Games to Help You Keep Your New Year Resolutions
It’s that time when we look ahead to the coming year and make promises to ourselves (and loved ones). Whether this is to spend more time with family and friends, find space for calm in your day, improve your creativity or even get more active, there are some great games that can help.
If it’s true that the resolutions you keep are the ones you enjoy, finding a game to support your progress is a key way to make them fun. This can also be a good way to commit to an activity together with friends and family which also makes it more likely you will be more likely to stick with it. Best of all, if you don’t manage it for that many months, at least you’ve had some fun along the way.
Games That Help You Get Active
Along with finding outside activities that get your heart pumping, adding some active digital playtime with the following games can also contribute to a fitter new year.
This is a resort exploration game available on the Wii and the Switch. You control it with arm motions and gestures. It’s great for younger children who jump, run on the spot and wave their arms around as they play.
This is a fitness game disguised as an adventure. To progress you need to attach the controllers to your body and use the resistance ring to perform tasks. A great way to exercise without it becoming boring.
Although this is a well-known family game, where you move in time to the music, the combination of fun and exuberant dancing is actually a really good workout. Also, because you can play with up to six players on systems like the Switch, it’s a fun family exercise.
Games That Help You Find Calm
If you are looking to find a better balance between busyness and calm in the coming year, some video games can offer a really good way to find peace.
This is a game where you help a young woman move into new rooms and homes as she grows older. You can take it at your own pace and the methodical tidying is a great way to unwind.
Take to the tranquil slopes with this simple tap-to-jump snowboarding game. It’s relaxing not only because of the calming motion but seeing the sunset as you skim down the mountainside.
The slow pace and tranquil world to explore offers a calming way to play. You tend to your unique herd of flying creatures as you traverse the big wild landscape on the back of a bird.
Games That Spark Your Creativity
If it’s on your list to grant yourself more permission to be creative, there are some really helpful video games. These can create space for you to try out ideas or perhaps tip your toe into a new way of creating you hadn’t thought of before.
You create your own living breathing island metropolis by tapping and clicking down little buildings. All you have to worry about is placement and the game deals with the rest - bridges, stairs, pathways and gardens all appear as if my magic.
This is an adventure game where you wield a magic brush. The world starts black and white but you colour it in with your paintbrush to solve puzzles and help your animal friends. It looks like a children's storybook but also engages with themes of performance, competition and impostor syndrome.
Get your creative planning juices flowing with this sequencing strategy game where you create an ordered, efficient underground train system. Give this strategy challenge a go and keep the system running smoothly as the number of passengers increases.
Author: Andy Robertson, is a family gaming expert who appears in The Guardian, BBC and national broadcasts. He wrote the Taming Gaming book for families.
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