The 5 Games to Play on the 4th of July
Happy 4th of July, gamers! We’re looking forward to kicking back today doing our patriotic best to consume as much BBQ and spirits as we can to celebrate the day. But between unsanctioned neighborhood firework shows and waiting for ribs to slow cook we are also eager to enjoy the day playing some patriotic video games. Here now is our list of the Top Games to Play on July 4th.
Assassins Creed 3
It’s easy to dislike the Assassins Creed franchise. After all they come out faster than new entries to the Fast and the Furious films and have all started to blur together since very few risks are taken. AC3 however introduced a lot taking place during the Revolutionary War featuring NPCs such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, starring a Native American lead, and took combat the American frontier of 18th-century Boston. The game is built a new engine and despite a lengthy tutorial is actually quite good.
The history books had it wrong, Connor alone thanklessly killed thousands. Go ‘Murica!
Saints Row 4
Every Saints Row game has proven to be an incredible sandbox experience aimed squarely at coop gamers. While GTA gets bogged down in annoying buddy mechanics always asking Niko to grab a drink or an inspired but underutilized multi-protagonist narrative of GTA5, Saints Row avoids all of this focusing instead on making mindlessly fun games. Play as the President of the United States with all of the resources you can imagine taking on alien armada with the help of Keith David and the rest of the saints this July 4th. The They Live parody with Roddy Piper is worth the price of admission alone.
It’s a crime more people haven’t played these games
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Nazis, like zombies, have been gamings’ perfect cannon fodder for years to the point where it’s just not as rewarding anymore. Seriously our collective body count across Left 4 Dead, Dead Rising, and the Call of Duty franchises has to be in the tens of millions by now. But Wolfenstein: The New Order actually makes hunting Nazis feel fresh again thanks a great story and surprisingly fun game (the opening cinematic of comatose BJ recovering in the hospital is one of the best we’ve seen in a while). Fulfill your patriotic duty this holiday defending America against unstoppable odds.
I know, we’re as surprised as you. This game is actually quite good.
Day of the Tentacle
Tim Schafer’s outstanding sequel to Maniac Mansion hasn’t aged well but still stands on its own merits of clever puzzles and an incredibly strong sense of humor. Early on the 3 protagonists get split across time leaving slow-paced roadie Hoagie 200 years in the past working with the Founding Fathers as they draft the Constitution. What better way to conning Betsy Ross to make a tentacle flag?
More historically accurate than The Patriot – they should use this in schools!
Half Life 2
It’s a cheat as the game has nothing to do with July 4th and arguably doesn’t even take place in America, but its central story of an uprising fighting against a totalitarian society certainly has parallels to July 4th (a tea tax is just as bad as turning humans into husks). Really though, we’d take just about any excuse we can to play through Half Life 2, nature’s one and only perfect game, just about any day.
We always like a good fireworks show on July 4th
Happy 4th of July, gamers!
