In our interconnected world, it seems very easy to make new friends or reconnect with old ones. We cannot overstate how important the internet is to maintain ties. During the early years of the pandemic, the internet was practically the only way we were able to remain connected and maintain our friendships, which we cherish.
We had to isolate ourselves, limiting genuine human interaction for two years. No dating or visiting Dungeons & Dragons groups; so we had to rely on our screens 24/7. One way to pass the time was to play video games. Video games aren’t as frustrating as Monopoly, where the action doesn’t end unless someone quits early… or a chalk outline of what was once a player is visible on the living room floor. But what if there were a multi-player video game that is so intense, it does the opposite of what games are meant to do – strengthen friendships?
Video games can destress us, build bonds with friends, and make memories – but some games can cause you to pull your hair out, disown someone from your circle of friends, and wish someone was never born. Here are five games that do the latter! Be warned!
Smithworks
Smithworks is a team-based game that REQUIRES communication. As fledgling blacksmiths, you have to work together to take orders, forge metal, and assemble swords for eager (and impatient) customers. It starts slowly to help you get a feel for the situation, but the difficulty curve immediately ramps up. Orders become more complex, tool stations will switch places, and each level devolves into mazes. What starts as an organised crew will transform into a group of clowns juggling resources, falling from the top floor as they cobble together whatever they can to appease the customer.
Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip
If you want to find out who the smooth talker is among your friends, try out the Monster Prom series. A fan favourite of many casual gamers, you take on the role of a monster high school student who must woo one of the colourful cast of characters to get a chance at dating them. In the first and second games: Monster Prom and Monster Camp, respectively, all players receive a unique ending depending on how successful their attempts have been and who they were going for, to begin with. What makes the third instalment: Monster Roadtrip, different, however, is that it instead focuses on managing resources to survive the trip long enough to get to a destination (date optional).
What makes the third instalment different is the new mode, “Prank Masters”, which introduces some cutthroat competition. In this mode, you have to complete dares and earn Prank Dollarz (yes, it has a “Z”). This currency allows you to muscle your fellow players out of resources they need or the NPC they want to date. Sabotage them to get the ending you want, or just be an agent of chaos.
Crawl
Crawl takes standard dungeon crawlers and gives them a new spin. Instead of cooperating with your friends, you immediately duke it out until only one survives to continue exploring to fight the boss. However, that doesn’t mean those who died are out, staying in the game as ghosts. As that one living player explores, other players can possess obstacles, traps, inanimate objects, and control monsters to kill that pesky explorer. When one has successfully slayed the player, they’ll take their place as the new explorer and fight the recently deceased player. They must survive the vicious onslaught until they defeat the boss (whom the other players get to control) or die trying.
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It’s a race to power up your character as fast as possible. But beware; recklessness will be your downfall. With up to 60 playable monsters and randomly generated dungeons, this game will keep you thinking on your toes; try not to lose your head in the process.
Enemy On Board
Enemy on Board is a 6v2 social deduction game where players need to weed out the alien from their group. Six players have to kill the aliens while keeping the spaceship afloat by repairing generators. The other two are aliens who need to sow discord and plant seeds of doubt in the other players so they may successfully take over the ship.
The game is unique because the crew can fight back and needs to hunt down the alien. The aliens can’t outright kill the other players; they need to play along until they can get enough points to transform into the alien and wreak havoc. Communications will die as the generators are in disrepair; take advantage of the separation, isolation and confusion to win the round. Play your cards right, and you might just give your friends a reason never to trust you again.
Unrailed!
Unrailed! is a seemingly basic game with cute pixel graphics, but it will destroy you and your friends. It is a chaotic multiplayer game where you scramble to extend the life of your train by building train tracks. Unrailed! will test your communication, coordination and endurance as you keep your train alive for as long as possible in procedurally generated worlds.
Resource management and task allocation are essential. For the best possible chance of survival, a person must do one thing and one thing only (i.e. clearing the path, making and placing the tracks, gathering resources, etc.). The moment they start doing other tasks, it will cascade, and the game is virtually over. Do you have what it takes to keep the train and your friendship alive?
(Dis)Honourable mentions:
- Intruder
- GTFO
- Golf It
- Pico Park
- Push the Button
- Project: Playtime
Hopefully, these games have added a little spice to your friendship. And if someone becomes salty after a gaming session, we are sorry (not really).
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