Video game recommendations to pass any amount of time
Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News (TNS)
For those who have binged all of "The Mandalorian" and are now looking for new ways to pass the time, they can turn to video games.
It's a business that has proved resilient amid the pandemic. While movies and concerts are on pause, gaming has remained a stalwart pastime. Its flexibility lets it fit in different niches of our lives.
Looking for a five-minute time waster while waiting for the tea to brew? There's a game for that. Looking for an epic adventure to get lost in? Several games can accommodate that need.
With that in mind, here are games that will tide you over until the worst of the pandemic ends.
Perfect bite-size gaming
'What the Golf?'
Triband
Don't confuse this with the "PGA Tour" series; it's far from the technical golf game that enthusiasts are used to.
The goal and mechanics are simple. Players have to get an object in the hole. On touch devices, they do that by pressing their finger to the screen, pulling their finger back and letting go in an almost slingshot motion.
That's where the similarities to the actual sport end. "What the Golf?" is wacky and more like the miniature version.
Players will hit multiple balls at once, hoping to get one in the hole. They'll encounter bizarre rules and challenging obstacles.
The beauty of the game is how it constantly reinvents and riffs off the rules of golf to create an experience that's always fun and challenging.
It's one of those games that are easy to pick but difficult to master.
Time commitment: Short. The levels take five minutes at most.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade and PC
A medium-size adventure
'Cyberpunk 2077'
Yes, CD Projekt Red's newest project has issues on consoles, but those who picked it up on a high-end PC or through Google Stadia are in for a treat.
The game leverages its deep sci-fi lore and flexible gameplay to create an engrossing experience.
Players customize their version of the protagonist, V., and take the hero through a conspiracy-rich campaign in and around Night City.
The narrative keeps players hooked, and the variety of builds and the open-ended mission design means that players will find new ways to solve challenging problems.
It's a game that has the potential to be as long as anything from "Assassin's Creed's" new series, though "Cyberpunk 2077" is done so much better that players can't help but fall under the campaign's spell.
Time commitment: The game runs about 50 hours if you want to really dig deep into it. With the different build, a player can find new ways to tackle the game, increasing its replayability.
Platforms: PC, Stadia. It is playable on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
Games for the long haul
'Assassin's Creed' Mythology Pack or 'Yakuza' series
If you really want to get lost in a video-game world, look no further than these two franchises.
The recent "Assassin's Creed" games are a perfect entry point to the series, with a new modern-day protagonist in Layla Hassan and three distinct trips to the past, focused on Egypt in "Assassin's Creed Origins," Greece in "Assassin's Creed Odyssey" and Dark Ages England in "Assassin's Creed Valhalla."
The adventures are huge time sinks, with each game easily taking more than 50 hours if players want to finish the main story and pick up extra side quests.
For those who want to stay busy until the vaccine is out for everyone, a good bet would be trying to play through the main "Yakuza" series. That's eight games, starting with "Yakuza 0" and moving through the list to the latest, "Yakuza: Like a Dragon."
The games are expansive, with a story that builds on itself over time. It can feel more like a telenovela than a Japanese video game at times, with odd twists and turns.
With a majority of the games taking more than 50 hours to complete, the "Yakuza" series has more than enough content to satisfy players over the next few months. With the addition of remasters and collections, players can easily play through the series on the PlayStation or Xbox family of consoles.
Kazuma Kiryu returns from prison in "Yakuza 6: Song of Life" and discovers that one of his wards is in trouble and had a baby.
Time commitment:The "Assassin's Creed" Mythology Pack will take 217 hours to complete — give or take a few side quests — judging by the results from HowLongToBeat.com. That's enough to last at least a month if players treat the game like a job, but ideally, it can take players through March.
The "Yakuza" franchise is a much bigger project and will take more than 367 hours to complete. If playing it casually, that could last players until April or May.
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
A neverending story
'Genshin Impact'
This open-world role-playing game gave out "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" vibes early on but turned out to be a project that's entirely different.
It's an open-ended action role-playing game that's easy to get into and compelling enough to hold fans' attention with a smooth onboarding process.
Wherever players fire it up, "Genshin Impact" looks gorgeous, with an anime-inspired character design and a large roster of characters.
The overarching plot of the campaign is to find a lost sibling after being separated in a battle against an unknown god.
As a Traveler, players will explore the world of Teyvat in hopes of being reunited with their sibling, and they'll run across a plethora of allies — each with their own fighting style — in the campaign.
Time commitment: Endless. This is a game that will grow over time, but the good thing is that because it's on several platforms including iOS devices, players can easily pick up and play the game in shorter spurts.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Android and iOS
RELATED: 10 new or upcoming gadgets that are worth a closer look
EyeQue VisionCheck 2
EyeQue has announced EyeQue VisionCheck 2, a do-it-yourself smartphone vision test available for purchase on Kickstarter with an expected delivery of May 2021. The company touts it as the fastest, simplest way to order eyeglasses and track vision changes from home.
VisionCheck 2 is a lightweight optical smartphone attachment and mobile app (iOS and Android) with results expressed as EyeGlass Numbers, which is the lens-power needed to correct vision.
EyeQue's mobile app presents a vision test with two colored lines viewed through an optical smartphone attachment. While using the buttons on the device, move the lines closer together or further apart to converge to a single yellow line. The amount of movement of overlapping of the lines corresponds with the refractive correction needed for each eye. Using proprietary algorithms, the EyeQue app calculates the resulting EGNs into a traditional prescription.
EyeQue states "EyeQue refraction tests do not replace a comprehensive eye exam that evaluates ocular health and binocularity. EyeQue strongly recommends people visit an eye care professional annually to receive a complete eye health exam."
www.eyeque.com, $69
EyeQue/TNS
AndaSeat, a professional seating company known for manufacturing race car seats for BMW and Mercedes Benz, is bringing the technology to gamers with the Kaiser 2 ergonomic gaming chair.
Dark red with BMW leather and padded with 65-70Kg/M3 cold-cured and super high-density foam offers superior ergonomic comfort. Along with the looks, it's designed for sitting for long periods with all-important support for the spine.
The construction consists of high tensile strength carbon and a soft flexible coating with the feel of leather. With the dual ergonomic headrest and lumbar support cushions, it can be adjusted to support the lumbar and cervical spines simultaneously while the cushions conform to body curves.
The AndaSeat has a Z-shape design and the reclining can be locked in angles up to 160-degrees, And with a lumbar cushion giving a wider support range for the lower back it's adjustable to find the sweet spot for comfort.
The form-fitting memory foam headrest cradles the neck and head to ensure endless pain-free gaming sessions. Customizable armrests can be set in a variety of height and width adjustments for perfect mobility.
For safety, there's an SGS certificated Class 4 hydraulic piston and explosion-proof gas spring of international standards. And the high quality 22 mm diameter steel frame is covered by a lifetime warranty.
www.andaseat.com, $479.99
AndaSeat/TNS
Adidas smartphone cases
Adidas smartphone cases are now available for the iPhone 12, with the classic Adidas log on the back.
Choices include the Adidas Samba/Samba Rose Range case ($34.95) with a leather-like front and TPU edges with stitched-on stripes. The basic Trefoil Range ($17.95) is a glossy snap case, the AOP Graphic Range ($29.95) is made of ultra-light TPU, and the Handgrip Case ($34.95 ) has a comfortable grip with a back strip functioning as both stand and grip band.
www.adidas.com
Adidas/TNS
AirPop Pocket masks
Finding a perfect mask is a daunting task and probably impossible, but I did find AirPop Pocket masks to be safe with minimum discomfort.
AirPop masks are shaped to fill the hard-to-seal area around the nose bridge, with a cushioned seal. An innovative 3D dome design is engineered for ideal air exchange, resulting in a comfortable breathing pocket and reduced eyeglass fogging.
They are made in a variety of colors and have an integrated filtration system for protecting from 99.3-percent of particles and 99.9-percent of bacteria.
www.airpophealth.com, $24.99 for a 4-pack of adult AirPop Pockets
AirPop/TNS
FeiyuTech's AK2000C handheld gimbal
No one wants to watch a shaky, unstable video unless you are volunteering for a headache. An easy solution is FeiyuTech's new AK2000C handheld gimbal for a pro or beginner videographers.
If you're not familiar with a gimbal, this is a device that attaches to your camera or smartphone. It offers extra stabilization that eliminates jerky video. In a nutshell, a gimbal is an anti-shake tool that will help stabilize and smooth the video while you're in motion. You can tilt, pan, run, walk or move in 360-degree circles. Whatever you choose to use a gimbal will help. Even with a built-in stabilization that many cameras have, they can't beat the results of a gimbal.
While they aren't new, gimbals have grown in popularity and in some cases are a necessity to smooth out intentional and unintentional camera movement.
With the FeiyuTech AK2000C, you get a motorized three-axis stabilized handheld gimbal, which is easy to use for instant results and at an affordable price. Do a quick Amazon search for "Gimbal stabilizer for DSLR camera" and you'll find hundreds of choices, including some over $5,000, making the AK2000C at $299 even more appealing.
A big feature distinguishing the differences between gimbals is how much weight they can support. The AK2000C is good for up to 5 pounds. This includes the camera, lens, and any other accessory attached, making it ideal for most mirrorless camera setups.
The 2.5-pound AK2000C gimbal is well constructed with aerospace aluminum alloy, and a color customized (carbon fiber texture, navy camouflage, or rosewood pattern) handle. Tripod legs attach and fold out of the bottom, which when folded in, can be used as a monopod.
It's built with a three-axis motor lock and quick-release plate to securely attach to a camera's bottom tripod thread. A 3-inch OLED touchscreen is an app free easy-to-use control center for switching modes instantly. Inside is a rechargeable battery, good for about 7-hours of use.
Using it is easy. Once the camera is attached and balanced, power them both on and hold it at any angle. The camera will remain level and go with the flow. Use it at eye level, holding it up high, at ground level, or turn it on yourself for Vlog selfie filming.
I did a test run up and down my street, doing my best to make it miss and produce unwanted movements and jerkiness but it didn't. Going from a foot off the ground next to my dog walking and then running was more than entertaining. Even doing circles around my neighbor sitting in a lawn chair was smooth.
Whatever I chose, it worked flawlessly.
www.feiyu-tech.com
FeiyuTech/TNS
Mophie's 3-in-1 wireless charging stand
How does charging three different devices from one charger sound? For most, it's a welcome site to clean up a countertop of cable charger clutter. That's exactly what you get with Mophie's new 3-in-1 wireless charging stand.
This will become any household's go-to charging device for three everyday Apple devices at once. It's built with dedicated quick transport on and off spots for an iPhone, Apple Watch and wireless charging AirPods.
The modern looking acrylic-finished hub (black or white) measures 8-by-4-by-0.5-inches and provides up to 7.5W of power. Putting it together takes seconds; just click the stands in place for the iPhone and watch charging. The wireless charging cases for AirPods Pro or AirPods have their dedicated charging spot built into the flat hub.
iPhones with cases up to 3mm thick can be placed in portrait or landscape mode on the stand. Apple watches go on the built-in Apple Watch magnetic charger, which is angled for nightstand mode.
An AC adapter is included, which powers all three devices.
www.zagg.com, $139.95
Handout/TNS
Anker's PowerPort III and PowerPort III Nano
Charging smartphones is a daily chore, often multiple times a day. And for some reason we are all in a rush and even a panic to getting the boost of power.
So how does three times faster-charging sound compared to your old charger? That is exactly what you get with Anker's new PowerPort III ($52.99) two-port 60 watt and the tiny but powerful single 20-watt PowerPort III Nano ($16.99) chargers along with new Anker Powerline charging cables.
In 30 minutes of charging starting with a zero% battery, the Anker Nano will produce 53% of the charge, while the original 5-watt chargers only produced 17 percent.
With the PowerPort III, a pair of USB-C ports with Intelligent Power Allocation make it ideal for home or travel use for charging or keeping a MacBook powered up in use. According to Anker, this feature is designed to intermittently detect the power needs of connected devices and to identify the optimum power allocation, ensuring the best charge every time.
While connected, the power is adjusted every three minutes to ensure the device is charging safely. Interchangeable US, EU, and UK plugs make it perfect for charging in over 90 destinations across the globe.
The Anker Nano iPhone Charger is the same size (1.81-by-1.08-by-1.08-inches) as the original 5-watt charger but with the new technology producing 20 watts output for increased efficiency.
Anker's PowerIQ 3.0 technology ensures perfect compatibility with virtually all mobile devices including phones, tablets, smartwatches, charging earbuds, and USB-C laptops. A full list of compatible devices on the Anker site includes devices from Apple, Samsung, and others.
The new PowerLine III fast charging cables in USB-C to Apple Lightning ($19.99, 3-foot) and USB-C to USB-C ($17.99, 6 foot) are designed for efficiency and work in both the dual port and single port charger. Multiple sizes are available and all are constructed with quadruple bulletproof fiber cores, enabling them to up to 25,000 bends.
Twelve South's Curve Riser
Twelve South's Curve Riser is a desktop accessory you won't think you'll need until you use it and then you wonder how you ever lived without it.
Well, that might be a little exaggeration, but the Curve Riser premium metal stand is an outstanding addition to any workstation and helps declutter every desk. It's marketed for Apple iMacs but will work just fine with any display Mac or PC, TV, or anything needing a little lift. Once it's in place and your display is on top, the valuable desktop real estate it was taking up, is now back and with a little extra.
Keeping a display on top also provides a much better viewing height with a 4.25-inch rise, resulting in a more healthy neck, back, and eye-friendly, ergonomic viewing height. You also get a storage shelf for hard drives, hubs, cables or anything you can fit.
Small monitor-free computers, such as a Mac Mini can fit in the center shelf with an easy, open-air flowing ventilated area. Connecting cables is simple since the monitor is right there and can be run out of the back end of the open shelf where all the ports need a short connection.
Under the shelf, the base of the Curve Riser curves in to sit on a flat surface and offers more storage space.
The overall dimensions of the sharp-looking Curve Riser with a matte black finish are 4.2-inches high, 12.52-inches wide, and 9.65-inches deep. The shelf height is 1.75-inches. Displays with round or square bases up to 10-inches wide are supported.
Knowing these dimensions in advance is helpful to measure your area before purchasing.
Changing the height of a monitor can be very beneficial but can also work in reverse if the angle isn't comfortable. If it fits, the Curve Riser is a great choice.
www.twelvesouth.com $79.99
Jogoball
It's refreshing to use a new piece of technology and not stare at a screen. When I read about a new handheld game that asked what's small, round, and packed with 1,000 hours of fun for all ages and does not have a screen, it got my attention. Well, the answer is Jogoball, which was easy to figure out since the email was from Jogoball and parent company Yogibo.
Yogibo is a company known for lifestyle furniture and accessories with comfort and relaxation, filled with sensory and health benefits. The new line of fun technology starts with the Jogoball.
Jogoball is subscription-free and recommended for ages 8 to 98. The baseball-sized handheld smiling character gadget has a Bluetooth speaker and a gaming console built-in with 15 games with more than 1,000 hours of content so no two games are the same.
Since it doesn't have a screen, you need the companion app (iOS/Android) to choose a game.
Game choices include music (use Jogoball like an instrument to make music), active (endurance workouts), mind (trivia), and social games. Once a game is chosen an announcer introduces the game and instructions.
To play, just toss it between players, roll or tap it — just make it move to activate any of six built-in axis of motion detection sensors inside of the durable device. A protective blue Hugibo silicone skin covering keeps it safe.
LED lights on the Jogoball blink at different times based on the game being played. Inside is a rechargeable battery, and a micro USB cable is included for charging and loading free updates and new content.
Replacement silicone character sleeve covers are available for purchase ($29) to change the look of the Jogoball.
https://yogibo.com $119
Anker Spirit X2
I've had the Anker Spirit X2 total wireless sport earphones sitting on my desk for a few months and I'm glad I finally tried them. Aside from the great audio, they instantly solved a fear I have with my current true wireless earbuds.
The sport style true wireless earbuds are built with extreme durability, which ensures they won't fall out, at least not easily. With the Spirit X2s flexible ear hooks, they give you the peace of mind to know they won't fall off and roll down a street drain or anywhere else they can't be retrieved.
But there's a whole lot more to like about the Spirit X2s. If you're a bass lover, these are for you. Each earbud has a 12 mm oversized driver and Anker BassTurbo. This is done with construction and technology where an acoustic chamber is built behind the driver, resulting in a powerful bass resonance. Anker's BassUp technology uses a custom algorithm to add more bass.
With SweatGuard technology and an iP68 sweat and dustproof rating, along with the secure fit, they are ideal with any active lifestyle. With the ear-hooks and their submarine structure and hydrophobic nano-coating, Anker feels they will last 100 times longer compared to other ordinary true wireless earbuds.
Handsfree calls are crystal clear with noise reduction technology to remove background sound. And with Qualcomm aptX audio technology, the Spirit X2 delivers exceptional, lossless sound quality with the Bluetooth connection.
Along with the earbuds, the box is filled with everything you need to have the right fit for almost any use. This includes Soundcore five sizes of ear-tips and three sets of ear-wings. A charging case and a USB-C charging cable are also included.
A single charge will last for nine hours of play, with another 36 hours from the charging case.
www.soundcore.com $79.99
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