The best games for the holidays are those that let you completely unwind without any stress or time pressure, or that draw you into adventures lasting many hours. This year, our hard drives are dominated by the idyllic Dave the Diver, the racing game Forza Horizon 5 and the epic Baldur’s Gate 3. Choosing the perfect title depends mainly on your plans for the summer – sweltering afternoons are ideal for quick sessions with less demanding indie games, whilst long, cooler evenings are the perfect time to catch up on massive RPGs.
School’s out, marks have been handed out, and it’s far too hot outside to do anything anyway – it’s the perfect time to fire up your favourite game on your computer or console without a twinge of guilt. When looking for the perfect holiday game, we usually go for titles that will completely cut us off from everyday stress and let us forget about the school year that’s just ended. In the list below, we’ve compiled both super-relaxing PC games, perfect for slowly uncovering secrets, and dynamic new releases designed for playing with a crew on Discord. Remember, though, to prioritise your comfort – all-night gaming marathons can really take it out of you, so a decent gaming chair and a well-fitting desk are essential for a successful holiday. Here’s our complete list to help you choose!
The table below provides a brief overview of the most interesting titles for this summer. Here you’ll find brief details on the genres and the reasons why each film is perfect for the summer months.
| Name of the game | Genre | Who is it for? | Holiday vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave the Diver | Adventure / Economy | For those looking for relaxation and a bit of fun | The seaside atmosphere and running my own sushi bar |
| Forza Horizon 5 | Open-world racing | For fans of motoring and beautiful scenery | A virtual journey to sunny Mexico, a land of contrasts |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | RPG | For players looking for a deep storyline | Over 100 hours of a multi-layered story to keep you entertained on long evenings |
| Helldivers 2 | Co-op shooter | For a close-knit group of friends | Fast-paced action and plenty of laughs whilst on missions together |
| Hades II | Roguelike / Action | For short sessions on hot days | A satisfying, fast-paced game, perfect for a 30-minute session |
When the heat is pouring down outside, we don’t always feel like playing complex and stressful games that demand our full concentration and lightning-fast reflexes. That’s exactly when relaxing PC games come into their own, allowing you to slow down, take a breather and simply enjoy the holiday atmosphere. The titles below are perfect choices for lazy afternoons when you want to unwind and soak up the summer vibe without leaving your room.
Dave the Diver is an absolute phenomenon that has quickly become the perfect holiday game. In it, you play as a likeable, chubby diver called Dave, who spends his days exploring the mysterious, ever-changing depths of the sea. Your task is to catch fish, gather resources and uncover underwater secrets. The real fun begins, however, in the evening, when Dave swaps his diving suit for a chef’s apron and helps his chef friend run a sushi bar. A varied and incredibly addictive gameplay loop, spiced up with brilliant humour and beautiful pixel art, makes it hard to tear yourself away from the screen.
Stardew Valley is a timeless classic that has become synonymous with digital relaxation for millions of players around the world. Even if the storyline of escaping office life sounds a bit far-fetched to you, the idea of dropping everything and building your own farming empire from scratch is incredibly compelling. In the charming valley of Pelican Town, you grow vegetables, look after animals, go fishing and build relationships with the local community. The game doesn’t rush you at all, allowing you to play at exactly your own pace. It’s well worth revisiting this title, as the major updates in the 1.6 series have introduced a wealth of new content and secrets.
A Short Hike is a small, independent game that embodies the very essence of the word ‘free’. You play as Claire, a little bird who spends her summer days in the picturesque Hawk Peak National Park. Your sole, entirely casual aim is to climb to the top of the mountain to get mobile phone reception. Along the way, you won’t encounter any enemies or dangers – instead, you’ll chat with other holidaymakers, collect shells, go fishing and learn to fly.
Dredge is the perfect choice for those looking for fun games to play this summer, but who prefer a rich atmosphere of mystery and a slight thrill to pure idyll. At first glance, the game looks like a laid-back fishing boat simulator – you sail between islands, catch fish, sell them to the locals and upgrade your vessel. You’ll soon realise, however, that this world harbours something dark.
If, whilst on holiday, you’d rather smell burnt rubber than lie on sandy beaches, or throw yourself into the boundless expanse of outer space, this section is just for you. Here you’ll find games focused on unrestricted exploration, offering hundreds of hours of brilliant fun under the starry sky or on the world’s most beautiful race tracks.
This instalment of the iconic racing series is an absolute hit for your days off. The motoring festival transports us to picturesque, contrast-filled Mexico. The game offers a vast open world where you’ll encounter bustling towns, sandy beaches and winding roads right at the summit of an active volcano. Forza Horizon 5 is the very essence of freedom.
Subnautica is a game that redefines the concept of survival. You find yourself on an alien planet completely covered in water, and your sole aim is to survive and find a way to escape. The game captivates with its beautiful, colourful and vibrant coral reef ecosystem. Building bases and exploring the depths are incredibly rewarding.
Outer Wilds is undoubtedly one of the most original adventure games ever made. You play as a recruit in a space programme whose mission is to explore a peculiar planetary system. You soon discover that you’re stuck in a time loop, at the end of which the local star explodes as a supernova.
No Man’s Sky is a space sandbox game on a truly unimaginable scale, offering a procedurally generated universe with billions of unique planets to explore. The game has come a long way since its release. It’s the perfect choice for casual gameplay, building bases and befriending alien lifeforms.
Holidays are that one time of year when we can stay up all night for a good story without feeling too guilty. When the temperature outside finally drops in the evening, you can settle comfortably into an armchair and set off on a journey lasting several dozen, or even over a hundred, hours.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the undisputed king of role-playing games in recent years. Set in the iconic world of the Forgotten Realms, the story plunges you into the heart of a plot that threatens the entire continent. The game impresses with an unprecedented freedom of choice – you can solve almost any problem in a dozen or so different ways.
Whilst Geralt of Rivia’s main adventure tends to evoke a rather gloomy, Slavic atmosphere, the second official expansion, entitled ‘Blood and Wine’, is the very essence of a holiday. It transports us to the fairy-tale duchy of Toussaint, inspired by Tuscany and Provence in France.
If you prefer a futuristic vision of the future to fantasy settings, Cyberpunk 2077 will be right up your street. Night City is one of the most polished and technologically stunning locations in the history of video games, and it really comes into its own after dark.
This tale of the twilight of the Wild West captivates with its incredible realism and slow, almost mesmerising pace. Here, you can completely abandon the story missions and spend whole days fishing in mountain streams or setting up camp under the starry sky.
The game transports us to ancient Greece, offering a vast, sun-drenched open world. As a Greek mercenary, you travel between historic islands, sail across the blue waters of the Aegean Sea and admire marble temples.
Holidays are a brilliant opportunity to strengthen bonds with friends. Co-op games let you combine having fun together with casual chats on Discord.
One of the best and most spectacular co-op shooters of recent years. You take on the role of elite Super Earth soldiers and battle hordes of giant bugs and armies of robots. The fast-paced missions are guaranteed to have you in fits of laughter.
This charming story about a married couple who are transformed into little toy dolls requires two people to play. Solving the puzzles together makes it the perfect, heart-warming adventure for summer days.
As a dwarf miner, you set off with your companions into the dark caves of the planet Hoxxes IV. Its laid-back atmosphere, superbly designed gameplay and the now legendary cry of ‘Rock and Stone!’ make this game an excellent choice for a group.
A timeless phenomenon that has already become an integral part of the summer holidays for many groups of friends. Digging mines and building bases together fits in perfectly with that laid-back, summery atmosphere.
During the midday hours, when it’s at its hottest, roguelike games and fast-paced arcade games are ideal, as you can play them for as little as thirty minutes.
You play as Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld. The game features an incredibly fluid, magic-based combat system. Each playthrough takes around 30–45 minutes, making this the perfect game for a quick break.
A brilliantly designed, addictive roguelike based on the rules of poker. Your task is to form high-scoring card combinations using special Jokers. The game has minimal system requirements.
Your character attacks automatically, and your only task is to move around the board and avoid the monsters. As you literally only need one hand to play, you can hold a glass of a cool drink in the other.
The holidays are a time to simply enjoy gaming. However, it’s worth bearing your health and comfort in mind during long gaming sessions:
Modern gaming chairs and Huzaro electric desks They ensure total comfort throughout your holidays. Set up your gaming corner properly, grab a cold drink and set off to conquer virtual worlds!
And what are you planning to do with your time off this summer? Do you prefer a quiet, relaxing break on your own, or a wild time with friends?
