Valentine's Day goes dramatically differently for single people. Now, whether you're single by choice or not, it's a day where a devoted gamer with no significant other might want to just kick back and forget about the real world. And while happy couples are picking out wine, you're picking out a game to drown yourself into. So let us be your anti-Cupid and offer some delightful ways to spend Valentine's Day lost in the world of gaming.
We've been sitting here, wondering... what kind of game is good for a single person on Valentine's Day? First of all, lovey-dovey themes could be a touchy subject, so better steer clear from games that have those. Also, you might not be too much into people right now? So unless you're with a big crowd partying, solo games are better. And finally, you need a game that sucks you in. It has to be immersive and atmospheric enough to make you forget about this vapid day altogether. And also, it shouldn't depress you all too much.
Here is what we came up with:
VA-11 Hall-A
If this fun little 2D game flew past your radar, don't worry, the AAA titles of today are so many that few people have time for the "indies". The game is labeled as "Cyberpunk Bartender Action" and you're probably thinking "Who the F would want to play THAT?". What you might not know, though, is that Valhalla, or VA-11 Hall-A, as it styles itself, is about as Zen as a game can get.
You play as bar VA-11 Hall-A's morose bartender. You need to mix cocktails properly and listen to your customers' orders in order to serve them what they want and gain a nice tip. Sometimes, the game has surprising bouts of realism with orders along the lines of "Give me something girly, but a bit strong, but not too sweet". The mixology gameplay mechanism is incredibly satisfying and you'll find yourself really drawn into the different drink names and categories.
Where it really shines, though, is in the many characters you encounter. Yes, you meet customers of ANY shape and form, and they all have amazing stories. Not to mention that the soundtrack, if you're into synthwave, is amazing.
And hey, the cocktails might be fictitious, but the game has gotten many people into bartending as a hobby. Check it out and maybe you can impress your next date with knowledge of your White Russians and Rusty Nails!
XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2
Technically, that's two games, but not really. XCOM 2 is just more and better of the same thing. The same good thing. Even though it came out as a buggy nightmare, the second installment of the seriesis now surprisingly playable and you can get more than a few sleepless nights from it.
The joy in XCOM is all about strategizing around your fun army of shock troopers. After an alien invasion strikes Earth, you get a hilariously multicultural team of jarheads and a futuristic secret base to fight the alien menace. Without spoiling the story, you'll find some surprises along the way. Since your troops gather experience and improve over time, you'll find yourself as proud as a suburban mom when one of them returns from combat without missing a limb.
Here is how a nail-biting mission goes:
Then comes the upgrade system: you can research alien tech to upgrade your troops to make them even stronger. All in all, you'll find yourself stuck on researching Ellirium Plating at 3 AM with an alien UFO chasing your ships and you would have completely forgotten about Valentine's Day.
Darkest Dungeon
Do not be fooled by this game. On first look, it appears simple, a side-scroller about going into dungeons and slaying monster. But as its own Narrator will tell you, that is merely a trick of the light. The Darkest Dungeon is a masterpiece of atmosphere and storytelling.
Borrowing heavily from H.P.Lovecraft's works, the storyline revolves around a cursed mansion and those who brave its depths. The player has various adventurers of different classes to delve into the many dungeons for shiny loot and sometimes... never to return. Nothing stings like your Level 6 healer dying of starvation at the very end of your expedition, because you know you have no one else to blame but yourself.
We mentioned the Narrator. He is probably the most spectacular voice acting we've had in years. And his style is all dark and sophisticated, right out of Dark Lord Lovecraft's books:
Just like the labyrinths of the Darkest Dungeon, the storyline takes twists and turns with us. If you make it to the end, you might be in for a surprise. And if not a Valentine, at least you have geared all four of your Lepers and you're sending them off to another mission.
Bastion
We were wondering whether to include Pyre, Transistor, Hades, or Bastion here. All three games are produced by the same studio – Supergiant Games – so let's cut you a deal. You try Bastion out, and if you like it, you should play the other three as well. We promise you won't be disappointed.
Bastion is the kind of game that has layers. Like a symphonic orchestra, it is great because all of its separate components are great. Remember that Narrator part we mentioned about Darkest Dungeon? Bastion has that, too, and the Narrator often breaks the fourth wall with a satisfying sound. The game's storyline starts with you knowing almost nothing about this kid, why the world has blown up to smithereens, or anything else. As you go, you will start piecing it up.
A word of warning: Bastion might give you the feels. But not the sappy, self-loathing kind of feels most people get around Valentine's Day. Rather, you might experience the bittersweet joy of being part of something great. It's a game about rising from your ashes and becoming a better self by relying on close people, but also on your inner strengths.
When you're done, pour yourself a drink, look outside the window and listen to the end theme:
The Outer Worlds
Space. The final frontier. You know what, to hell with frontiers. Let's go to space. The Outer Worlds kind of took us all by surprise when it came out. It just snuck up on all the overhyped AAA titles and snatched a bunch of prizes from their carefully detailed paws. Many people have asked us to describe The Outer Worlds in a few words. That's more difficult than it seems but let's just go with "What Fallout 4 should have been, a dash of Mass Effect, in SPACE." In this beautiful retro-futuristic title, you get everything you need from a classic open-world RPG.
In a world where everything is a sequel, a remaster or a remake, The Outer Worlds shines like a star. For one, it's brand-new content. For two, the gameplay is actually smooth and your companions are... gasp... actually helpful! Couple that with the fun flaw-perk system, improved combat, interesting locations, and a storyline worth following through to the end, you have yourself set for many hours of immersive play.
The entire game has a slightly rebellious note. You can see that Wild West, lone-cowboy influence from old movies, and the good polish of a product developed as Obsidian's love-child. Get out there and show them who you are.
We know that being single on Valentine's Day might be less than ideal. Or, it could be the greatest thing ever. So forget about the pink hearts and candies. As a gamer, you can be anything you want to be. After all, what better company to spend the day with than yourself? From the team of EarlyGame, we <3 you as much as we <3 games.
