Summer is a special time of year. School’s out, the sun’s out, and sometimes—but not always—things slow down just enough to let you breathe. Whether you’re heading to the beach, lounging by the pool, or just soaking up the extra daylight, summer has a feeling all its own.
But even when you can’t take a real vacation, the right game can feel like one. That’s why I’ve put together this list to highlight games that, in one way or another, capture the essence of summer and trick your brain into thinking it’s on holiday.
1
Golf With Your Friends
I grew up in a resort town, and one of the staples of the area was mini-golf. It’s a laid-back, all-ages pastime that fits perfectly between trips to the beach or strolls down the boardwalk.
Golf With Your Friends recreates that feeling to a tee. As the name suggests, it’s all about playing virtual mini-golf with up to 11 friends. The game offers a wide variety of official courses, many of which will remind you of summers past, whether through their playful settings or familiar hole designs. Thanks to Steam Workshop integration, you also have access to a seemingly endless library of community-made courses. And if you still can’t find what you’re looking for, the built-in Level Editor lets you serve up your own slice of summer.
It’s a game about good times and good company. You can sit back, crack a cold one, and laugh with friends as the hours melt away—just like those carefree summer nights.
Golf With Your Friends
- Released
-
May 19, 2020
- ESRB
-
E for Everyone: Mild Blood, Mild Fantasy, Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Blacklight Interactive
- Publisher(s)
-
Team17
2
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the game of the summer when it launched in March 2020. That just so happened to coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic, so for many, staying inside and playing Animal Crossing became a way to enjoy some virtual sunshine and socialization.
One of the game’s most charming features is that its seasons mirror real life. So when it’s summer outside, it’s summer in the game, too. The sun is beaming, the seasonal bugs and fish are abundant, villagers are doing aerobics in the plaza, and fireworks light up the night sky.
Unfortunately, the real-time seasonal system means you can’t rely on it for summer vibes during the colder months. But if you played during that unforgettable first summer, revisiting your island might just bring that warm, sunny feeling rushing back.
- Released
-
March 20, 2020
- ESRB
-
E for Everyone: Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
3
SUMMERHOUSE
Summer is right there in the name, and SUMMERHOUSE might be the most on-theme game on this list. Its own description calls it “a love letter to the feeling of long-lost summer afternoons,” and that’s exactly what it delivers.
SUMMERHOUSE is all about creative expression. You’re given tools to build and decorate cozy little homes set against bright, sun-drenched backdrops. It’s an ideal game for relaxing, unwinding, and letting your mind drift back to quiet summer evenings.
SUMMERHOUSE
- Released
-
March 8, 2024
- ESRB
-
e
- Engine
-
Unity
4
Keep Driving
Keep Driving was practically made to transport us “old folk” back to the good ol’ days. Set in the early 2000s, you’ve just bought your first car. It’s summer, and you’re young, wild, and free. Naturally, you hit the road, heading to a music festival on the other side of the country.
The gameplay feels like a modern twist on Oregon Trail. It’s a road trip RPG where you manage your resources, make tough choices, and chart your path across an expansive open world. Every decision matters, and the consequences of your actions slowly shape the story as you go.
Keep Driving captures the thrill and uncertainty of youthful summers—long, aimless drives, the feeling that anything could happen, and the lesson many of us learned from the reckless summers of our own youth: that actions have consequences.
Keep Driving
- Developer(s)
-
YCJY Games
- Publisher(s)
-
YCJY Games
5
Super Mario Sunshine
Super Mario Sunshine puts you in the shoes of Mario as he embarks on his own summer vacation on Isle Delfino. But instead of relaxing, he’s tasked with cleaning up the island after his mysterious doppelgänger makes a mess of things.
Armed with the F.L.U.D.D., a high-powered water cannon, you’ll travel across beaches, harbors, theme parks, and other sun-kissed locales, all while collecting Shine Sprites to restore light to the island.
Finish the game, and Mario finally gets to enjoy a well-earned break with Peach and friends. It’s nearly impossible not to feel the summer vibes radiating from Super Mario Sunshine.
Super Mario Sunshine
- Released
-
August 26, 2002
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone due to Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- Engine
-
unreal engine 4
6
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves lets you live out the ultimate pirate fantasy, sailing the open seas solo or with a crew of up to three friends. Your adventures will take you across a vast ocean as you dig up treasure, battle skeletons and sea monsters, and engage in ship-to-ship combat with rival players.
The visuals are particularly stunning; the water is arguably the best-looking in all of gaming. And the best part? It’s summer year-round in Sea of Thieves. You’ll visit lush tropical islands and soak in golden sunsets as you sail from one destination to the next.
There’s a fair amount of downtime between all the action, so much of your time is spent hanging out on your ship. You can catch up with your crew, play a tune on the banjo or drums, or cast a line and fish for tropical species. It’s a digital escape that truly feels like a summer vacation at sea.
Sea of Thieves
- Released
-
March 20, 2018
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Rare
- Publisher(s)
-
Microsoft Game Studios
7
Firewatch
Firewatch sends you back to the year 1989, where you play as Henry, a man who’s left his old life behind to work as a fire lookout deep in the wilderness of Wyoming. It’s a dry, hot summer, and your only contact with the outside world is through a handheld radio with your supervisor, Delilah.
Firewatch is best experienced blind, so I won’t spoil the details. Just know that it’s a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The interactive elements allow you to influence the story while exploring the beautiful Shoshone National Forest. It’s a relatively short game, one you could finish in a single evening whenever you need a quick, summer vacation-style getaway.
Firewatch
- Released
-
February 9, 2016
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Suggestive Themes, Nudity, Drug and Alcohol Reference, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
-
Campo Santo
- Publisher(s)
-
Campo Santo, Panic
8
Sunset Overdrive
Set in the aptly named Sunset City, Sunset Overdrive turns the entire metropolis into your personal playground. You’ll zipline, grind, and wall-run across the city while blasting away hordes of toxic mutants created by a contaminated energy drink.
The game never takes itself too seriously. It’s a colorful, chaotic, and over-the-top experience inspired by Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Prince of Persia, DayZ, and more. As it proudly describes itself, Sunset Overdrive is an “awesomepocalypse” of absurd fun that screams summer.
Sunset Overdrive
- Released
-
October 28, 2014
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Insomniac Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Microsoft Game Studios
9
Maneater
Maneater flips the script by putting you in control of a giant shark with a taste for human flesh. If you’re planning a beach trip anytime soon, you might want to skip this one.
You’ll hunt your way through vibrant coastal locations that feel like classic summer vacation spots. The locales are strikingly detailed, so much so you might consider planning your next holiday there… if they weren’t being terrorized by a man-eating shark.
Cruising through the water as the ocean’s top predator is just as fun as you’d expect. I’m not sure the humans swimming nearby are having quite as good of a time, though.
Maneater
- Released
-
May 22, 2020
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
-
Tripwire Interactive
- Publisher(s)
-
Tripwire Interactive, Deep Silver
10
Dead Island
The setting of Dead Island is the dream summer vacation—an island paradise where everyone’s there to have a great time—until everything goes horribly wrong. A contagious virus has turned nearly everyone into crazed, flesh-hungry zombies.
If you can look past the whole “undead trying to eat you” thing, the atmosphere still feels surprisingly vacation-like. You’ll scavenge beach resorts, hang out at tiki bars, and explore poolside villas—just with the added task of occasionally chopping up a few zombies. Before the outbreak, the fictional island of Banoi definitely seemed like a top-tier tourist destination.
Dead Island
- Released
-
September 6, 2011
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
-
Techland
- Publisher(s)
-
Deep Silver
- Engine
-
chrome engine
Whether you’re too busy for a vacation, short on funds, or the weather simply isn’t cooperating, taking a real holiday isn’t always in the cards. Thankfully, there are games that can simulate that summer feeling, all from the comfort of your home.
Related
12 Chill Games I Recommend Playing This Summer
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