Times are tough when you can’t hang out with your mates – fortunately, we have video games.
For those feeling the need for social connection beyond the odd Skype or Zoom call, some video games put emphasis on friendship and teamwork to get the job done.
Generally, these types of games also come with great communities (they’re not 14-year-old CoD players, is what we are saying) which means you don’t need a pre-existing set of friends to pick up and play.
Check out our favourite video games to make new friends online:
Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to)
This letter-writing simulator has a huge anonymous group of players, that write letters to each other.
Players can make requests (“I am feeling particularly lonely,” or “I need motivation”) and then other players respond with gentle advice or comforting words.
It’s available for PC, Mac and Linux.
Biped
Biped lets you play as one of two robots, who have the ability to roll, vault and slide across tricky obstacle courses. The idea is to beat several teamwork challenges, and work together. Think of it like a simpler and cuter version of Portal 2, and you get the idea.
It’s out now for PC, and will be landing on PS4 and Switch very soon.
Sky: Children of the Light
This game is all about sharing experiences, which means you are going to have to play nice with others in order to progress. It’s from the same studio that made indie-classic Journey, so expect an epic soundtrack and a sweet heart.
It’s currently on iOS and on course to arrive on Android, PC and Nintendo Switch.
Rocket League
It’s football, but with cars. Yes, it’s a little bit different than the other few on the list – however the Rocket League community is all about being friendly and playing as a team.
The game works equally well for both casual players and hardcore fans, and lets you pilot remote-control cars trying to bump an oversized ball into the other team’s goal. Teamwork is essential.
It’s available for PS4, Xbox, Switch and PC.
World of Warcraft
The granddaddy of massive multiplayer games, World of Warcraft has around 10 million active users from around the world. It’s about to go through its fifth big update, including a whole new world to explore.
While it works well if you just want to play by yourself, the real fun begins when you team up with others to explore dungeons and raids. You also get the best gear that way.
Yes, people make fun of World of Warcraft for being a bit of a time sink. But, it’s not like you’re going inside anytime soon.
World of Warcraft is available for PC and Mac.
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