10 Video Games That Will Consume Your Life
When in doubt, go live in a fantasy world for 200 hours.
The pure sense of escapism that video games can offer is truly unique and far exceeds the pull of films, books and television when it comes to immersion. Gaming gives us the chance to slip away into fantastical worlds for a little while, and forget about the mundanity of life by embarking on epic quests or just tending to some virtual plants.
You know, whatever floats your boat.
Whilst a couple of hours here and there never hurt anybody, some games demand a lot more time and commitment to get the most in return. It's a slippery slope however and before long those two-to-three hour stints turn into day-long binges where all responsibilities and chores are tossed aside in favour of the game.
The games featured here not only have addictive and rewarding gameplay, but are stuffed to bursting point with content that will ensure you spend all of your free time navigating their worlds, in search of that next objective to while away the hours.
These games will straight up consume your life.
10. XCOM Series
If you're the type of person who plays video games as a way of combating the stresses of every day life, then XCOM may not be for you.
However, if you're a masochist who loves a good challenge, then jump right in.
A perfect example of the 'just one more mission' approach to gameplay, XCOM provides an immersive, challenging and deeply rewarding experience that keeps the tension high throughout to ensure you keep playing.
As the Commander of XCOM, you must lead your hired soldiers into high-stakes turn-based skirmishes with the constant threat of perma-death looming over you. You begin to care about your soldiers, coming up with their backstories, loves, kinks and desires. So much so that you'll dread every order you give them, knowing full-well that you could be sending them to an early grave.
Alongside all the turn-based action, there's also base and resource management, research projects and weapon upgrades that keep you hammering away until the next UFO sighting drags you back onto the battlefield. It's so easy to find the hours slipping away as you plan ahead for future missions and uncover new and exciting ways of combating your enemies.
It's genuinely intoxicating stuff, but not for the fainthearted.