The sun enters through a crack in the curtains. Maybe it was a big night last night, and you’re a little groggy, maybe the kids are awake, jumping on you or hanging around the house, or maybe your partner is already up, and the smell of a fresh drink is spreading from room to room. Beautiful.
There’s not much better than a Sunday morning, especially when you throw in video games. As we sat through a lazy session of Pikmin 4 recently, we marveled at how this cheerful series seemed like the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing Sunday morning. Whether you’re sipping Colombian roast in your slippers, stuffed and prepped for a Sunday best meal, or feeling less than 100% after an overly rambunctious saturday eveningPikmin is a great tonic to enjoy on this day off.
Maybe it’s just us, so we asked ourselves: What’s your ideal game for a lazy Sunday morning? Passing through some vintage Green Hills? Tap and burn through the backlog? Blow up the infected bastards with a saw? Introducing the kids to some classics? Release the Balatra leech more
So let’s see what games Team NL likes to play on the second best morning of the week…
Ollie Reynolds, staff writer
Sunday morning provides the perfect opportunity to relax and let all the stress that has built up during the week just melt away. As such, I find it incredibly relaxing to play something I’m intimately familiar with instead of something completely new. For me this could be a remake of Resident Evil, Super Castlevania IV or maybe even Lumines Remastered.
However, now that I have a two-year-old daughter, the idea of loading something that could be considered “comfortable” is not entirely out of the question. Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are top contenders for something that both my daughter and I can enjoy.
Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor
It really depends, to be honest! The Switch makes Sunday morning gaming so much easier because I can just curl up with a blanket and a cup of coffee and get cozy with whatever I’m playing. Whatever’s on the menu, that’s what I’ll play.
But perfect Sunday morning game? Something I can chip away at over time; a day in Stardew Valley, whether it’s selling products or going to the mines, is beautiful. A few short leveling sessions in a classic RPG — nothing unburdening, just enough to make some progress. Or, right now, a round (or four) at Balatra. Roguelikes and deckbuilders are really great because they help me wake up while providing a short burst of fun.
Jim Norman, staff writer
I Sunday mornings have to be relaxed. They must also require as little brain power as possible, ideally. So yes, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is by far the top of this list for me. Gone are the days of the daily casting pandemic hours in the care of my island. Now I come in once a week, scratch my head over an infestation of bamboo shoots, pull more than my fair share of weeds, then close it when my mind starts to wander to more important, more pressing things like lunch. Bliss.
Gavin Lane, editor
It all depends on the vibe. As I said in the introduction, Pikmin is great for a traditional, quiet Sunday morning. The past few weekends I’ve spent the day at the game with the kids watching, showing off the new Pikmin, testing their abilities (the Pikmin, not the kids), spelunking, and facing some dirty beasts. The natural surroundings make you feel like you’re in the fresh air, even if it’s belt time outside.
On the other hand, as Ollie mentioned, it’s a good time to bask in nostalgia, whether it’s going to Streets of Rage or firing up the NSO app. The weekend is pretty much the only time I activate my bank of mini consoles, usually to introduce the kids to a classic (having Castle of Illusion on the Mega Drive Mini is a godsend) or just to rush through something comfortable and familiar.
What? Nobody said BOTW!?! damn it
So what’s your ideal Sunday morning game? Do you need anything else to make it perfect? Tea, Earl Grey, hot? Sarnie with bacon? Retrotink 4K worth $750? Let us know in the poll and comments below.
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