It is officially summer holiday season and we’re thinking about a playcation with destination gaming.
As British Summertime can be so horribly unpredictable when it comes to the weather, it’s no wonder we want to get away from it all and relax with our favourite pastime, gaming. Enter the playcation and the concept of destination gaming. We’ve scoured Steam for a selection of games to take you globe-trotting from the comfort of your own gaming chair.
What is a Playcation?
First of all, if you’re new to the concept of a playcation, it is the act of taking holiday time for the sole purpose of gaming. An improvement on the staycation, if you will. During this time, you can binge-play your latest obsession or partake in a selection of games – there is no one way, or wrong way, to take your playcation.
Destination Gaming
For this year’s playcation, we thought it’d be fun to do a little globe-trotting. Destination gaming. The following five games will take you to far-flung corners of the world, filling your travels with adventure, peril, and excitement. What more could you want from your playcation?
Ancient Greece with Immortals Fenyx Rising
Immortals Fenyx Rising promises adventure, satisfying puzzles, and a healthy dollop of humour, all set to the backdrop of Ancient Greece. Your quest is to save the Greek Gods, who have been trapped by Typhon’s curse. As you free each God, you gain new skills and weapons, wielding iconic items from Greek mythology, such as Icarus’ wings and Pandora’s box. Of course, you get to square up against legendary beasts too, like harpies, cyclopes, and minotaurs.
Your travels will take you from idyllic spring gardens to harsh mountain tops. Along the way, there will be plenty to discover, from puzzle vaults in Tartarus to treasure troves guarded by fierce monsters. All in all, shaping up to be excellent playcation fodder!
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | AMD FX 6300 @ 3.5GHz Intel Core i5-2400 @ 3.1GHz | AMD FX 8350 @ 4.0GHz Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.4GHz |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Graphics | AMD R9 280x 3GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 2GB | AMD R9 290 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 33GB available space | 33GB available space |
| Sound Card | DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card with latest drivers | DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card with latest drivers |
| Additional Notes | Originally released for Windows 7 Can be played on Windows 10 and Windows 11 OS | Originally released for Windows 7 Can be played on Windows 10 and Windows 11 OS |
Japan and Hawaii with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth puts you in the sandals of Ichiban Kasuga, as he travels between Japan and Hawaii on a mission to find his mother. Whilst this may seem like a sombre storyline, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is full of colour and character, taking you on a rollercoaster adventure. Matching this energy, the game blends elements of JRPGs, side quests, and minigame mechanics to create an action-packed and varied adventure.
With beautifully detailed graphics, this game will truly transport you to the Hawaiian and Japanese locations and make this an immersive experience. From sun-soaked beaches to neon-lit streets, there’s a little bit of everything for all your playcation needs.
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 1903 64-bit | Windows 10 1903 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-3470 3.2 GHz AMD Ryzen 3 1200 3.1GHz | Intel Core i7-4790 3.6GHz AMD Ryzen 5 1600 3.2GHz |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB AMD Radeon RX 460 4GB Intel Arc A380 6GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB AMD Radeon RX 5700 8GB Intel Arc A750 8GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 82GB available space | 82GB available space |
| Sound Card | Windows Compatible Audio Device | Windows Compatible Audio Device |
| Additional Notes | 1080p Low @ 30 FPS w/ Balanced FSR 1.0 Requires a CPU which supports the AVX and SSE4.2 instruction set | 1080p High @ 60 FPS w/o FSR Requires a CPU which supports the AVX and SSE4.2 instruction set |
Renaissance Italy with Assassin’s Creed II
Stepping back in time once more, Assassin’s Creed II takes us to Renaissance Italy. Scale the beautiful buildings of famous Italian cities, while scoping out your next mark. This open-world adventure allows you to freely explore 15th Century Italy as Ezio, a young noble learning the way of assassins after his family is betrayed. You can progress the story at your own speed, or even spend a little down time immersing yourself in this beautifully detailed world.
Set at a time of growing art and culture with a seedy underbelly of corruption, greed, and murder, Assassin’s Creed II has plenty for you to sink your teeth into during your playcation.
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows XP / Vista* 32- / 64-bit | Windows XP / Vista* 32- / 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHz | Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.6GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ |
| Memory | 1.5GB (Windows XP) 2GB (Windows Vista / 7) | 1.5GB (Windows XP) 2GB (Windows Vista / 7) |
| Graphics | 256 MB DirectX® 9.0–compliant card with Shader Model 3.0** | NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT ATI Radeon HD 4700 |
| DirectX | Version 9.0 | Version 9.0 |
| Storage | 8GB available space | 8GB available space |
| Sound | DirectX 9.0–compliant sound card | 5.1 sound card |
| Supported Peripherals | Keyboard, mouse, optional controller | Keyboard, mouse, joystick optional Xbox 360 Controller for Windows recommended |
**SUPPORTED VIDEO CARDS AT TIME OF RELEASE: ATI RADEON X1950, HD 2000/3000/4000/5000 Series and NVIDIA GeForce 7/8/9/100/200 Series
Jungles to Deserts with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered
Take your globe-trotting goals seriously, with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. Three games in one, each of these classic Tomb Raider titles takes you across the world, navigating long-forgotten tombs in jungle lands, deserts, and icy tundras. As remasters, you get to relive these adventures in stunning new detail, too! Plus, all the expansions are included, so there is plenty to be getting on with during your playcation!
Of course, we can’t forget the various beasts you’ll fight along the way. Is it really an adventure if there aren’t T-Rexes to gun down?
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 7* 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 3240 AMD FX 4100 | |
| Memory | 4GB RAM | |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GT 730 AMD R7 240 | |
| DirectX | Version 12 | |
| Storage | 5GB available space |
The Open Ocean with Sea of Thieves 2024 Edition
Our final pick takes you on the open ocean. Sea of Thieves 2024 Edition is packed with all the pirate and nautical adventures you could want in a playcation. From the mighty kraken to fearsome skeletons and ghosts, there are plenty of escapades and treasure hunts to keep you busy. Plus, there is new seasonal content every three months, so you can keep the playcation joy going long after your holiday time is up!
Explore unspoiled islands, chart the sparkling seas, and discover everything this massive open world game has to offer. The vibrant and colourful setting is enough to make you forget the real weather woes of our summertime.
| Component | Minimum Specs | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Q9450 @ 2.6GHz AMD Phenom II X6 @ 3.3GHz | Intel Core i7 4790 @ 4GHz AMD Ryzen 5 1600 @ 3.6GHz |
| Memory | 4GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 AMD Radeon 7750 Intel A310 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 108 Ti AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 Intel A750 |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 100GB available space | 100GB available space |
Best PCs for Your Destination Gaming Playcation
To fully enjoy your playcation, you need a gaming PC or laptop to serve as your passport. Without one, how are you going to visit these wonderful, exotic lands? Of course, you probably already have a computer that is ready to take you on whirlwind adventures, but should you need an upgrade, we’ve got you. Our Refract and OcUK Gaming pre-built PCs are fully assembled, tested, and ready to ship – so there’ll be no delays on starting your playcation! Plus, all gaming laptops are eligible for next day delivery if purchased before the cut-off point. Your get away can start sooner than you think!
Refract Gaming Celeste Pre-Built PC
- Pre-built gaming PC – fully tested and ready to ship!
- AMD Ryzen 7 770X CPU with Zen 4 architecture
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU
- 32GB DDR5 RAM and SSD storage
- Covered by our three years parts and labour warranty
MSI Sword 17 Gaming Laptop
- 17” QHD+ gaming laptop with 240Hz display
- Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with Ada Lovelace architecture
- 16GB DDR5 RAM and NVMe SSD storage
- Optimised thermal solution for quiet and cool gaming
OcUK Gaming Calcite Pre-Built PC
- Pre-built gaming PC – based on our best-selling specs!
- Intel Core i7-14700KF CPU with hybrid core architecture
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super GPU
- 16GB DDR5 RAM and SSD storage
- Covered by out three years parts and labour warranty
Playcation Your Way
Make sure you’re playcation ready! We’ve got plenty more inspiration for your playcation gaming and round-ups of all the hardware you need.
Where Will Your Playcation Take You?
Let us know where your gaming will take you this summer in the comments below. I’m thinking of a cheeky week in the Old West on Red Dead Redemption 2.
PC specs are subject to change.
- 8 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK since 2020, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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