not seem that fun at first, I promise you that it's addicting when you get into it.
#10 Dark Days: Zombie Survival
For number ten, I present you the game that I currently can't stop playing. Everything you could possibly want in a game is in Dark Days: blood, guns, zombies, and an apocalypse. Your one job in the game is to survive by building a shelter and collect weapons, tools, and equipment in order to fight against the zombies roaming the lands.
Some of you might think that it's probably some cheesy game, but stop right there. This game has beautiful graphics and it's constantly making you wish you have more time in your day to play it. If there is one game in this list you must try, it's this. So just download it and give it a shot: you'll love it.
To anyone staring blankly at a computer screen, waiting for a zoom class to start, I hope you try picking up one of the games I recommended. Not only will all these games alleviate your boredom, but maybe you'll also find a new app to love.
While going virtual in school has caused less social interaction and offered more time on students' hands, I hope my game choices will be sure to help lighten up your day, bring a smile to your faces.
