The game library

Pick a game. Or figure out what sounds fun.

Search popular games, filter by the system you own, and see what each one is actually like before you lose an evening going down a rabbit hole.

Open the game finder
29game profiles
5detailed hubs
1plain-English library

This is a practical starting shelf, not a popularity contest carved in stone. We will keep adding the games people actually need help with.

Browse popular and frequently searched games

What do you feel like playing?

Every profile gives you the short version, the play style, and the first thing worth knowing.

29 games found
Full hub + archive

Minecraft

Build almost anything in Creative mode, gather and survive—or browse Shannon's original builds, server stories, and screenshots from 2013–2019.

Play
Solo · co-op · online
On
PC · console · mobile

Know first: Java and Bedrock can behave differently, so include your edition when searching for help.

Open Minecraft hub
Full hub

Valheim

A Viking survival game where preparation, food, shelter, exploration, and boss progression matter more than rushing.

Play
Solo · online co-op
On
PC · Xbox

Know first: The Rested effect and the right food make nearly everything easier.

Open Valheim hub
Full hub

Splatoon 3

A colorful team shooter where covering ground, moving through ink, and controlling space can matter more than getting splats.

Play
Solo · online teams
On
Nintendo Switch

Know first: In Turf War, painted ground wins the match—not the elimination count.

Open Splatoon hub
Full hub

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

An open-world action RPG built around fortress battles and a Nemesis system that turns enemy Orcs into recurring characters.

Play
Solo
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Main-campaign, Blade of Galadriel, and Desolation of Mordor answers are not interchangeable.

Open Shadow of War hub
Free to play

Fortnite

A constantly changing collection of online modes, including Battle Royale, Zero Build, LEGO adventures, and creator-made experiences.

Play
Solo · squads · online
On
PC · console · mobile

Know first: Check the mode, team-fill setting, and Build or Zero Build label before you queue.

Free platform

Roblox

A platform containing millions of different player-made experiences rather than one single game with one set of rules.

Play
Mostly online
On
PC · console · mobile

Know first: Search help using the exact experience name, not only “Roblox.”

Open world

Grand Theft Auto V & Online

The story game follows three criminals in Los Santos; GTA Online is the separate, enormous multiplayer world built around jobs, businesses, vehicles, and heists.

Play
Solo story · online
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Say whether you mean Story Mode or GTA Online—and which console generation.

Open-world western

Red Dead Redemption 2

A deliberate, story-heavy western with exploration, hunting, camp systems, side encounters, and a separate online mode.

Play
Solo story · online
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Story chapters unlock systems gradually; a missing feature may simply not be available yet.

Fantasy RPG

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A huge fantasy role-playing game where you can follow the main story, join factions, explore dungeons, craft, or ignore destiny for 200 hours.

Play
Solo
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Know first: Edition, mods, and quest stage matter when diagnosing a bug.

Action RPG

Elden Ring

A demanding open-world fantasy RPG that rewards exploration, build experimentation, patience, and knowing when to leave a boss for later.

Play
Solo · online co-op
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Your weapon upgrade level often matters more than adding a few character levels.

Choice-heavy RPG

Baldur’s Gate 3

A party-based, turn-based RPG where exploration and conversation choices can solve problems as often as combat does.

Play
Solo · co-op
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Save often, read conditions, and use the environment; brute force is only one answer.

Cozy farm life

Stardew Valley

A farming and town-life game with crops, fishing, mining, relationships, secrets, and enough freedom to set your own pace.

Play
Solo · co-op
On
PC · console · mobile

Know first: You cannot permanently fail the story by having an inefficient first year.

Life simulation

The Sims 4

A life sandbox for creating people, building homes, pursuing careers, causing chaos, and adding more systems through packs.

Play
Solo
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Name the expansion or game pack involved; many features do not exist in the base game.

2D sandbox

Terraria

A 2D exploration, building, and boss-progression sandbox that looks simple until its crafting trees and world states get wonderfully enormous.

Play
Solo · co-op
On
PC · console · mobile

Know first: World difficulty and character difficulty are separate choices.

Creature survival

Palworld

An open-world survival game combining creature collecting, combat, crafting, exploration, and automated base work.

Play
Solo · online co-op
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Many problems are server, version, or host-setting specific—include all three.

Open-world adventure

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

A vast Hyrule adventure built around exploration, physics, building contraptions, shrines, sky islands, and the underground Depths.

Play
Solo
On
Nintendo Switch

Know first: There are usually several valid solutions; if one device fails, simplify it.

Cozy island life

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A real-time island life game about collecting, decorating, befriending villagers, building the museum, and making a tiny world feel like yours.

Play
Solo · local · online
On
Nintendo Switch

Know first: One island is shared by every player profile on the same console.

Wizarding RPG

Hogwarts Legacy

A solo action RPG focused on spell combat, exploration, puzzles, classes, gear, and the world around Hogwarts.

Play
Solo
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Know first: Several systems unlock through main quests, so missing options may be story-gated.

Open-world RPG

Cyberpunk 2077

A story-driven action RPG in Night City with guns, hacking, stealth, cyberware, vehicles, and dramatically different builds.

Play
Solo
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Include your game version and whether Phantom Liberty is installed when following build advice.

Space sandbox

No Man’s Sky

A giant space exploration sandbox with planets, ships, bases, crafting, expeditions, trading, combat, and years of layered systems.

Play
Solo · online co-op
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Know first: Mode, expedition status, and update version can completely change the right answer.

Co-op shooter

Helldivers 2

A chaotic four-player mission shooter where teamwork, loadouts, objectives, and surviving your friends’ explosives all matter.

Play
Online co-op
On
PC · console

Know first: Friendly fire is always part of the plan, so communicate before calling in something enormous.

Free team shooter

Apex Legends

A fast squad-based battle royale where each Legend has distinct abilities and smart movement and positioning beat panic shooting.

Play
Online squads
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Know first: Ping what you see; useful communication does not require voice chat.

Hero shooter

Overwatch

An objective-based team shooter built around swapping heroes, combining abilities, and understanding tank, damage, and support roles.

Play
Online teams
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Know first: Winning the objective matters more than chasing one enemy across the map.

Car soccer

Rocket League

Soccer with rocket-powered cars: simple to understand, difficult to master, and much easier once you stop following the ball in a crowd.

Play
Local · online teams
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Know first: Rotation and leaving boost for teammates help sooner than fancy aerial tricks.

Asymmetrical horror

Dead by Daylight

Four survivors repair generators and escape while one killer hunts them; perks, maps, timing, and teamwork create the real depth.

Play
Online multiplayer
On
PC · console

Know first: State whether you play survivor or killer; the same match looks completely different.

Free battle royale

Call of Duty: Warzone

A fast online Call of Duty experience with battle royale and rotating modes, custom loadouts, contracts, and squad play.

Play
Online solo or squads
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Know first: Mode names, weapon balance, and menus change often—include the current season in a help search.

Kart racing

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

An accessible racing game with deep shortcuts, drifting, kart combinations, chaotic items, and excellent same-couch multiplayer.

Play
Solo · local · online
On
Nintendo Switch

Know first: Turn Smart Steering off if it prevents you from taking a shortcut you actually want.

Creature RPG

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

An open-world Pokémon adventure with three main story paths, catching, team building, multiplayer exploration, and Tera Raid battles.

Play
Solo · online features
On
Nintendo Switch

Know first: Name your version and whether the question is about the base game or DLC.

Co-op chaos

Overcooked! 2

A frantic cooking game about dividing jobs, communicating clearly, and trying not to throw the rice into a pit while the kitchen moves.

Play
Local · online co-op
On
PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Switch

Know first: Assign jobs before the timer starts; everybody doing everything is usually the disaster.

Why these games?

This first shelf mixes games Shannon already covers with long-running favorites and games appearing on current Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo popularity lists. It is a useful launch set—not a claim that every gamer wants the same thing.