Kapital Koopas: Games For These Indoor Days and Nights

Well, this time last year, the coronavirus was still in its relative infancy and I don't think anyone could've guessed that a full 12 months later, it would still be with us. Oh, how innocent we were. But here we are, after roughly 150 days with no new local transmissions, and once again the coronavirus count begins again. Though more cases don't necessarily mean a full-fledged spike, a new wave of restrictions is being placed on large scale gatherings, with some events being outright canceled or postponed. What's more, with the tyrannical cold snap blowing through the city and bringing temperatures down by nearly ten degrees, even a short walk to the nearest convenience store feels like you've been exiled to Siberia.

So, even if you're not historically much of a video gamer, it's not a bad time to pick it up as a way to pass the time. Instead of going out and torturing yourself in a hell that has indeed frozen over, or potentially exposing yourself to COVID, why not stay in, throw on some comfy clothes, order a bit of hot pot, and start the year off with some wholesome gaming entertainment. To get you started, we've curated a few selections that seem appropriate given our situation.

Plague Inc.: The Cure

When it was released eight years ago, Plague Inc. quickly became one of the most popular games in iOS and Android app stores thanks to its unique perspective and deviant theme: conquering Earth with a virus of your own making. But neither gamers nor the developer could've predicted that it would reappear on the most downloaded lists across multiple platforms years later, and even be used as a simulator to study the spread of COVID-19 by scholars and academic institutions. Likewise, in the midst of the pandemic the game's developer, Ndemic Creation, announced that they would be producing a major update according to guidance from the World Health Organization. The updated version, Plague Inc.: The Cure, now tasks players with stopping a contagion's spread as opposed to creating and unleashing it. Obviously, not everyone has been or will be on the frontlines of medical care, and this game offers valuable insights into the issues that medical staff and scientists may face, while hopefully providing some useful data for future researchers. 

Platforms: iOS, Android (The original version is also available on Steam (PC))
Lowest Price: $0.99  

Microsoft Flight Simulator

International travel is still off the table, and with COVID-19 continuing to ravage many countries, it's safe to assume that things will stay this way for the foreseeable future. Luckily, Microsoft re-released their Microsoft Flight Simulator (MFS) 14 years after the first generation took off. As one of the most beloved simulator franchises, MFS is known for its cinema-standard graphics and accurate recreation of the real world. In MFS 2020, not only have the visuals been drastically improved by cutting-edge ray tracing technology – based on Bing's database of satellite imagery – this game is also able to retrace every corner of the globe in real-time. As the pilot of the plane, you get to control your aircraft and travel between more than 40,000 airports around the world while facing the challenges of weather patterns and turbulence that are actually synced with the real world. In a later update. If you really get into it, MFS became compatible with most mainstream VR headsets which will allow you to enjoy a more immersive flight experience and observe our beautiful planet when travel is under tight restrictions.

Platforms: Steam (PC), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Lowest Price: $1 (free to play with monthly Xbox Game Pass for PC), $59.99 (for purchasing the game individually without Xbox Game Pass for PC)

Spiritfarer

Despite how optimistic we may be, we still have to admit that for many people 2020 has been a year of losing: Losing the chance to watch movies in the cinema, losing the opportunity to travel, or even losing jobs and loved ones. Spiritfarer is at its core a game about loss, in which you navigate a ship across a boundless ocean and befriend various creatures, getting to know their stories while upgrading your castle on the sea and exploring the undiscovered lands hiding behind the mysterious fog. At some point, however, you have to say goodbye to your friends one by one and witness their souls go into the afterlife. No matter how wealthy you are or how intimate your relationships, this fate is inevitable, and learning how to say goodbye is the most precious experience of this indie game. They may no longer be able to accompany you on future adventures, but their legacy and skills will remind you of the time you spent together and continue to guide you, even in the darkest night. 

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Google Stadia, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch
Lowest Price: RUB 386, around RMB 33.5 (at Russia Nintendo Eshop before Jan 3)

Super Mario Party

Planning a party soon, but tired of the same old ice-breakers? Then Mario Party was made for you. With more than 80 mini-games that challenge memory, luck, strategy, and plenty more, this is one game that's sure to close the stranger gap in no time. For instance, you can try your hand at Sugoroku, a Japanese game akin to Monopoly, in which you play as the iconic characters from the Super Mario series. Each round sees all the players either collaborating with or competing against each other in mini-games for coins and bonuses. Super Mario Party allows for four players at a time. Needless to say, there’s something for everyone here. After all, they don't call it a party for nothin'.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Lowest Price: HKD 299 (RMB 253.49) (at Hong Kong Nintendo Eshop before Jan 12)

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics

Prefer your games to be a bit more old-fashioned and require less physical exertion? Then 51 Worldwide Classics is for you! Unlike other boardgame aggregates, 51 Worldwide Classics also serves as an archive of some of the most famous and oldest boardgames including hanafuda, a traditional Japanese card game that Nintendo focused on before they gybed to the video game industry. Each game has a short, delightful animation introducing its history and signature features. Nintendo was even considerate enough to plan for multi-player action, meaning if two friends are playing on separate systems only one person needs to purchase the game. But why play separately when you can play together by joining your screens in mosaic mode and enlarging your playground! Unfortunately, this feature only works for some games, such as fishing and slot car racing.

Platfotms: Nintendo Switch
Lowest Price: around RMB 215 on Taobao

Just Dance

Depending on how strict renewed calls for social distancing become, chances are you won't be hitting the club any time soon. Fear not though, because, with Just Dance, the club comes to you! And given that it's updated annually with a new slate of tracks – the game just celebrated its tenth-anniversary last year – you'll never have to hang the DJ for relying on a stale set! All you need to do is grab a controller or your phone and follow the steps on screen, dancing like no one's watching. You can dance with up to five friends, so long as your living room is big enough to accommodate everyone.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Lowest Price: $29.99 (before 4pm, Jan 1)

Ringfit Adventure

Just Dance might make cardio fun, but it's Ringfit Adventure that has truly succeeded in merging video games and exercise. The mind-blowing design and technology of Ring con enables Nintendo Switch to track a wide range of fitness routines, ensuring that all your muscles get equally swoll. It's a pretty damn novel idea – battling monsters while working out – and has been surprisingly effective at getting people to stick to their #goals. During 2020, when gyms around the country were closed Ringfit Adventure became the go-to option for stay-at-home exercise, so much so that the game sold out and resales were going for as much as three times the original sticker price due to hype. Now, however, prices have stabilized, meaning it's time to get one for yourself and burn that holiday fat.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Lowest Price: around RMB 540 on Taobao

READ: Kapital Koopas:Monster Hunter Pisses Off Chinese Audiences

Images: UNSPLASH, courtesy of the distributors