These new games (including a successor to ‘Wii Sports’ bowling) will keep you busy at home

We know. It’s summer, the school year has ended, and it would be really nice to spend some time out of the house right now. But with COVID-19 cases on the rise again, it’s probably a good idea to find some more things to do at home.

While new video game releases are in a bit of a lull right now (partly in preparation for the release of new consoles from Sony and Microsoft later this year), the medium remains an excellent way to keep yourself occupied at home. So here are some recent releases to help you kill time.

(If you need more suggestions, be sure to check out our earlier list from March and April.)

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Switch)

Board game nights are often a staple of family life, but we’ve all been staying home so much this year that some of you may have set your Monopoly pieces on fire at this point. So why not revisit some classics, albeit with a digital twist?

Clubhouse Games crams 51 games into one package on the Nintendo Switch. The majority of these games are tried-and-true classics from around the world. We’re talking chess, mancala, dominoes, blackjack, checkers, backgammon and many more that you’re likely familiar with. It also includes several games that you might not be familiar with, such as the Japanese card game hanafuda (which, fun fact, was actually how Nintendo got its start as a company way back in 1889).

One highlight of this collection, though, is bowling. That might sound odd, but for anyone who packed up or sold their Nintendo Wii years ago, here’s a more modern way to stand up and knock down some pins with the Switch’s motion-control-enabled Joy-Con controllers. While its options aren’t as robust as those of the classic Wii Sports title (frankly, I find it too easy to get a strike), it still feels like a fun blast from the past.

All games can be played alone against AI, and anything made for more than one player can be played together either locally or online. Since the Switch is portable, this could also be a great game to take on a road trip. It would sure take up less space in the car than 51 different game boards would.

The Last of Us Part II (PS4)

I’ll say this upfront: The Last of Us Part II is grim. Given the state of our world right now, its somber and often violent post-apocalyptic tale about revenge is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.

Oh, and that apocalypse? It was caused by a disease outbreak. So, just ... know that going in.

But if you do choose to take part in this journey, you’ll experience what many people will remember as a masterpiece in video game storytelling.

Like its predecessor, The Last of Us Part II could be likened to the Cormac McCarthy novel The Road (and its film adaptation). Yes, on the surface it’s about the aftermath of an apocalypse, but it’s actually a deeply personal story about relationships and adjusting to life in the shadow of what we knew as civilization.

But also: zombies.

The story focuses on a grown-up Ellie, who was a child during the events of the original game. Not long after the game begins, Ellie has to make her way to Seattle — a trip that she makes on horseback, trotting down highways that have long been covered by tall grass. Gameplay-wise, you’ll be sneaking and fighting your way through roaming groups of diseased monsters as well as militant and aggressive humans that will kill you in a heartbeat in order to survive. You’ll slowly uncover secrets as to who these others are, and you’ll have to survive by crafting medical kits, setting traps and being careful with your ammo.

I’m speaking very vaguely about the plot because while the game is fun enough to play, it’s really the story that serves as the driving force. Despite being a big-budget, major video game release, The Last of Us Part II shines brightest in its quietest, most intimate character moments. This isn’t just a story about monsters and the end of the world. It’s a story about love, parental figures, growing up and complicated relationships.

Also worth noting: The Last of Us Part II has an impressive and laudable list of accessibility options, including a text-to-speech feature, the ability to skip puzzles, high-contrast display options and the ability to adjust various aspects of combat (even down to whether or not enemies will flank you).

Pokemon Sword and Shield: The Isle of Armor (Switch)

Have you already “caught ‘em all” in the latest Pokemon adventure? Well, it’s time to get back out into the world and start exploring again, because for the first time in the series’ history, Pokemon has an expansion pack.

The Isle of Armor, the first of two pieces of downloadable content for Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, will take you to the titular new island full of new (and old) Pokemon to catch. You will also find new characters and quests, new customization options, new moves and new items.

You can buy this new content in a $29.99 Expansion Pass that also includes access to the upcoming The Crown Tundra content when it releases this fall.