8 Videogames That Can Totally Ruin Your Social Life 1

CALL OF DUTY

Love it or hate it, there’s no denying how easy it is to put hours into CoD without realizing exactly how much time has passed.

Take away the toxic community and fan base, CoD really isn’t as bad as people like to make it out. Sure, it’s never going to be GOTY and for the best part each new game feels like a re-skin of the previous title, but at it’s core, it’s a solid, relatively well balanced shooter. Combine this with great graphics, experimental movement mechanisms and a rewarding score streak system, you have CoD at its best.

Not as casual as CS:GO, but really fun to play nonetheless, you’ll have your parents concerned as you scream at your TV after hitting that sweet 360 no-scope final kill on SnD.

DOTA 2

I’ve never quite understood the hype of games such as Dota, personally since I don’t see the fascination of the genre. But, upon some extensive research, an open mind and input from some fans, I can see why it generates so much hype.

Dota 2 was released in 2013 and still to this day draws new players in, that fact itself speaks volumes about the game. It boasts engaging game play and how wildly deep the game is. According to hardcore fans, you’ll never truly ‘master’ the game. Even at the conclusion of the game, it’s never truly the end. The hours you pile into Dota 2 will never feel wasted as you keep learning new things, regardless of how much you’ve experienced.

Besides the game, the community contributes just as much with fan literature, art and some.. questionable videos. Definitely turn your safe search on while googling Dota.

TEAM FORTRESS 2 

Team Fortress 2 is like all your childhood games wrapped into one solid, by the numbers first person shooter.

It’s relatively basic, you’re offered a set of classes, each have their own strengths and weaknesses, take your pick and get to it, simple as that. With the cartoon like style, dark humor undertones and controlled (or not so much) chaos. What else can you ask for in a game? It’s much more simplistic than that other FPS games today, which is probably why it’s thought of so highly.

If you’re looking to spend your free time blasting away your opposition and hilariously dancing over their bodies, look no further. Just don’t blame us if you find yourself leaving your house once a month.

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

It wouldn’t really be a list of addictive games if LoL didn’t make an appearance. It has, after all, one of the most rapidly growing and dedicated fan bases ever.

It’s quite the opposite of most games on the list, where other games have been mellow, this is outright competitive. Each bout, in its own way, is different. You won’t be faced with the same champions, and with LoL being a game where your success relies heavily on your strategies, you will find yourself changing your own tactics often. This makes the game a challenge at the best of times, it constantly forces you out of your own comfort zone and makes you try things you wouldn’t usually do.

Swapping out kills for teamwork, LoL will have you festering in your bedroom trying to find that perfect strategy, if there is one.

8 Videogames That Can Totally Ruin Your Social Life

It’s great having friends, you can catch movies with them, go for drinks or simply just chill out together. It’s been proven having friends is good for your health, but if you intend of having them stick around, you might want to avoid these the next time you plan a gathering. Here’s 8 video games that can ruin your social life if you’re not careful enough.

THE WITCHER 3

Starting off the list, The Witcher 3 was awarded game of the year, which is no easy feat. It only seems fitting for this game to be on the list. For me personally, The Witcher 3 was the first of the franchise that I had the pleasure of diving head first into.

Say goodbye to your friends for at least a fortnight, TW3 is packed with quests, locations, dialogue and colorful characters, all of which will have you glued to your gamer chair (or desired seat) for a while. But it’s not just the content that will have you locked in, the game is beautifully paced. You’ll go from the feeling of making no progress to a plot twist instantly, couple this with the multiple choices (which can effect your story) and emotional attachments.

And I can’t mention the multiple endings, which has proven its effectiveness as I’m on my third play through. TW3 is a beautifully crafted emotional roller coaster of a game that will leave you wanting more (and leg cramp from not moving for six straight hours).

CS:GO 

In a world full of Call of Duty annual releases and the dedicated fans of the Battlefield franchise, what keeps CS:GO a prominent entry to the FPS genre?

It is, simply put, just fun. Where CoD over complicates things with exo suits and perks that transform you from soldier to terminator, CS:GO keeps things simple. Where Battlefield constantly encourages pay to win with god guns available for purchase (it’s always those damn level 140’s), CS:GO keeps all weapons available for everyone. Besides, we all know you’re going to use the AWP regardless.

However what ultimately puts this game on the list is how carefree the game is. Sure you could play it competitively, but it’s much easier and more fun (in my opinion) to just jump in a game with no pressure or expectations, just fun. You should probably make up some excuses for this one.

SKYRIM

I think all the devs at Bethesda consulted in their children when discussing the setting of Skyrim. Of course, I’m not complaining, there is a serious lack of video games that allow you to kill dragons with nothing more than your sword.

Much like another Bethesda RPG: Fallout 3, Skyrim is an open world RPG with a butt-load of quests and a giant, fully traversal world. What defines TES from Fallout however, is the lack of firepower. You’re downgraded to sword and bow which not only makes the majority of combat more challenging, it’s just simply much cooler wielding dual swords rather than a 10mm pistol. For the same reasons, stealth is a greater asset in Skyrim and is much more satisfying.

If Fallout 4 isn’t quite doing it for you, I’d recommend loading an old save file on Skyrim and relive the magic that had you locked in your room.

5 Most Disappointing Games of 2015 1

Evolve

With giant monsters and teams of players being working together to take down those hulking, player-controlled beasts, the right execution could have made Evolve of one the most popular multiplayer titles of the year. But sadly, it fell well short of the mark.

Not only has the game been called out for bland maps and stale gameplay, but the lack of a playerbase has also proved to be a thorn in its side. Evolve‘s playerbase sank like a lead balloon not long after launch and despite Turtle Rock Studios best efforts things haven’t gotten better.

Godzilla

After 2014’s Godzilla brought the giant prehistoric lizard back into the limelight, many were surprised that the Godzilla video game, which was released on PS4 this year, also managed to let people down.

The biggest gripe people had with Godzilla were the graphics, which some said looked more like they were ripped from the PS3 or even the PS2 era. Moreover, players weren’t fond of the level design or the movement, which, in a game about stomping around as a giant monster that knocks down buildings, is a pretty egregious offense.

Do you agree with this list of big video game disappointments? Which other games failed to live up to the hype? Leave a comment and let us know.

5 Most Disappointing Games of 2015

Although 2015 was a year filled with gaming highs, the year also had a considerable amount of lows too. Game Rant looks at the year’s biggest gaming disappointments.

2015 was a real stand-out year for the games industry, with plenty of high points that impressed and wowed gamers. Not only did Microsoft’s Xbox One go backward compatible, letting people keep playing their Xbox 360 games even if they pack the console away, but highly anticipated sequels like Fallout 4 and Halo 5 also finally released.


However, 2015 had its fair share of disappointments as well, with some games failing to deliver on their promises or even function on a basic level. Here are Game Rant’s choices for the most disappointing games of 2015.

Batman: Arkham Knight on PC

Billed as an explosive conclusion to an incredible trilogy, Batman: Arkham Knight did manage to be just that…but only on PS4 and Xbox One. The PC version of the game was marred by severe technical issues that made the game almost unplayable. In fact, the PC build was so problematic that publisher Warner Bros. Interactive pulled it from sale and began to offer refunds.

Looking past allegations that Warner Bros. knew that Batman: Arkham Knight PC was broken, many were glad to see the game return some months after its initial release date. Sadly, that relaunch wasn’t without problems and it still took several patches to get the game right.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5

After Shred and Ride (two Tony Hawk games that used a plastic skateboard peripheral as a controller) ultimately failed to revolutionize the skating franchise, fans were pleased to hear that a series reboot, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, was in the works. But pre-release gameplay looked rough, with graphics that looked dated for a current-gen release and gameplay that featured odd quirks.

Those concerns didn’t disappear at launch either when the current-gen version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 was filled to the brim, almost comically, with bugs and glitches. Needless to say, whatever shot the Tony Hawk franchise had at making a comeback was soon crushed by fan disappointment.

The Order: 1886

While Sony is the first to admit that the PS4’s holiday line-up didn’t look so hot, The Order: 1886 was among a slate of early 2015 games that was to make up for that void. The game’s revisionist Victorian setting may have looked absolutely phenomenal, but many critics and fans agreed that it was all style over substance.

In addition to being criticized for its generic gameplay and shooting, most people pointed to the game’s incredibly short length as its biggest disappointment. In fact, the controversy surrounding the game’s length was so loud that it sparked an industry-wide debate regarding how long all games should be.

The Top 10 Opening Levels in Video Games 2

Bioshock

Anyone who’s played Bioshock remembers their first descent into Rapture, where they battle enemies both real and imagined. But rather than just drop players into the underwater city, developer Irrational Games lets players experience the feeling of being lost at sea after a horrific plane crash. Then, they are given a unique opportunity to enter the mysterious world of Rapture, where nothing is as it seems, yet things are done kindly.

The ominous and mystical opening to Bioshock sets the stage for an adventure unlike any other in entertainment. Bioshock is easily among the few games that many wish they could experience again for the first time.

Half-Life 2

Developer Valve dashed many gamers’ hopes and dreams when they failed to produce the third episode to the wildly popular Half-Life 2. The disappointment cuts extra deep when players realize they have yet to see a conclusion to a game with such a brilliant beginning.

In an opening reminiscent of the first game in the series, players start out on a train. However, unlike it’ predecessor, Half-Life 2’s train car doesn’t deposit players at a laboratory, but instead at City 17, where the game’s fast-paced, frightful action takes place. It’s a wonderful day when players “wake up and smell the ashes.”

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater

The Top 10 Opening Levels in Video Games 1

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 wastes no time throwing players into a frenzied panic as they watch the iconic SSV Normandy get torn apart by enemy laser blasts. While a few of the ship’s crew are able to escape, most are killed or lost to space, including our hero, Commander Shepard.

The mission ends with a massive twist that easily leaves many gamers speechless and wondering how the game would progress after the death of the game’s protagonist. Fortunately for players, Mass Effect 2 is a sci-fi game, where state-of-the-art technology is able to bring Shepard back to life and allows him/her to continue his/her mission.

Resident Evil 4

In its opening sequence, Resident Evil 4 is able to instill in players a basic backstory, as well as a deep sense of dread and anticipation. Those who played the previous Resident Evil games know what’s coming, but even for veterans of the franchise, the opening mission is a great welcome back to the world of Resident Evil.

Gamers barely have an opportunity to get their bearings before they’re launched into the game’s world, which is full of mystery, intrigue, and hostiles. It’s definitely a good start to what many consider to be the best game in the series.

Uncharted 2

In the first Uncharted game, players got to know protagonist Nathan Drake and play out his ridiculous adventures. But with a lot of that leg work done, Uncharted 2 launches right in with a death-defying sequence that hooks players for the rest of the journey.

In addition to an impossible situation – that of climbing a busted train as it dangles over the edge of a cliff – Uncharted 2 does more than just push players to hustle. It provides just enough vertigo to conjure up an immersive queasiness.

The Top 10 Opening Levels in Video Games

With the massive competition happening in the video game industry, it’s important for each new title that it provide a solid first impression for gamers. That first impression often comes, in almost all cases, from the game’s opening level, where players either fall in love or lose interest and move on.

Considering the impact opening levels can have on gamers, we polled our writers to see what games they thought have the best start. In our list below, we’ve selected games whose first level impressed us, challenged us, and sparked within us a love for gaming.

Considering the subject matter, there are spoilers ahead.

Super Mario Bros.

It’s quite possible that the opening level in Super Mario Bros. is the most-played in video game history. Even gamers too young to remember the game’s original release have the opportunity to run, jump, and stomp their way through the game’s first level.

Despite its simplicity, the opening level in Super Mario Bros. will be remembered as the one that introduced millions of gamers to the red-clad Italian plumber, and the level that ignited a love for gaming in the hearts of gamers around the world.

The Last of Us

For many PlayStation gamers, The Last of Us was the best game on PlayStation 3, and its current-gen re-release is one of the best so far on PlayStation 4. For the most part, gamers praise the game for its impressive story, which started off with a bang.

From the first few minutes of The Last of Us, players get the feeling something big is going to happen – and they don’t have to wait long for confirmation. At the end of the first level, players witness the death of a key character, which affects the rest of the game’s story and provides players with a heart-wrenching opening.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim kicks things off right, with a dragon. Rather than just have players select the equipment they want and starting them off running around the vast open world, the developers at Bethesda instead throws players right into the action, letting them make character and gear selections as they go along.

With an opening like that, it’s hard to imagine a more impressive start to the next Elder Scrolls game. Of course, they could always just start things off with two dragons, right?

Medal of Honor: Frontline