Here at Overclockers UK, we’re big supporters of taking a playcation. There are no long car rides or plane journeys, uncomfortable weather, and most importantly no family gathering to attend! Instead, you can spend your holiday venturing through a vibrant gaming world, saving humanity from a deadly threat, living your dream farm life, or exploring the deep sea.
To further inspire you into taking a playcation this year, we’ve put together this list of our top games that are jam-packed with colourful summer vibes.
Coral Island:
Leave the big city behind and start a new life on Coral Island. Work to create the idyllic farm you’ve always wanted by tending crops, nurturing animals, and building unbreakable bonds with the natural world around you. What’s more, you can help to revitalise the nearby town by forging relationships with its vibrant community, rebuilding its precious coral reefs, and increasing the town’s rank.
With over seventy townsfolk to meet and befriend, you can find out more about them and even find the one!
Official PC System Specification:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel i3 processor or equivalent | Intel i7 processor or equivalent |
| Memory | 6GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or equivalent | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or equivalent |
| DirectX | Version 10 | Version 10 |
| Storage | 8GB available space | 8GB available space |
Top PC to Play Coral Island:
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Gaming Laptop:
Escape to Coral Island wherever you go with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 Gaming Laptop. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen R7-7735HS, utilise Zen 4 architecture to unlock seamless multitasking, enhanced efficiency, and ultra-fast speeds. What’s more, take advantage of the NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, with enhanced Ray Tracing and AI capabilities, to enjoy photo-realistic visuals and silky-smooth frame rates. All of which is kept cool and quiet thanks to the integrated ROG Intelligent Cooling thermal solution. Built utilising high-powered fans, liquid metal compounds, and powerful self-cleaning thermal modules, heat is effectively dissipated away from your vital components.
Lastly, thanks to the 14.0’’ QHD+ display and up to 165Hz refresh rates, unlock high-definition images and videos, along with silky-smooth frame rates.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
- 14.0” QHD+ display
- Up to 165Hz refresh rates
- Includes an AMD Ryzen R7-7735HS CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag:
Set in the year 1715, in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, pirates rule the Caribbean. Having established their own lawless Republic, corruption, greed, and cruelty is everywhere. You must play as Edward Kenway, a pirate captain who has been trained by the finest Assassins. Command your ship, the Jackdaw, as you embark on a whirlwind adventure.
Utilise a unique arsenal of weaponry, including the iconic Hidden Blade of the Assassin’s Order, as you loot underwater shipwrecks, vibrant cities, untamed jungles, and hidden ruins.
Official PC System Specification:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 8 | Windows 8 |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 or AMD Athlon II X4 620 | Intel i5 2400S or AMD Phenom II x4 940 |
| Memory | 2GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 or AMD Radeon HD 4870 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 or AMD Radeon 5850 |
| Storage | 30GB available space | 30GB available space |
Top PC to Play Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag:
OcUK Gaming Radiance Crossbow Configurable PC:
Armed with the OcUK Gaming Radiance Crossbow you’ll have everything you need to enjoy superior performance in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 5500 CPU unlock blisteringly fast performance of up to 4.2GHz in both single- and multi-threaded tasks alike. This is enhanced one step further thanks to 16GB DDR4 RAM. Wave goodbye to pesky slow in-game loading times or input lag, for an optimised gaming experience.
What’s more, thanks to the NVIDIA RTX 4060 all your high-sea adventures will be rendered in realistic quality, complete with smooth frame rates. Finally, with both a 1TB M.2 SSD and optional secondary SSD and HDD, you’ll have all the storage space you need for Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and all your other favourite games.
The OcUK Gaming Radiance Crossbow is a configurable system, which means you can opt to adjust the base hardware specification to suit your individual preferences. This includes customising the case, upgrading the processor, memory, and graphics card, along with opting for additional storage drives.
OcUK Gaming Radiance Crossbow
- Configurable gaming PC
- Includes an AMD Ryzen 5500 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU
- Up to 32GB DDR4 RAM
- Option to add further storage drives if required
Dave the Diver:
Enjoy some deep-sea exploration in Dave the Diver! Build your very own successful sushi restaurant by night and enjoy some deep-sea fishing by day. As you explore the ocean, you’ll need to unravel the mysteries that lie at the depths of the Blue Hole, whilst ensuring your sushi restaurant thrives.
Utilise your trusty harpoon and other weaponry to catch fish and other creatures, both of which you can serve up at the restaurant. Collect vital resources to upgrade and forge new unique weaponry to offer you distinct advantages when catching certain fish.
Official PC System Specification:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 Dual Core CPU or equivalent | Intel Core i5 or equivalent |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 16GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTS 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 |
Top PC to Play Dave the Diver:
MSI Stealth 16 Gaming Laptop:
With the MSI Stealth 16 Gaming Laptop, you’ll have everything you need to embark on your deep-sea sushi adventure in Dave the Diver. Take advantage of the Intel i7-13700H CPU and its hybrid fourteen-core and twenty-four thread architecture, to enjoy ultra-fast performance. Plus, utilise the NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU and unlock enhanced Ray Tracing and AI capabilities. Become immersed in all your adventures to the Blue Hole thanks to stunning photo-realistic visuals and silky-smooth frame rates.
All this powerful hardware is kept performing at optimum temperatures thanks to the integrated Cooler Boost 5 thermal solution. Built with a combination of powerful fans and high-quality heat pipes, temperatures are kept down to a minimum, even during heavy-duty workloads.
MSI Stealth 16
- 16.0” QHD+ display
- Up to 240Hz refresh rates
- Includes an Intel i7-13700H CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU
- 16GB DDR5 RAM
Baldur’s Gate 3:
Gather your friends for the ultimate summer playcation and play Baldur’s Gate 3. Set in the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons, embark on an adventure full of fellowship, betrayal, and survival. Corrupted by a deadly mind parasite, you’ll be torn between your own inner conflict and the promise of absolute power. Will you resist the darkness and turn it against itself? Or embrace your corruption?
Create your very own character from a selection of D&D inspired races and classes. Craft your personality, traits, and backstory, all of which will alter your fate. As you hone your abilities and skills, venture through a vast and detailed world, full of a unique cast of characters and secrets for you to uncover.
Get your squad ready for your Baldur’s Gate 3 playcation by reading through our dedicated blog post.
Official PC System Specification:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel i5 4960 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 2060 Super or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 150GB available space | 150GB available space |
Top PC to Play Baldur’s Gate 3:
Refract Gaming Jade Pre-built Gaming PC:
Designed for mid-tier gaming, the Refract Gaming Jade is the perfect companion to take with you on your adventure through the Forgotten Realms. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 700 CPU, enjoy powerful performance and seamless multitasking. Thanks to Zen 4 architecture, this gaming PC delivers an optimised gaming experience. What’s more, with the NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti GPU, all your games will be rendered in stunning photo-realistic quality, with enhanced AI capabilities, including NVIDIA AI DLSS.
A part of the Refract Gaming range, the Jade pre-built system also comes with a three-year warranty, which also covers parts and labour, for extra peace of mind.
Refract Gaming Jade
- Pre-built gaming PC
- Designed for mid-tier gaming and budding content creators
- Includes an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti GPU
- 32GB DDR5 RAM
Stray:
Experience a vibrant cybercity from the eyes of a cat in Stray. Suddenly separated from your family, you are now lost and alone in a vast forgotten city. Roam the city high and low as you defend yourself against dangerous threats and uncover mysteries about the city and its droid inhabitants.
Your companion along the way will be the small flying drone, B-12, who will aid you in your quest to escape and reunite with your family.
Official PC System Specification:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel i5 2300 or AMD FX 6350 | Intel i5 8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |
| Memory | 8GB RAM | 8GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti or AMD Radeon R7 360 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 or AMD Radeon R9 290X |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 10GB available space | 10GB available space |
Top PC to Play Stray:
OcUK Gaming Karambit Configurable PC:
Ensure your gaming potential is up to scratch for your playcation with the OcUK Gaming Karambit PC. Armed with a hyperthreaded Intel i7 12700F CPU, unlock powerful blisteringly fast performance in gaming and streaming alike. All of which is boosted one step further thanks to 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Enjoy near-zero latency, input lag, and virtually zero slow loading times. In addition to this, take advantage of the NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti, built utilising cutting-edge Ada Lovelace architecture, enjoy mind-blowing visuals and buttery-smooth frame rates, for an immersive gaming experience.
As a configurable gaming PC, you can opt to customise the case, upgrade the memory and graphics card, along with opting for additional storage drives.
OcUK Gaming Karambit
- Configurable gaming PC
- Includes an Intel i7 12700F CPU and NVIDIA RTXX 4060 Ti
- Up to 64GB DDR4 RAM
- Selection of storage drives to choose from
In Need of Some Gaming Inspiration for Your Playcation?
Struggling to pick what game to explore for your playcation this year? Our top playcation games are sure to give you the inspiration you need!
Did you like this article?
PC specs are subject to change.
- 9 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.
Read More >>