Gaming as a kind of leisure has become increasingly popular in recent years. With the rise of technology, students now have access to a wide variety of games that can be played either on their computers or through mobile devices. These games not only provide entertainment but also offer educational benefits, helping students develop problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and teamwork. Online gaming allows students to connect with others from different parts of the world, fostering social interaction and cultural exchange.
The most popular online games:
World of Warcraft (WoW) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the fantasy world of Azeroth. Created by Blizzard Entertainment, it allows players to choose from various races and classes to embark on epic quests, engage in intense player-versus-environment and player-versus-player battles, and explore a vast, ever-expanding virtual universe. With rich storytelling, diverse gameplay mechanics, and a passionate player community, World of Warcraft has remained one of the most iconic and influential online gaming experiences since its release in 2004.
Minecraft is a popular sandbox video game developed by Mojang Studios and later acquired by Microsoft. It allows players to explore and manipulate a vast 3D procedurally generated world made up of blocks, which can be mined and crafted into various items and structures. The game offers multiple modes, including Survival mode, where players must gather resources and fend off monsters, and Creative mode, which provides unlimited resources for building and experimenting freely. Minecraft’s open-ended nature and limitless creativity have made it a global sensation, appealing to players of all ages and inspiring a vibrant community of creators who continuously develop custom content, mods, and servers.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is a highly popular online multiplayer battle royale game developed and published by PUBG Corporation, a subsidiary of Bluehole Studio. Released in 2017, the game drops up to 100 players onto a remote island where they must scavenge for weapons, gear, and resources while eliminating other players to be the last person or team standing. As the play area shrinks over time, players are forced into intense encounters, leading to a heart-pounding and strategic gameplay experience. PUBG’s realistic graphics, dynamic gameplay, and tactical elements have contributed to its immense success, sparking a global gaming phenomenon and paving the way for the battle royale genre’s widespread popularity.
League of Legends (LoL) is a highly popular multiplayer online battle arena game developed and published by Riot Games. The game pits teams of five players against each other in fast-paced matches set in a fantastical world called Runeterra. Each player selects a unique champion with distinct abilities and roles, such as tanks, mages, assassins, or supports. The objective is to work together, strategize, and defeat the opposing team’s Nexus, located in their base, while defending their own. Throughout the match, players gain experience, level up, and earn gold to purchase items that enhance their champions’ abilities.
Dota 2 is a highly popular and complex multiplayer online battle arena game developed and published by Valve Corporation. In Dota 2, two teams of five players each compete against each other, with each player controlling a unique hero with special abilities and roles.The game is set in a fantasy world where each team’s main objective is to destroy the enemy’s Ancient, a heavily guarded structure located in their base. Along the way, players must farm gold and experience, defeat neutral monsters, and engage in team battles to gain an advantage. Communication, strategy, and teamwork are vital as players must coordinate their hero’s abilities and items to achieve victory.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a popular first-person shooter game developed by Valve Corporation and Hidden Path Entertainment. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series, originally born as a modification for Half-Life. In CS:GO, players are divided into two teams: Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. The objective of each round varies depending on the game mode but typically involves planting/defusing bombs or rescuing/capturing hostages. Each player selects their weapons and equipment at the beginning of each round using in-game currency earned through performance in previous rounds. The game emphasizes tactical gameplay, precise shooting mechanics, and teamwork. Players must communicate, strategize, and coordinate effectively to outwit their opponents and achieve victory.
Fortnite is a wildly popular free-to-play battle royale game developed and published by Epic Games. Released in 2017, it quickly became a global gaming phenomenon. In Fortnite, up to 100 players are dropped onto an ever-shrinking island, and the last player or team standing wins the match.
Players start with nothing and must scavenge for weapons, resources, and items to build structures to defend themselves or gain a tactical advantage. The game combines intense shooting gameplay with unique building mechanics, allowing players to construct walls, ramps, and structures on the fly.
Fortnite features vibrant and cartoonish graphics, as well as regular updates, seasonal events, and crossovers with popular culture, making it highly engaging for players of all ages.
Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. Released in 2019, the game quickly gained popularity for its unique take on the battle royale genre. Set in the futuristic science fiction universe of Titanfall, Apex Legends takes place on the hostile and diverse map called “Kings Canyon” (later expanded with additional maps).
In Apex Legends, players form squads of three, choosing from a diverse roster of “Legends,” each with their own unique abilities and playstyles. The game emphasizes teamwork, communication, and strategic gameplay as players must work together to be the last squad standing.
Hearthstone is a free-to-play digital collectible card game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It quickly became one of the most popular online card games in the world. Set in the Warcraft universe, Hearthstone allows players to assume the role of powerful heroes and engage in turn-based card duels against opponents.
Players build decks by collecting and selecting cards from various classes, each representing a different hero with unique abilities and playstyles. The goal is to strategically play cards, summon minions, cast spells, and use weapons to reduce the opponent’s health to zero.
The most popular offline games:
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an acclaimed action role-playing game set in a vast open-world fantasy realm. Players take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a skilled monster hunter known as a Witcher. He must navigate through a war-torn continent filled with dangerous creatures, complex moral choices, and deep political intrigue. The game offers a fascinating storyline, engaging combat, and a richly detailed world, allowing players to shape the narrative and explore numerous quests and side activities.
Horizon: Zero Dawn / Horizon: Forbidden West is an action role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic world where robotic creatures roam the lands. The game features a vast open world, a captivating storyline, and a unique blend of primitive and advanced technology. The Horizon series has been praised for its beautiful graphics, engaging combat, compelling characters, and gripping narrative that combines elements of science fiction and tribal societies.
God of War follows the journey of Kratos, a former Greek god of war, who now resides in the Norse realms. He embarks on a deeply personal and emotional quest with his son, Atreus, to fulfill his late wife’s final wish and spread her ashes at the highest peak of the nine realms. Unlike the previous God of War games, which focused on Greek mythology, this installment explores Norse mythology. Throughout their journey, Kratos and Atreus encounter a wide array of mythical creatures, gods and legendary figures.
Uncharted: Legacy Of Thieves Collection is a remastered collection featuring the popular action-adventure games “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End” and “Uncharted: The Lost Legacy,” following the adventures of treasure hunter Nathan Drake and others in thrilling, cinematic gameplay. The Legacy of Thieves Collection offers players an opportunity to relive or experience for the first time the captivating plot, stunning visuals and cinematic gameplay that the Uncharted series is known for. It allows fans and newcomers alike to dive into the exciting world of treasure hunting and unravel the mysteries hidden within these thrilling adventures.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is an open-world fantasy RPG where players explore the vast and immersive land of Skyrim, battling dragons, completing quests, and shaping their character’s destiny in a rich and dynamic world.
Set in the province of Skyrim, a northern region in the fictional continent of Tamriel, the game puts players in the role of the Dragonborn, a prophesied hero with the ability to harness the power of dragons through their Thu’um, or Dragon Shouts. As the Dragonborn, players embark on an epic quest to defeat Alduin, an ancient dragon prophesied to destroy the world.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is an action-adventure game featuring Lara Croft on her quest to uncover ancient secrets and navigate treacherous environments in search of hidden artifacts. In the game, players once again take on the role of Lara Croft, the iconic adventurer. This time, Lara sets out on a thrilling expedition to Siberia in search of the lost city of Kitezh, believed to hold the secret of immortality. Throughout the journey, players encounter challenging puzzles, engage in intense combat, and explore breathtaking environments while uncovering Lara’s personal growth and determination.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic open-world western adventure set in the late 1800s. Players take on the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, led by the charismatic Dutch van der Linde. As they traverse a beautifully rendered open-world depiction of the American frontier, players engage in thrilling heists, combat, and various activities like hunting and fishing. The game explores themes of loyalty, morality, and the harsh realities of life in the Wild West.
Resident Evil 2 is a survival horror game, the remake of the classic 1998 title. The game is set in the fictional Raccoon City during a zombie outbreak caused by a deadly virus. Players can choose to play as either Leon S. Kennedy, a rookie police officer, or Claire Redfield, a college student searching for her missing brother. As they explore the city’s police station and other locations, they must solve puzzles, conserve resources, and fight off hordes of undead creatures.
Frostpunk is a city-building and survival game developed and published by 11 bit studios. Set in a frozen, post-apocalyptic world, the game challenges players to lead a group of survivors and establish a last bastion of civilization around a generator, the only source of heat in the frozen wasteland. Players must manage resources, make tough moral decisions, and balance the needs of the population to ensure the city’s survival. The game’s narrative-driven gameplay and unique setting create a gripping experience that pushes players to make difficult choices to survive and thrive in an unforgiving world.
Disco Elysium is an innovative role-playing game featuring a detective with a unique skill system. Set in a unique and dystopian world, players assume the role of a troubled detective with a severe case of amnesia. As they investigate a complex murder case, players must make choices and engage in deep, text-based dialogues to shape the detective’s personality and approach to solving the mystery. The game’s emphasis on narrative, character development, and philosophical themes has earned it praise for its storytelling and immersive gameplay experience.
Half-Life 2 is a critically acclaimed first-person shooter that follows the adventures of Gordon Freeman as he fights against alien invaders and a dystopian human regime with the help of gravity-defying technology. Armed with a special weapon, the “Gravity Gun,” players must navigate through a series of intense combat scenarios, solve puzzles, and interact with a cast of memorable characters while uncovering the mysteries of the alien invasion.
