Blue Monday got you down? Why not cheer yourself up by playing one of these great games?
We’ve searched high and low through our gaming libraries and picked a selection of titles that are sure to fight off a bad case of the grumpies. From relaxing deep-sea fishing, D&D inspired RPGs, farming sims, to chaotic FPS, there is a game in our list for everyone.
What is Blue Monday?
Blue Monday takes place on the third Monday in January and is considered to be the most depressing day of the year. The festive buzz is officially over, the Christmas decorations are back up in the attic, and your bank account has been emptied by purchasing endless snacks and shopping the sales. Not to mention the never ending rain. All of which can make you feel rather gloomy.
However, hope is not lost! We’ve got plenty of different ways in which you can fight off the blues and start to feel great again, including this collection of games, adding a touch of RGB to your set-up, and even some great gaming glitches and memes.
Dave the Diver:
Dave the Diver is an adventure RPG in which you can escape to the tranquil Blue Hole to enjoy deep sea fishing by day and sushi restaurant management by night. Play as Dave as you explore this ever-changing ocean packed with fish, turtles, and even sea monsters. Each day traverse to the sea floor armed with your harpoon to catch fish and uncover hidden treasures lurking at the depths of the ocean.
That’s not all! You’ll also have to ensure your sushi restaurant is thriving. Supply it with fresh fish every day to keep your customers fed and happy.
Official PC System Specification
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 Dual Core CPU or equivalent | Intel Core i5 –i7 Quad Core CPU or equivalent |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GT5 450 or AMD Radeon HD 5570 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750Ti or AMD Radeon R9 270x |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 10GB available space | 10GB available space |
Want to read more about Dave the Diver? You can just do that by checking out our September Indie Showcase in which we took a deep dive into Dave the Diver.
Baldur’s Gate 3:
Embark on a thrilling adventure this Blue Monday to fight off those gloomy feelings in Baldur’s Gate 3. This D&D-inspired RPG is set within the world of the Forgotten Realms in which forces of evil and corruption are threatening life itself. Choose from a selection of iconic D&D races and classes to create your character who will suddenly find themselves infected by a Mind Flayer parasite.
Venture on a journey throughout the Forgotten Realms to fend off the corruption and darkness that grows within you. As the corruption spreads, your power will increase, and you’ll need to be ready to pay the price. Build precious bonds and trust with the other members of your party as the conflict between devils and deities grows more complex.
Better still! Baldur’s Gate 3 features a dedicated multiplayer mode in which you can gather your friends and form your party. The perfect way to cheer yourself up this Blue Monday!
Official PC System Specification
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel i5 4690 or AMD FX 8350 | Intel i7 8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD RX 480 | NVIDIA GeForce 2060 Super or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 150GB available space | 150GB available space |
| Additional Notes | SSD required | SSD required |
Looking to cure your Monday blues and level up your performance in Baldur’s Gate 3? Take a look at our top five gaming mice for Baldur’s Gate 3.
Grand Theft Auto V:
Whether you want a detailed story campaign or the freedom of a sandbox, Grand Theft Auto 5 has it all! In the campaign mode, play as a young street hustler, retired bank robber, and terrifying psychopath, who have all found themselves tangled in the criminal underworld. Work together to pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive in a ruthless city in which everyone seems to be out for themselves.
Alternatively, in the dedicated sandbox mode, create your character and forge your own success story. Explore the dark corners of Los Santos as you embark on challenging, not always legal, quests to earn money. You’ll need plenty of it to spend on luxuries including supercars, exotic yachts, and of course plenty of powerful weaponry. Or even better, ignore the missions and create pure all-out chaos instead!
Official PC System Specification
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Quad Core CPU or AMD Phenom 9850 Quad Core CPU | Intel Core i5 3470 or AMD FX-8350 |
| Memory | 4GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA 9800 GT or AMD HD 4870 | NVIDIA GTX 660 or AMD HD 7870 |
| Storage | 110GB available space | 110GB available space |
Whilst we’ve seen ten years of GTA V, the long awaited GTA VI finally got teased back in 2023. Here’s our rundown of the teaser trailer.
Stardew Valley
In Stardew Valley, inherit your Grandpa’s old farm in Pelican Town to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Armed with a few hand-me-down tools and coins, set off to begin your brand-new life living on a farm. Learn to live off the land and transform the old forgotten overgrown fields into thriving crops and space for farm animals. Hone your skills in farming, foraging, fishing, mining, and combat as you explore each corner of this town from the Cindersap Forest to the dangerous mines.
As you work on your farm, you’ll also need to find your place within the town. There are villagers to meet, or even romance, and a community centre in shambles desperate for much-needed repairs.
| Minimum | |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Processor | 2GHz CPU |
| Memory | 2GB RAM |
| Graphics | GPU with at least 256MB video memory |
| DirectX | Version 10 |
| Storage | 500MB available space |
Can’t get enough of farming sims? Why not take a look at Fae Farm? A cosy and fun farming simulator with a magical twist that is sure to brighten your mood this Blue Monday.
The Finals
The Finals is a brand-new free-to-play FPS, perfect for those who want to cheer themselves up with some fast-paced action. Battle it out against other contestants in the virtual arenas that are inspired by real-world locations. Armed with plenty of unique weaponry, you aren’t limited to simply aiming and shooting. Let your imagination run wild in the name of victory by burning areas, sending wrecking balls into your opponents, and much more. How you play is entirely up to you!
You don’t have to battle it out alone. Team up with the squad in the dedicated multiplayer mode to see if you can reach The Finals.
Official PC System Specification
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 6600K or AMD Ryzen R5 1600 | Intel Core i5 9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 12GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 580 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
Looking to Play These Games?
Are you looking to escape the blues and play any of these great games, but don’t have a PC that is up to the task of running them?
Thankfully, at Overclockers UK, we’ve got a huge range of pre-built and configurable gaming PCs that are perfect for playing this selection of games. We’ve included one of our favourites below, but you can also choose to take a look at all of our PC systems by clicking the button.
Refract Gaming Jade Pre-Built PC
Designed for mid-tier gaming and budding content creators, the Refract Gaming Jade comes equipped with everything you need to play all your favourite games at up to 1440p resolutions. Harness the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU to unlock ultra-fast speeds and seamless multitasking, perfect for both work and play. The 1TB M.2 SSD and 32GB of DDR5 RAM ensure your gameplay won’t be interrupted by slow in-game loading times or latency, especially with support for AMD EXPO overclocking. What’s more, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti will render your gaming worlds in stunning photo-realistic quality with silky-smooth frame rates. Finally, with integrated RGB lighting the Refract Gaming Jade will look the part and effortlessly blend into your aesthetic.
- Pre built gaming PC
- Designed for mid-tier gaming and budding streamers
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti GPU
- 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD
- Integrated RGB lighting
You Are Not Alone
On a much more serious note, it’s important to remember that consistent feelings of depression, stress, and loneliness shouldn’t be ignored. Your mental health is vital and if you are struggling, remember you are not alone.
It’s important you reach out and talk to someone. This can be a family member, close friend, or a mental health organisation. We’ve listed a few charities down below that you can contact:
Your Blue Monday Plans?
Got any plans to fight off the Blue Monday feeling? Which games will you be playing to cheer yourself up? Let us know in the comments.
- 8 min read
Ruth Rowley
Author
Ruth has been with Overclockers UK for over a year and has gone on to write about everything ranging from in-depth hardware guides to monthly game releases.
Outside of writing blog posts, she can be found wrapped in a blanket with her black cat, engrossed in a book or playing life-simulation games such as The Sims, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
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