If you were going to be stranded on a desert island, and for some reason you could bring 5 video games with their required hardware and means to power them, what would they be? No compilations or online multiplayer if you want to be a purist about it, but I’m still interested if you have thoughts about them :)
Minecraft: Java Edition
Stardew Valley
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geometry Dash
Hogwarts LegacyFor me, it would have to be:
- Factorio
- Rimworld
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Tetris DS
- Disco Elysium
Gotta be one of the Paradox strategy games. I have two reasons for this: the first is that a good game unavoidably takes ages on them, so they have staying power; the other is that I know how to mod them, so I can make myself new scenarios once I get fed up of it. I’ll bring Crusader Kings 3 and Victoria 3 because I like them but haven’t yet played them much
I’ll add in Assetto Corsa and Dirt Rally 2 for some driving. Both have very high skill ceilings that I am nowhere near, so that gives me a lot to do. I also don’t own a wheel, so if I get that as part of the deal then that’d be fun to try. These two also have an odd bonus for me: they both have courses set near my home. I can sort of visit them by playing when I get a bit homesick
Lastly I’ll have Deep Rock Galactic for low effort shooty fun. I can’t always be putting mental energy into games
There are games I like as much or more than these five but which lack the replayability for this scenario. Like I adore Outer Wilds, but you can only really play it once
Shattered Pixel Dungeon
WipeOut 2097(XL)
Tetris (arcade) or Karate Champ (arcade) or Speed Rumbler(arcade)
Descent II
Simon Tatham Puzzles collection
- Stellaris
- Baldur’s Gate 2
- Starcraft
- X4: Foundations
- Papers Please
X4 mentioned 👀
No Endless Space 2…? Sad.
I dig it but tough to fit that in my top 5
Sekiro
Lies of P
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Slay the Spire
Balatro
- Burnout Revenge
- Age of Empires 2
- The Witcher 3
- Monster Train
- Bejeweled Ultimate/Blitz… Whatever was the last one.
- Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
- Slay the Spire
- Tetris Effect, Connected
- OpenXCom
- Olli Olli
- Minecraft
- Factorial
- Terraria
- Balatro
- Stardew valley
I’m just going for maximum time sink.
DayZ, Minecraft, Cities: Skylines, Age of Empires 2 Definite Edition, Grand Theft Auto 5
I see DayZ, I upvote.
Half-Life 3 through 7.
Minecraft as a reference guide for how to survive on said island.
Animal Crossing so I have someone to talk to.
Elden Ring to remind me how bleak and hopeless everything is.
Solitaire and Minesweeper. In case I get bored.
Yeah, all the best survival guides start with “find the nearest tree and punch it a couple of times”
Why does it have to be a desert island? I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough and irritating… and it gets everywhere.
Cave in mountain side then surrounded by a forest with grizzly bears.
- Dwarf Fortress
- Fall from Heaven 2
- Minecraft
- ZZT
- Rogue Legacy 2
the best sim, the best 4X, the best FPS, my favorite level-editor engine, my favorite action platformer
Terraria
Celeste
Expedition 33
Horizon: Forbidden West
F-ZERO GX
About as much variety and quality as I could hope to fit.
