The fun in the sun will soon draw to a close, and when this happens gamers can expect a long drought, so to speak. They have plenty of games to look forward to in the upcoming fall and winter holidays, but in the meantime they’re gasping for air. Fortunately, some impressive high-profile games full of content and value have come out in 2015, and there are some sequels on the horizon that require you to revisit the prequels. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for the games you should be playing during the end-of-summer drought.
Persona 4 Games
This was originally intended to be an entry dedicated to Persona 4 , but then I realized that there are a ton of side games that aren’t half bad – in fact, they’re pretty good! Last year, Atlus released Persona 4 Arena , a fighter with a surprising amount of dialogue yet somehow plays on par with 2D fighters like BlazBlue . Atlus also released a neat game for the 3DS called Persona Q , which allows you to play as the characters from both Persona 3 and Persona 4 in an adventure similar to Etrian Odyssey .
Later this year, you have a dancing game to look forward to, Persona 4 Dancing All Night , which also doesn’t look too shabby. But if you prefer something more traditional with extra content, not to mention on that will give you a reason to dust off the PlayStation Vita, then you can’t go wrong with Persona 4 Golden . Whatever you choose, these games should prepare you for Persona 5 , which is due to be released later this year.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Admittedly, this game will be rather difficult to get into if you’re working a full-time job, especially if you have other things on your plate like family or school, but if you really want to sink your free time into something, then you can’t go wrong with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt . Combat is simultaneously action packed and strategical. The story takes your choices into consideration and you can receive one of 36 endings–not to mention you can sink up to 200 hours into this demanding RPG. Your time is important, and you need to use it wisely. If you’re going to play an RPG, then you could do way, way worse than The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt .
Rocket League
Multiplayer games are a staple of the summer, and the best part is you can play them with you friends whether they’re right beside you or half the world away. With its unique blend of pastime sport, soccer, and race cars, Rocket League creates a multiplayer experience that invites casual and hardcore players alike. You and your friends will likely be playing this one for quite a while, long past the summer.
Dying Light
Dying Light is a stellar follow-up to the Dead Island series. Along with its brutal combat and addicting crafting system, Dying Light is most known for its exemplary parkour mechanics, which allow you to sneak past the zombies or climb desperately to safety in the heat of battle. While Dying Light was released back in January, it could take you up to 20 hours to complete the story. Might as well start now if you haven’t already, because the expansion, The Following , is on the horizon.
Destiny
While Bungie’s foray into MMO gaming received a mixed reception (Cheat Code Central gave it a positive score of 4.5 out of 5, but not all sites and fans enjoyed it like we did), Destiny has its share of loyal fans, and chances are you might already be one of them. It has the meticulously designed controls of the Halo series while providing you plenty of extraterrestrial landscapes to explore and loot to collect – not to mention you can use your loot to slay your friends and enemies in the Crucible. The Taken King expansion will arrive in September, but Destiny should also help prepare you for Halo 5: Guardians .
Minecraft
Chances are you’re already one of the millions of players enjoying Minecraft, but it really is one of the best ways for you to exercise your creativity during the summer break. Players can build just about anything they imagine, including replicas of their favorite fantasy setting or even a working computer! Telltale Games is releasing the the first episode of the Minecraft: Story Mode in 2015, but let’s be honest: I’m sure that game, while it will be as undoubtedly fun as the rest of company’s adventures, will only whet your appetite for more Minecraft.
Danganronpa
This series of Japanese mystery/horror games has proven quite popular with North American gamers, who appreciate its twisted sense of humor. The first two games combined the visual novel format with shooting mechanics and other mini games that shouldn’t work in a courtroom drama, yet somehow did. The games feature murder mystery stories, so the dozens of hours required to complete them go by quickly. In addition, the third game (actually a third-person shooter this time), Danganronpa: Another Episode is scheduled for release in September of 2015, and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair takes place on a tropical island – perfect for the summer.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
Dennaton Games’ attempt to criticize violence in gaming coincidentally takes place in Miami, a place filled with beaches and palm trees, giving us an entry that is truly summer-themed. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is on this list because it’s a game that’s relatively inexpensive yet will challenge you for days, possibly weeks. If you think this game will be too tough for you to want to continue, then be prepared to be drawn in by the stellar soundtrack and art design.
Batman: Arkham Knight
“This is how the bat dies” is the perfect incentive to see us through the end of Rocksteady’s stellar Batman Arkham. games, if only because we want to know what the tagline means. Will Batman really die? If so, how? Cheat Code Central’s Matt Walker dubbed it the best in the series because it simply nails the feeling of being the Dark Knight. Riddler trophies and the batmobile may threaten your enjoyment of the game at times, but Arkham Knight is a hell of a way to end the series. You even get to have fun simply discovering the lines hinting at a possible Superman game.
Final Fantasy VII
Having been a fan of Final Fantasy VII since its 1997 release, I couldn’t help but feel my heart stop when I realized I was watching the trailer for the long-awaited remake at E3. Chances are that the company will take a long time to actually release it (they still have Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy XV to work on, after all). There’s no need to rush, but keep in mind that the remake will bring drastic changes to the game. Might as well refresh your memories with the original PlayStation copy or a digital version and soak in what made this game special.