5 Games that Will Help You Achieve Your New Year’s Resolution

It might come as a surprise to you, but 2021 is over. I know, we’re just as shocked as you are, but time does fly when you’re having fun, and have we had some japes in the last 12 months.

There are lots to look forward to in 2022, however, with the likes of Elden Ring, God of War Ragnarök, and Horizon Forbidden West set to take up a good chunk of everyone’s time. But what if you’ve sworn to yourself that you’re going to make some changes in your life this year? Does that mean that you’re going to have to give up video games? Or at the very least, significantly cut back on the amount of time you spend playing them? Absolutely not, because there are titles out there that will not only help you kill several hours of boredom, but that will also help you to form new habits, and if that isn’t a win-win situation, then I really don’t know what is. I’m Ashton from Triple Jump, and here are 5 games that Will Help You Achieve Your New Year’s Resolution.

Smokitten – Stop Smoking

If you’ve decided that now is the time to finally kick that smoking habit for good, but can’t stand the idea of chewing nicotine gum or getting one of those watermelon-flavored dry ice contraptions, then why not give Smokitten a go? Yes, it’s a mobile game…but stick with me here.

Available to download on both iOS and Android, Smokitten helps players to kick the habit by encouraging them to play the game rather than popping out for a cheeky smoke. The aim is to help a small cartoon cat to quit smoking (try not to think too hard about that one, I can assure you we haven’t) by playing a bunch of minigames. Smokitten tracks the number of days that the player has been smoke-free, and the longer you’re able to go without a cigarette (or other tobacco product of choice), the more the island will flourish.

Even if you don’t smoke, Smokitten is quite an adorable way to pass a bit of time; the artwork is lovely and the music is nice and peaceful, which is good for those who are trying to quit, considering just how stressful it can feel to give up tobacco. Hang in there, my dude, you’ve got this!

The Jackbox Party Packs – Socialise More

The past couple of years have been, well, a bit of a mess, and many of us have gotten quite used to staying indoors and away from other people. Fortunately, the world seems to be going back to normal, and that means that social gatherings are back on the table.

It can be hard to get back into the swing of things though, and some of us still feel reluctant to go out and socialize because we’ve gotten too comfortable in our own company. If this sounds like you, and you’ve vowed to go and hang out with people more in the new year, then you might want to fire up the Jackbox Party Packs. Not only are there a plethora of minigames to choose from across eight different Party Packs, but they can all be played using a smartphone, which means that even those who don’t know an analogue stick from a bumper can get right in on the action.

Whether you fancy a laugh with the likes of Quiplash and Joke Boat, want to get creative with Patently Stupid, or just feel like using Fibbage to figure out who among you is the best liar, there’s bound to be something to encourage even the most introverted of people back out into the world.

CodeCombat – Learning to Code

Perhaps this new year you’ve decided it’s time to learn a skill that will help you get ahead in the cutthroat world of data and programming by teaching yourself how to code. Sadly, though being a very useful skill to have these days, actually learning to code can be quite a dull affair, and no matter how many “fun” pictures and diagrams the authors have tried to include, that JavaScript for Dummies book just isn’t a page-turner.

Fortunately, the good people over at CodeCombat have you covered with a game that combines learning the likes of Python, C++, and Lua with all the fun of 2D dungeon-crawling.

Each level, players use their code of choice to program a path for their hero so that they can evade traps, battle enemies, and collect gems, which can later be traded for swanky upgrades like better weapons and cool armor. Admittedly, CodeCombat is a subscription-based game, though you can play a handful of levels for free to see if it works for you, not to mention that the monthly cost is less than the price of a hefty textbook, which, let’s face it, is only going to end up as an expensive coaster anyway.

Flower – Taking More Time to Relax

It’s fair to say that’s life’s been a bit stressful of late, and if you’ve been working from home, you might have found it hard to separate work from the rest of your life, and so have resolved to ensure that in the coming 365 days and beyond, you do more things that bring peace and happiness into your world.

There are a number of video games out there that do a great job of helping players to unwind, but none are quite as relaxing as That gamecompany’s 2009 release, Flower. The aim is to guide a petal through the air by tilting the PS controller, and pressing the buttons to make it move faster. Though there are levels within the game, there isn’t any way to fail them.

There are no enemies, no time limits, and no way for the flower petal to come to any harm. Instead, all you’re meant to do is navigate the petal through the game, bringing color and beauty to a bleak, washed-out landscape. So, the next time life is getting you down, pour yourself a nice big mug of cocoa, dust off that PS, and spend an hour with Flower just breathing a little joy into a slightly grey world.

Pokémon Go – Getting Outside

More Thanks to the internet, there are now fewer reasons than ever before to actually  go outside. After all, you can work remotely, order food online, stream multiple lifetimes’  worth of TV shows, movies, and other content, and even download video games.

If you so wished,  you’d never have to leave the house ever again. It’s for that reason that some of you might opt to  go outside more in the new year and finally blow out all of those cobwebs that have undoubtedly  formed after two years of not getting out much. The world can be kind of boring though, and the  best way we can think of to make it more exciting is to populate it with Pokémon.

Released in 2016, Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game that challenges you  to wander your local area in search of various different creatures. The game is free to play, and  really just requires players to get out there and find things. The game has become so popular that many skilled players have started to provide boost services that are very popular among players.  Pokéstops allow players to collect  items like Pokéballs which they can then use to capture the little critters, and by racking up  miles on foot, players can hatch Pokémon eggs. It’s probably the most fun you can have  outdoors that won’t cost you a single penny.