Summary
Games that use various seasons to tell a compelling story or deliver engaging gameplay should definitely be commended for the same. Winter, summer, and spring are easily three of the most popular seasons where a game takes place, which is a shame since the vastly underrated setting of autumn ends up taking a backseat more often than not. It’s quite odd since the beauty of falling leaves and orange hues should ideally be quite apparent.
That being said, it’s not like autumn has been completely ignored in video games. Certain titles use aspects of this setting to great effect, creating a rich backdrop for their games. Here are some of the best games where the season of autumn has been represented well.
Firewatchisan immersive walking simulatorwith a pretty gripping story of its own. The idea of playing as a park ranger should be anything but exciting, but it’s the amazing narrative ofFirewatchthat places it in a class of its own.
It helps that the game uses the season of autumn to great effect as well. It makes for a somber backdrop as players slowly uncover what’s going on in the title.
Thischarming adventure gameshould be played by any fan who loves down-to-earth stories featuring memorable characters. The player controls an anthropomorphic cat named Mae who comes back to her hometown only to find out how much it has changed.
It’s a delightful story that can get really emotional and impactful at times, with the autumn setting lending itself to some scenic locales as well. Players who want to check out examples of great writing in video games should look no further thanNight in the Woods.
The Simsis a series that has packaged Seasons with its games as content packs, andthis applies toThe Sims 4as well. The game covers all the seasons in a calendar year, including autumn.
Watching the leaves fall and a shade of brownish orange take over for a while makes for a fresh change of pace indeed. Since snowfall means that players need to wear warm clothing, players should relish the original look of their Sim in this season until winter comes.
Speaking of charming games, it would be impossible tonot mentionStardew Valley. This game took the world by storm when it was released and continues to be one of the most popular farming simulator games around.
It helps that the characters ofStardew Valleyare a joy to interact with as well. The fall season is arguably one of the game’s strong points, letting players farm and sell some of the most valuable crops in the game.
TheAnimal Crossingseries has some of the most fun social simulation titles ever made, withNew Horizonsbeing the latest and greatest entry to the series. Customizing an island as players see fit makes for a great time and lets players show off their creativity too.
Animal Crossinguses a real-time clock to simulate the game’s seasons. During autumn,the game becomes pretty beautiful indeed, allowing players to enjoy a fresh set of visuals that will eventually lead to players sinking more hours into this title.
Life is Strangeis one of the best adventure games anyone can try out, courtesy of a wide cast of amazing characters. It helps that the rewind mechanic present in this title also alleviates a ton of frustration players might generally experience in a genre where each and every choice matters.
It helps that the game takes place in the fall, making it look more beautiful than it has any right to be. It’s easy to see why this game has spawned a franchise of its own, although the firstLife is Strangetitle still has a charm that is pretty hard to replicate.
Alan Wakeis an excellent action-adventure title made by Remedy Entertainment, the mastermind behind theMax Payneseries. The engaging gameplay of this title is further enhanced by a beautiful cinematic story that is a joy to uncover.
Remedy Entertainment has always been a master of what it does, andAlan Wakeis no exception. Players will definitely get hooked while they control this author and uncover the pieces of the puzzle that have led him to such a predicament in the first place.
Bullyto be remade shows just how many people love this title. Controlling Jimmy Hopkins in Bullworth Academy and seeing the shenanigans he can get up to makes for a fun time indeed.
It helps that the story ofBullyis great and the world slowly expands as players uncover more of it. Rockstar should be commended for using the setting of a school tomake such a riveting video game, even though it might’ve faced its fair share of controversies when it launched.
Swinging around the streets of New York as the iconic webcrawler is enough for most people to be convinced to check outMarvel’s Spider-Man. However, the fact that this game takes place in autumn makes the title even more of a joy to look at.
Places like Central Park end up looking almost otherworldly in this season, showing just how beautifulMarvel’s Spider-Manreally is.
DUSKis interesting in that it takes place at the tail end of fall when everything has already fallen, which isreallyunseen in games. The game is set in the fictional Dusk, Pennsylvania, and it’s astonishing how well it is able to encapsulate the feel of America’s rural rustbelt with so few polygons.
It’s a creepy game, and the choice of setting is perfect; where the unkept ruins of industries long gone stand rusted amongst the trees. It builds off the depressing reality of the area, with the paranormal twist that these neglected areas have become home to sinister creatures, and the cult that summoned them. It’s also a boomer shooter where players can backflip, so bonus points.
