Fall is here! The leaves are crunchy and slowly turning a dashing orange. With the return of pumpkin spice and cooler weather, you finally have an opportunity to stay in. After the stress of midterms, it’s important to get a well-deserved break from the long hours in the library. Here are some video game picks to help you decompress this fall.
Dressmaker
Starting off with the coziest pick on the list, Dressmaker lets you play as a tailor who designs outfits. You can choose from a variety of fabrics, sketch your own design, cut out fun patterns, and add cute details like ribbons to finish your product! Dressmaker started as a small passion project between the developer and his wife, designed to work around a medical condition that prevented her from doing the demanding work of costume design. It’s a slow, calm way to chill out after a stressful week and get your creative juices flowing.
Stardew Valley
It wouldn’t be a cozy list if Stardew Valley wasn’t included. In this game, you inherit your late grandfather’s farm and grow crops, raise animals, and get to know the town’s locals. You play at your own pace with no pressure to finish the game. The seasons change as you work your way through the game, and fall is especially charming with seasonal events like pumpkin harvesting, an autumn fair, and the spooky Spirit’s Eve festival. You can also play with your friends and build your own farm together, making the game fantastic for a night in.
Life Is Strange
Grab your tissues, because the Life Is Strange series is known for its emotional stories and the gravity of the choices you make. In the original game, you play as a student who suddenly discovers that she can rewind time. Along with her childhood friend, she discovers a mystery that gradually unfolds into a darker story. Across the whole series, the games explore themes of friendship, loss, growing up, and the idea that every choice matters. With its beautiful soundtrack, atmosphere, and narrative, it’s the perfect pick for a quiet night in — just be ready to cry in your bed at 2 in the morning.
Lethal Company
If you’re looking for something scary, chaotic, and hilarious, Lethal Company is the perfect game for you. In this game, you and your friends play as employees of a strange company. You travel through abandoned moons with the goal of collecting and selling scrap to reach a profit quota. Each moon has a different vibe and is swarming with odd monsters. Every trip is a gamble between grabbing more items to hit your quota and making it back alive. The game features a proximity voice chat, meaning you can only hear your teammates that are nearby, which adds an exciting touch of horror to the game!
Fears to Fathom
Fears to Fathom is on the creepier side of this list. The game is an indie horror series about everyday stories; it features short standalone episodes based on real people’s terrifying experiences. In one episode, you’re home alone. In another, you’re working overnight in the woods. Despite the absence of scary monsters, the unexpected horror of the mundane adds a terrifying touch of reality that turns into your worst nightmare. On a November night when you’re feeling extra brave, turn off the lights and put your headphones on.
Phasmophobia
Ever wanted to go ghost hunting? This Halloween classic allows you and up to three friends to investigate haunted locations using ghost-hunting equipment like thermometers and communication devices. In Phasmophobia, the goal is to gather paranormal evidence to identify the type of ghost while surviving the “hunts” that ghosts may go on. Every ghost behaves differently, so the game stays unpredictable and exciting. With a voice recognition feature, the ghost can react to what you say, so be careful not to anger it!
Hopefully these picks give you a solid gift idea or a new title for a night in this fall.
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