PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Summer is here, and for many people, it means trips to the beach, festivals and all kinds of outdoor fun.
For many others, however, it means staying inside, cranking up the air conditioning and firing up the PlayStation or Xbox for a few rounds of “Call of Duty” or “Overwatch.” If you’ve gotten tired of those favorites, however, the Free Library of Philadelphia has you covered.
All 54 library branches have video games available to borrow, for all current consoles, from PlayStations 4 and 5 to Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. Library officials say the new additions fit right in with its educational mission.
“In today’s digital age,” said Free Library President and Director Kelly Richards, “video games offer a unique opportunity for learning and social interaction by fostering creativity, critical thinking and collaboration among our patrons.”
Materials selector Kris Langlais adds, “Playing video games is a gateway for young people into reading and writing. Young people who play games are likely to read material related to the games they enjoy.”
Library patrons can borrow up to three games at a time for up to three weeks — and can reserve games at the library’s website. Cardholders aren’t lacking for choice, with hundreds of games available. For those having trouble deciding, we have a few suggestions to start your gaming experience.
Hades (Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4)
Supergiant Games’ 2020 action game was universally praised for its roguelike action gameplay, sharp controls and, most of all, its deeply emotional story.
The Greek myth-inspired story casts you as Zagreus, son of Hades and prince of the underworld — who desperately wants to escape his father’s domain. Zagreus has the help of his relatives on Mount Olympus in his quest, but that doesn’t change the fact that you will die, a lot.
It’s what happens between deaths that lifts the game above others in the popular roguelike genre. Zagreus is transported back to the underworld, where he interacts with his surly father, his adoptive mother Nyx, the deeply depressed musician Orpheus and a host of other mythological figures. Those moments help build your stats and add depth to the story. For mythology lovers and hardcore gamers alike, “Hades” is one hell of a time.
Gran Turismo 7 (PlayStation 4)
For many gamers, Sony’s racing simulator “Gran Turismo” is the closest you can get to actually getting behind the wheel. Its seventh installment is no exception.
The racing gameplay is the best of the series, the controls are deeply intuitive, and the cars are all faithfully rendered with state-of-the-art graphics. However, “Gran Turismo 7” is much more than just a racing game — it’s also a virtual museum, dedicated not only to the sport of racing but to automotive history itself.
Each race you win not only earns you virtual currency to buy new parts, it also unlocks new exhibits highlighting real-life cars, companies and stories from car and racing lore. Director and series creator Kazunori Yamauchi loves cars — and that affection radiates from the screen.
(Note: With the exception of arcade mode, the game requires a constant internet connection.)
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut (PlayStation 5)
This action game takes players back to feudal Japan, where they take on the role of Jin Sakai, a samurai out to rescue his master from Mongol invaders and liberate the island of Tsushima.
The hack-and-slash combat is top-notch, in service of a story with several twists and turns. Traversing the open world on horseback is also genuinely thrilling. At the core of the game, however, is the choice the player faces as Jin, to either fight honorably or use stealth tactics to become the “Ghost of Tsushima.” Both ways are fun to use — and also affect the direction of the story.
There’s also a multiplayer “Legends” mode, allowing up to four players to adventure together, and for film fans, a black-and-white setting called “Kurosawa Mode” adopts legendary director Akira Kurosawa’s visual style for a more cinematic experience.
Street Fighter 6 (PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X)
Sometimes, you don’t want to play anything educational. You just want to cut loose and throw a few elbows…and fireballs.
The latest in Capcom’s iconic “Street Fighter” series allows players to do both — and more. With more than a dozen characters available — from series standbys Ryu, Ken and Chun-Li to newcomers like Luke, Jamie and Marisa — there is no shortage of smackdowns to be had.
New to the series, however, is a “World Tour” mode, allowing players to create their own characters for an open world adventure in search of nothing less than the secret of strength itself. The character creator is surprisingly robust and the story gives you plenty of opportunities to learn new techniques from all of the World Warriors.
If you think you’re ready to unleash those techniques against others, there’s an online “Arena Battle” feature that lets you match your created fighter against players worldwide. It may not be the same as standing shoulder-to-shoulder against opponents in the arcade, but it hits just as hard.
Super Mario 3D World/Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)
“Super Mario 3D World” — originally released on Nintendo’s much-maligned Wii U console — is a delightful platformer with wildly inventive and colorful levels that encompass everything there is to love about Mario, his friends and the Mushroom Kingdom.
The Switch release includes a bonus game called “Bowser’s Fury,” pitting Mario against a powered-up and angry Bowser. Instead of levels, the game is one large world that Mario must traverse by day, while finding cover at night, when Bowser is at his strongest — and angriest.
If you like this game, there’s so much more Mario in the Free Library’s collection. Budding game designers, though, may want to check out “Super Mario Maker 2,” which allows players to create their own Mario levels in the styles of every era of Mario, from 8-bit “Super Mario Bros. 3” to “3D World.”
Once you finish your level, you can upload it for others to check out, or download levels from creators around the globe. Some of them can be beaten with a little concentration and hand-eye coordination, while others are punishing in their difficulty — or are works of art that only need the slightest trigger in order to come alive.