Alright, so here's a strange idea - you don't actually have to completely give up gaming while you're away on vacation. No, really, we promise! Granted, there are some caveats that we'll get to a bit later on, but it's entirely possible. To that end, we thought that it might be a solid pitch to come up with a list of some awesome (relatively) new PC games for vacation gaming.
After all, you're generally not going to have hours' worth of time to spend gaming if you're out and about with family. So, gotta make it happen when there's downtime! To that end, we've hand-picked 10 great titles we think you ought to consider for this job. These are, of course, a bit more casual than your average AAA experience. Short and sweet was our main concern, really.
But, we'll explain our selection process in greater detail in the next section. Let's get started!
How to Choose a Great Vacation Game?
Here's a hint: you're probably going to want to avoid AAAs entirely. No, it's not feasible to play Cyberpunk 2077 or Far Cry 5 in the 15-30 minutes you might have while the rest of the family is eating, swimming, or, say, while you're children are engaging in gang warfare against other parents' kids. No, you need to think outside the box. Fast, bite-sized experiences are where the money's at. Or not really, because you can get a stellar deal on virtually anything here at 2Game.
Ideally, you should be looking for games that you can start-up in a matter of seconds. A lightning-fast one-two punch, really. You also need a game that keeps its progression reasonably contained. Roguelikes and Roguelites immediately come to mind - of course - but there's more to gaming in 2021 than just that.
Further, hardware requirements are a major consideration here, too. While many of us may indeed have reasonably powerful laptops, most people generally don't. As you may or may not know, laptops are generally primarily a workspace item, and ye olde Pentium IV isn't going to cut it for gaming in 2021. Bummer, we know. It is what it is, though.
Finally, we also feel that not everyone's always going to have a mouse around. Or a gamepad, for that matter. We'd have both handy, mind, but space is probably a serious consideration for you, and packing yet another gadget may well induce groans, harrumphs, and general disproval from your partner. We'll try to avoid outright needing extra input devices, and we think you may want to, too!
So, let's summarize what you want to be looking out for:
- quick loading
- contained, bite-sized playing sessions
- low-spec friendly
- not overly reliant on external input
Not such an easy task, is it now? Fret not, as we've got some ideas to choose from!
10 Best PC Games for Vacation Gaming in 2021
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2
Guys, look, it's PAC-MAN. Of course one of these games was going to make its way onto the list. It just so happens that Championship Edition 2 is pretty darn amazing, with all the extra amenities you didn't even know you wanted out of a Pac-Man game. It's 2.5D, for one, which adds to the game's timeless visual style, and it comes with a slew of extra arcade modes for when you need a lil' extra zest. Of course, fully playable with a keyboard only. Stellar stuff.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Is it that big of a surprise that we've not had a Burnout game since Paradise came and swept the floor with the competition? Now, to be fair, there's Wreckfest, which is amazing in its own right, but Burnout Paradise Remastered scratches a different kind of itch, in our book. This is an amazing arcade racer with a penchant for ridiculous crashes. Best of all, it's going to run on anything and everything, and you don't need extra input devices of any sort.
Two Point Hospital
Two Point Hospital can be played infinitely, of course, but the beauty of this game is that, when all is said and done, you can revisit your tiny starting hospitals whenever you feel like it. It's a neat, cozy gameplay loop that is highly unlikely to be replicated anywhere else. That is, until Two Point Campus comes out later on. For the time being, this is a real joy for management enthusiasts. Since you can pause the game at any time, it's a great choice for notepad gaming, as you'll be limited to your trackpad for input!
DuckTales: Remastered
Ducktales! They're brilliant. This classic side-scroller offers just the sort of gaming experience we'd want on a vacation. Fast, snappy, precise, and delightfully easy to pick up and play. That's Ducktales Remastered alright. Fully optimized for modern rigs, yet still playable on outdated netbooks - what more could we possibly be asking for?
Football Manager 2021
Another management style game, this one basically a must-have for any football fan. We don't really need to describe Football Manager, we feel, but we do want to explain why it's made its way here. First of all, it's going to allow you to enjoy football just how you want it and without the need for a TV - which you may not have access to anyway. Secondly, the ability to pause and fast-forward to an incredible degree will allow you to tailor your gameplay to precisely the amount of time you might have available. Really handy in a pinch!
Circle Empires
Circle Empires is a casual real-time strategy gaming fan's wet dream. This is basically 'Zerg Rush: The Game', but it does its schtick so well. Basically, you start off on a single circle, build up your military might, and then march onto other circles to take their resources, troops, and territory for yourself. Rinse and repeat until the entirety of the map is yours! Delightfully simple, but incredibly fun and engaging. Matches take just a few minutes each, and the meta-progression system ensures that you're always getting something in return.
Civilization VI
Do we need to say anything about Civilization VI, at this point? It's probably the most hardware-intensive game on this list, to be fair, but this is the best spreadsheet gaming experience you could possibly have on the go. On top of that, you can always play just one more turn, though we're not vouching for your ability to unglue yourself from the screen once you start...
Narita Boy
One of the more recent indie goodies launched earlier this year, Narita Boy offers incredible pixel-art visuals and a solid combat loop in nice, neat, and tight packaging. This is a story-driven experience, so your progression might suffer a bit on that note, but it's well worth the purchase regardless. Controls easily via keyboard alone, and it's a heap of fun.
Trials Fusion
Ubisoft's Trials franchise is often left by the wayside for some reason, but we're huge fans, ourselves. Boiled down to its absolute basics, this is a game about navigating impossible tracks with a dirt bike. Trials Fusion, in particular, comes with a wealth of unlockable content and maps to traverse, making it our go-to when we're in the mood for this sort of thing.
Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1/2
Finally, this one's a real treat for nostalgic gamers. Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are basically packaged emulators of all those ancient Namco classics. Think Dragon Buster, Splatterhouse, Dig Dug, Mappy, Galaga, and other wonderful items. There are two of these collections, so you're going to want to choose which titles appeal to your particular taste more. What makes them particularly lovely is that they'll run on anything (duh) and are fully controllable with just half a dozen keys. Perfect.
Final Remarks
And there you have it! These are the games we will be playing over the coming weeks and months, as the team cycles in and out of our vacations. Some pretty solid choices there, we're sure many of you will agree.
Having said that, you've probably noticed, too, that our first section of the article specifically goes into some detail on how you, too, could choose your own gaming shortlist for your own vacation. Why not, after all? The world's your oyster and all that.
Besides, all of that is just a temporary solution. The Steam Deck is coming! This time next year, we'll be picking titles by an entirely different set of criteria, and it's going to be exciting as heck. In the meantime, laptops will do. Have fun!
Alright, so here’s a strange idea – you don’t actually have to completely give up gaming while you’re away on vacation. No, really, we promise! Granted, there are some caveats that we’ll get to a bit later on, but it’s entirely possible. To that end, we thought that it might be a solid pitch to come up […]
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