Gaming: Just playing these four colourful games could make you happy

The gaming world has its fair share of gritty shooters set in warzones and dystopian futures, but there are a few happy games that try to introduce you to a less ugly virtual world.

If you have been feeling the lockdown blues, or just need a little pick-me-up, these four titles take a break from the usual violence of video games. They are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. 

‘Rayman Legends’

Developed by the French studio Ubisoft Montpellier, Rayman Legends is a platformer that offers you dozens of levels to complete.

The levels are all set in different environments and with varying themes. In addition to making it to end of the level, you explore every nook and cranny to find hidden sections. This is where you can save cute little creatures known as Teensies.

Rayman Legends has vibrant visuals and a stunning soundtrack that matches the onscreen action. This allows for rhythm-based levels where the beat of the soundtrack guides your movements.

Best of all, Rayman Legends features levels from the previous title, Rayman Origins, so newcomers to the series can experience the fun they have been missing out on.

Rayman Legends is available on a wide variety of platforms including PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.

‘Fall Guys’

Fall Guys is the new kid on the block but has already managed to cause quite a stir. Since its release in August, it has amassed millions of players who find its fast-paced and quirky gameplay addictive.

Fall Guys is a multiplayer game that has you controlling a cute jellybean as you navigate obstacle courses and avoid elimination.

It throws in a few team mini-games as well where you must work together with strangers online to ensure victory.

The chaos and luck involved in Fall Guys is part of its charm. The mini-game sees dozens of jellybeans scrambling towards a finish line while contending with spinning beams, rotating platforms and slimy inclines.

If you have had a hard day, Fall Guys is the perfect game to throw on for some mindless fun.

‘WipEout: Omega Collection’

WipEout is one of PlayStation’s longstanding franchises. It has you racing futuristic anti-gravity ships around neon-lit courses. Along the way, you can collect power-ups that give you either offensive or defensive advantages over your competitors.

WipEout: Omega Collection is a PlayStation 4 exclusive that features remakes of WipEout 2048 and WipEout HD.

The games are pure sensory overload. The treat you to an up upbeat techno soundtrack that will have you nodding your head. They also flood your eyes with a slew of colours as you speed along futuristic racetracks.

It should be noted that WipEout is one of those games that are easy to learn but hard to master.

Therefore, if you are the kind of person who strives for a first-place victory in every race, be prepared to put in plenty hours of practice.

‘PUSS!’

Of all the games on this list, PUSS! is likely the most colourful. The developer is teamCOIL and it is available for PC gamers to purchase on Steam.

The gameplay is simple enough to grasp. You simply use your mouse to drag your cat through a labyrinth of levels that have obstacles and occasional changing pathways. Things get harder as you progress.

The visuals of PUSS! are vividly psychedelic and surreal. Sometimes, the visuals are intense enough to interfere with gameplay at times. It will leave you both bewildered and enchanted.

PUSS! has a psychedelic soundtrack to complement its visuals. It can go from cheery in one level to eerie in the next but on the whole it is an extremely happy game.

For some, PUSS! might be just a tad bit too out there. But, if you are just the right amount of weird, PUSS! will put a smile on your face for being so brazenly strange.