Gaming, for me, is the future of entertainment.

I wouldn't call myself a hardcore gamer, but I'm enough into my games that I see the benefits in them when used in moderation. No, I don't mean to sit there and play them until the sun comes up, or all day, more so when used 1-3 hours a day as a form of healthy entertainment. A couple of years ago I tried to buck a trend in the charity sector which was quickly slapped down, that gaming can, and does produce positive results in the mind. Thought process, co-ordination, reflexes, and completely distracts you from your addictions. I would put my cigarettes on hold for at least 500% longer than I normally would have when playing games. Nonetheless, I required funding from older and more anti-gaming people in our industry, and to compensate my manager watered down my idea to the point that it was a shadow of what my vision was.

We didn't get it.

So I'm a gamer, and when I can I like to give a game here and there a bash to pass the time. There are a few of my favourites that I'm playing right now, and it's nicely distracting me from the pressures of life late at night, when there's only me and my thoughts left.

Mass Effect Andromeda

Regrettably this is my first mass effect title. Wow! This has blown my socks off. I'm glad I bought it really. By far, one of the best story rich titles out there. I uhmmed and aahhhed about buying this for about 2 months until I took the plunge. I was literally amazed. It blew my mind away. I'm not generally a space farer, but this game has encouraged me to look into more titles. I've also had to back off from playing this a little because I was starting to have dreams about it lol.

Max Payne 3

Damn, this was the game that got me back into gaming after an absence about 5 years. I still replay max payne 3 today because it's amazing, bloody, and vicious. Slow bullet shots, exit wounds cinematic views, this is a game for those that are a fan of the original series (yes, I was too). If you like south america, drugs, gang violence and faction police groups this game is definitely for you. Oh, and hardcore violence!

Just cause 3

One of my favourites to play right now. If it can be destroyed? It can be destroyed. Buildings, gas tanks, sattelite dishes, you name it, you can bring it tumbling down with the arsenal you have at your disposal. The map in here is the largest I've ever seen, it is literally massive. Takes a good long while to travel the length and breadth by jet. This is by far my favourite open world game, GTA V is good and all, but there's so much to do in here. You can hurtle your jet into a bridge and parachute to safety whilst you watch it crumble behind you.

Ghost Recon Wildlands

This is my favourite tactical shooter right now. Take an entire region out without them knowing that you existed, or were there in the first place. I'm playing this right now, it's my go to game after I've finished with steemit at night. I must admit I do like the sneakiness and subterfuge of this game. Definitely not a game to be jumping in all guns blazing!

Last but not least. Watchdogs 2

Quite enjoying this right now, although I don't quite agree this is what an elite hacker team would be like. Nevertheless I'm having an enjoying time taking down big government from the inside. If it's something I can't do it in real life I may as well fantasise it, right? :)