Viral outbreaks and pandemics have been the subject of many video games. Usually, the virus mutates and the infected turn into zombies or similar anomalies that your character must fight to save humanity.Resident EvilandThe Last of Usare a few that dealt with the mutating virus.The DivisionandSyphon Filtertackle the biological viruses that manifestasviral diseases that have no monster representation but are just as frightening and deadly. Who knew that in 2020, the latter would become our reality because of a coronavirus known as COVID-19. With no known cure, our only defense has been to wash our hands properly and quarantine.For many of us gamers, the term social distancing may be new, but the practice is not. As we find ourselves temporarily out of work or school and forced to stay home to keep the virus from spreading, it has been a challenge for some to find sanity in isolation. With no end in sight, social distancing practices will need tobe enforcedfor several more weeks, possibly months. Gamersof courseimmediately took to their favorite pastime to cope. Now, even theWorld Health Organizationis recommending people play video games to help cope with confinement.This is huge considering the World Health Organization (WHO) previously classified game addiction as an official mental health disorder. Ray Chambers, U.S. ambassador to the WHO recently tweeted support of continued social distancing by picking up a game to help save lives. He added the hashtag #PlayApartTogetherwhich is WHO’s movement uniting people around the world while asking them to keep their distance.

Several game companies including Activision Blizzard, Twitch, and Riot Games have joined the #PlayApartTogether movement. Through special events, exclusives, activities, rewards, the movement hopes to encourage players to exercise WHO’s health guidelines such as physical distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and other preventive actions to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The #PlayApartTogether movement is telling the world: “Wherever you are, whatever game you play, you can make a difference.” While we have always known the true power of games, it’s exciting to see gaming being universally praised as a powerful tool in taking down the ultimate boss known as COVID-19.

It alsohappens to bea very exciting time for games at the moment. Last weekAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsandDoom Eternalreleased,as well asnew DLC content forControlandBorderlands 3. This week it’s rumored that theModern Warfare 2remastered campaign will stealth release, possibly March 31. Or, if you like your video games to mirror your nightmares, I mean reality, theÂResident Evil 3remakeis out this Friday. So,what games are you guys playingto help you get through the coronavirus? Let us know in the comments.