Bust your boredom with these fun video games

Whether you’re playing alone or with three friends, “Super Mario 3D World” is easily one of the better Mario games to be released in recent history. You’ll run and jump your way through dozens upon dozens of wonderful, colorful Super Mario stages, encountering new twists and surprises right up until the final level.

Unfortunately for some, the game originally came out exclusively for the Wii U console, which did not sell as well as Nintendo would have liked. Now it’s made its way to the Switch, which should open it up to a wider audience.

If you’re an old-school gamer that misses the roleplaying games of the Super Nintendo era, “Bravely Default II” is likely up your alley. It’s as if the Final Fantasy series went back to its ’90s gameplay roots but with a storybook-esque graphical overhaul that takes advantage of the more modern Nintendo Switch hardware.

Fair warning: The game does also have elements of an old-school RPG, so you’ll spend a lot of time walking back and forth in dungeons trying to get into fights with monsters just so you can level up before facing off against a boss. Still, nostalgia is a powerful drug, so there are plenty of people (myself included) for whom that game play is weirdly relaxing.

This is the game all the cool kids on Twitch are playing right now. “Valheim” is like if someone took the survival elements of games like Rust and Ark and added Vikings. You must hunt, fight and build your way through a randomly generated world.

The game is currently unfinished (available in early access on Steam), but it’s found its way into a lot of people’s hearts already. It can be played online with up to 10 people.

“Control” is getting a new lease on life on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with improved graphics and frame rates thanks to the power of the new consoles.

This supernatural action game is intentionally (and amazingly) weird, drawing on all the intrigue of stories like “Twin Peaks” and “The X-Files” and pairing it with stellar shooting and some really fun paranormal powers.

Do you like Greek mythology and “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild”? Do you want to play a colorful open world game in which you can fly? Then this is the game for you.

While it has some suggestive content and off-color jokes, “Immortals Fenyx Rising” is a somewhat more family-friendly alternative to the most recent Assassin’s Creed games.

As a teen, the “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” games almost got me into skateboarding. Almost. The problem, though (aside from my complete lack of balance and fear of injuring myself), is that unlike in a video game, I can’t grind my way through an abandoned mall or through a secret lab at Roswell.

“Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2” is, in many ways, an ideal remake. It doesn’t just mimic the original gameplay with a fresh coat of paint. It re-creates these classic games in the way you remember them playing. Improvements made in later games have been retrofitted (including the revert from “THPS3”), and pulling off tricks across iconic levels feels fantastic. All of the levels from the first two games are present here, alongside a decent level creator and some fun online multiplayer modes. Much of the memorable pop music soundtrack has made the transition, too. Given the disappointing recent history of skateboarding video games, the fact that the developers stuck the landing on this one feels somewhat miraculous.

Speaking of “Zelda,” it sounds like we may still be waiting for a little while until we see the next great adventure in that series. The latest original game to grace Nintendo Switch doesn’t even have the name “Zelda” in the title, and for good reason: It’s an action game in the vein of “Dynasty Warriors” in which you spend hours mowing down hundreds upon hundreds of enemies in a story that serves as a sort of prequel to “Breath of the Wild.”

Still, it has enough of the right “Zelda” elements in it to tickle the right parts of my brain, and as I celebrate the series’ 35th anniversary this year, I’m willing to spend time with just about any “Hyrule”-based gameplay I can get my hands on.

Despite the name, this game doesn’t always take itself too seriously.

There is a quite serious plot involving global espionage and conspiracy that has the gravitas of a Jason Bourne story, but underneath that is a game in which you can take out your target with a unicorn horn while dressed as a hipster photographer.

Even though the original PlayStation console is only about 25 years old, this retro version is available, and at a reasonable price. It comes preloaded with 20 retro games that PlayStation fans will love seeing again. It includes two controllers, so you can play with a friend. There is no AC adapter included with this console, so you’ll have to supply your own.

Nintendo has fully embraced the retro gaming market, releasing a few different vintage consoles featuring a number of highly popular games, including Super Mario Bros.

Fans of the original game will have a lot of fun with this retro handheld console. Though the built-in screen is small, the console includes extra features to expand on the original games. And it’s available at a low price.

Originally, Neo Geo made full-size arcade games, so it didn’t have a console for home use. Now, gamers can buy a portable Neo Geo console that gives access to these vintage games, such as Aero Fighters.

This handheld device includes controllers, a built-in screen and an HDMI port for connecting to your television, though the graphics are poor when displayed on a modern TV.

Nintendo made home exercise waves years ago with Wii Fit, but if you ask me, it’s outdone itself this time with Ring Fit Adventure for the Nintendo Switch.

The main gameplay answers the age-old question, “What if, in order to attack enemies in a video game, you had to do a lot of squats?”

One of virtual reality’s shiniest gems, Beat Saber is an addictive rhythm game that lets you burn calories, enjoy great music and feel like a Jedi all at once.

Similar to games like Rock Band or Dance Dance Revolution, the point of Beat Saber is to hit specific notes in time with a beat. What makes this game unique, however, is that you are holding two (virtual) lightsaber-like blades with which you need to slash notes up, down, left or right. That’s a good enough workout for the arms, but your legs will get in on the action, too, as you duck and dodge your way past obstacles as songs play.

Both boxing and dancing can be great ways to stay in shape, so Nintendo combined the two in Fitness Boxing and the new Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise. Taking a Nintendo Switch controller in each hand, you will jab, weave and uppercut various boxing-related icons in time with music.

It’s a bit simplistic and not as innovative or engaging as Ring Fit Adventure, but it serves its purpose and is easy to pick up and play for quick sessions.

If your entire workout goal is to get moving with some popular music, the Just Dance series has been serving that purpose admirably for years. Featuring a wide array of current songs from artists such as Billie Eilish, Lizzo and Harry Styles, Just Dance is all about, y’know, making you dance.

If you’re playing on the Nintendo Switch, you can use the system’s included motion controllers, but you also have the option of connecting with your phone via the Just Dance mobile app, so just about anyone can hop in and play — for better or worse. The downside to this control method is that the tracking of your movements is less than perfect (and limited to just one arm, rather than your entire body), so Just Dance can often feel less like a game and more like an encouraging dance workout video.

This one will actually force you to leave your house, but it doesn’t require interacting with people.

Zombies, Run! is an old favorite for joggers who want to spice up their runs with the threat of a zombie apocalypse.

If you’re not interested in running, dancing or strength training, it’s probably still a good idea to get outside.