The summer is upon us, and the sun is beating down, burning our skin and retinas (wear sunscreen and shades, folks! Jesus Christ. – Ed). Some of us aren’t too fond of the bright fireball in the sky, and would rather sit in the shade with a fan cooling down our leaky pits. However, others can’t get enough of the sun and want to carry on the summery vibes well into the night.
Whether you prefer to cool down or love the heat and want to extend your time basking in the sunlight, here are some suggestions for your summertime gaming!
1. GTA: Vice City – Kane
It’s time for the Lance Vance Dance. – Lance Vance
It’s a 3D-era GTA game set in a fictionalised version of Miami in the 80s. Is there anything more that I can say? Sand, sun, beaches, and good music abound in this open-world crime adventure.
You play as Tommy Vercetti, fresh out of prison and keen to prove himself after 15 years away. Progress the story and build a crime empire across Vice City, or just enjoy the beaches, it’s your choice.
Either way, I highly recommend taking a drive through Vice City at night with the radio on. It’s a vibe.
2. Psychonauts – Kane
Beware the cows! Not all milk is enriched!
Have you ever wanted to play a game with the same design aesthetic as the lovechild of Ed, Edd n Eddy and Invader Zim, the same referential style of humour as Gex and yet somehow still touches on some of the heaviest subjects in the entirety of the human condition? Oh, and it’s a 3D Platformer with some of the most creative powers you’ve ever come across?
Psychonauts is about a runaway carny kid with psychic powers attending a summer camp for kids like him. It is exactly the game you’re looking for and more.
3. Super Mario Sunshine – Riley
Welcome to the sun-drenched tropical paradise of Isle Delfino!
What do you get if you take Super Mario 64 and make it tropical? You get a rich environment filled with beaches, an amusement park and a thriving pier! What makes Super Mario Sunshine so special is that it all takes place on one island, Isle Delfino, so all the areas are loosely connected. From Isle Delfino you can see Pina Park and the airstrip; you really feel like you’re exploring this holiday destination and then returning to your room every night in Delfino Plaza.
There’s so much to take in: the sun-soaked vibes of the beaches and hotels, the collectables being literal embodiments of the Sun, and the Piantas (the island inhabitants) donning a Hawaiian aesthetic. That’s without mentioning the historical ruins, the village festival, and the fresh, clear water that you both swim in and wield as a weapon. It truly is the perfect game to escape to a summer getaway and the perfect destination for your holiday gaming experience!
4. Pokémon Sun and Moon – Riley
Time that you enjoy wasting is not wasted time
Pokémon regions tend to be based very loosely on real-life locations, but when it came to Sun and Moon, they took this task very seriously. Inspired by Hawaii, Alola is an archipelago of tropical islands that expresses reverence to its inspiration through its themes, environmental message, and its Pokémon selection.
The region itself is a beautiful mix of nature and suburbia, with wild Pokémon appearing in secluded areas of the cities where the lines between the wild and civilisation start to blur. There are also endless beaches and tropical Pokémon residing in them, from Corsola and Bruxish to Dhelmise and Oricorio. Even the trainer customisation here has a summery vibe, meaning it’s lots of skirts, shorts, and flowery garbs to dress to your island getaway delight!
The music here is very tropically inspired; the percussion and ukulele bring you a step closer to really feeling like you’re adventuring around Alola. The people are friendly and accommodating, and even the “evil” team are just a bunch of delinquent kids mildly harassing the community. The flow of the game is more relaxed; instead of gyms, you have island trials requiring a plethora of different tasks to complete (as well as battling). But, there is a sinister secret hiding in Alola, and if you haven’t experienced it, I won’t be the one to spoil it for you!
5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker – Hollyman
The wind… It is blowing
A good portion of Wind Waker takes place sailing across the open ocean. (Potentially a bad portion too, depending on who you ask.) During the daytime, Wind Waker does everything it can to truly make you feel like you’re on a whirlwind summertime adventure coasting across the seas, with the sun bearing down on you and your little boat, seagulls trailing behind and the iconic theme accompanying you. If you’re a Wind Waker fan who has been on a boat trip and didn’t find yourself humming along to the sailing theme, then you might be lying.
The summer vibes continue when landlocked, too. Locations such as Outset Island conjur up warm, comfy feelings of being on holiday and watching the locals do their thing. Windfall Island in particular evokes this sensation, with its colourful inhabitants and selection of exotic merchandise.