We’re all dreading opening Canvas, or Microsoft Outlook, or even looking at a single flashcard. Sometimes, school gets in the way of things that are actually important: the ephemeral peace that comes from a resplendent moment spent playing the top six video games of the century. Here’s a list, from me to you, detailing the best reasons to play these games instead of working (it will be much more beneficial anyway).
1. Sims 4
Looking for the perfect life simulation that you can sink thousands of hours into? The Sims 4 is a top tier game that allows you to emulate the best that life has to offer: passing out from overexertion, dying in a pool with no ladder, and home wrecking each of the established townie families. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a challenge to spice up your gameplay! The 100 Baby Challenge, the Legacy Challenge, and the Not So Berry Challenge are all popular ways to push the game to see the most it has to offer. Say “Dag Dag” to your pending assignments and “Sul Sul” to the character creation screen.
2. Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is the perfect cozy game that will take your mind off real-life problems as you strive to become a successful farmer in a quaint town—a town with secrets waiting around every corner. Grow your farm from fifteen parsnips to unimaginable heights! Explore the mines, go fishing, and dabble in the magical world of the “Junimos.” There’s something for everyone; Stardew Valley uses a system based on five different skills, allowing each player to specialize in a single skill should they choose. This game is available across platforms and even has support for up to four players! Got a group assignment to ditch? Get your entire group onboard for a farming experience of a lifetime!
3. Minecraft
It’s a classic for a reason. This sandbox game affords the player countless opportunities to explore their creativity. Are you builder? Or a fighter? Neither? Do what I do and spend hours picking flower and setting up the least efficient farm on the server! If you’re actually interested in “beating” the game, embark on the treacherous journey to defeat the Ender Dragon. Join a server with your friends and spend the entire day deciding where to build your base! No time for homework when you’re fighting monsters and deciding which color pallet to use in your bedroom.
4. Wizard101
Internet sensation MMORPG from the early 2010s, Wizard101, is still the perfect game for an easy dose of escapism. Make your wizard, choosing from seven different schools of magic and venture out, into the spiral, on a magical journey to save the Spiral. Wizard101 also has the opportunity for players to raise and train a variety of pets! This is a real time-sink, so make sure your wizard is fully committed to their magical education by ignoring yours!
5. Microsoft Paint
Accessible on nearly every school computer, Microsoft Paint is the perfect way to divulge from your studies in the most subtle of ways. What’s the difference between one Microsoft program and another? This game allows users to challenge themselves creatively. The white screen is your oyster! Use a variety of shapes and paint brushes to explore the available tools and realize at the end what a mess you’ve made. This game is a significant challenge and requires a high level of dexterity, but if you don’t mind what your artwork looks like, paint away!
6. Papa’s Scooparia
The Papa’s franchise boomed to incredible popularity in the 2000s-2010s. Kids in computer labs everywhere made quick work of business school and jumped right into a life of entrepreneurship. This game series offers tons of options, but experts claim Papa’s Scooparia is the best on the market. Looking for a nostalgic game with simple instructions (and don’t we all miss simple instructions in college)? This game is for you!