The long months of winter can have you dreaming of better weather. When cloudy skies and icy roads are replaced by warm sunshine and blooming nature, the world feels alive again. The games on this list embrace the change of the seasons by having themes, scenes, or color palettes that remind us of the new beginnings that come with spring.
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When you’ve had enough of winter, these games will help bring you into a spring state of mind. From short games that won’t keep you inside for long to sprawling open worlds that have a spring art style, this list has something for everyone.
10Astro’s Playroom
Nothing feels like a new beginning as much as getting a new console generation. For the PlayStation 5, Sony surprised us with a free pack-in game that was far better than anyone expected. With light, enjoyable gameplay and levels that will give you a sense of adventure and accomplishment, Astro’s Playroom is a breath of fresh air.
This small experience is perfect for completionists that don’t want a game to keep them indoors all day anytime they even look at it. Memory Meadows and GPU Jungle boast spring colors and lush plant life that bring this game to life.
9Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Right as you enroll in Uva Academy and meet Director Clavell, your home in Paldea is filled with spring energy. People are dressed in long sleeves or shorts, the wind is breezing through Mom’s perfect garden, and Quaxly is playing in Clavell’s fountain.
Paldea is a picturesque spring, the sun is touching everything in sight and a new adventure is in the air. If you want a cozy game that uses spring colors and images, start your journey in Pokemon Scarlet or Violet and choose Sprigatito for a Grass-type companion.
8EA Sports PGA Tour
If you like the spring green of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, but you want more of a jump-in-and-play game loop, try EA Sports PGA Tour. Returning to the PGA Tour in 2023 after taking a break since 2015, EA Sports is back on the fairway.
With 30 beautiful courses, a single-player career mode, and online multiplayer, EA Sports PGA Tour is a relaxing experience with deep gameplay mechanics. Perfect your swing with a variety of clubs, shot types, and terrains. Enjoy the links at your leisure or qualify for the PGA Tour and compete against the pros.
7Super Mario Party
If a couch-coop game is more up your alley, grab your Joy-Con and try the board game-inspired Super Mario Party. In this game, up to 4 players can play through 5 game modes and 80 family-friendly minigames.
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Players can compete in the traditional free-for-all Mario Party, team up 2v2 in Partner Party, or have 4 players work together in River Survival - anyone missing on the couch can be filled by an AI-controlled player. Try the game mode River Survival, game boards like Megadruit Paradise, or specific minigames to give you all the bright spring visuals you may handle.
6Ghost Of Tsushima
The open world of Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most beautiful environments that video games have ever created. Stunning spring visuals are highlighted by golden yellow trees, tall white pampas grass, and vast fields of colorful flowers. Within this lush game world, Jin Sakai explores how to live as a samurai during a desperate wartime.
Barely surviving the Mongol invasion, Jin must assess the damage done to his home of Tsushima and regain control of the island from the savage Mongol leader. If you want a colorful natural world, engaging gameplay, and a captivating story that mimics the regrowth of spring, pick up Ghost of Tsushima.
5Splatoon 3
If Ghost of Tsushima is a little too heavy for your springtime fun, Splatoon 3 may be just what you’re looking for. Splatoon 3 is the essence of spring, a bunch of Inklings & Octolings that look like they’ve been cooped up all winter are finally unleashed to battle it out.
Teams of 4 compete to cover the play area with vibrant, overlapping colors and splat their foes. Armed with weapons that look like Nerf Guns & Super Soakers and kitted out in the coolest gear, Splatoon 3 is a stylized 3rd person shooter perfect for spring vibes.
4Horizon Forbidden West
Nature-rich environments, free-flowing water, and life growing all around are the essence of Horizon Forbidden West’s huge open world. Even the Red Blight that is poisoning and overtaking the land is teeming with lively spring energy.
Paired with fantastic gameplay and a deep story, Horizon Forbidden West is as enthralling as it is beautiful - a must-play game for PlayStation fans. If you want a bright and spirited open world to explore, Horizon Forbidden West will keep you engaged for as long as you’ll allow it.
3Nintendo Switch Sports
It’s no surprise that Wii Sports caught the world’s attention when it was released in 2006. The kinetic but simple gameplay encouraged more people to experience video games than ever before. With the Switch, Nintendo carried over the motion controls from previous console generations so that this idea could be reborn.
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Nintendo Switch Sports brings back some Wii Sports favorites, while also adding new games to the lineup. Bowling, Tennis, and Soccer lead the pack, topping the others in replay value and fun factor. With a diverse lineup of motion-controlled games, Nintendo Switch Sports offers short bursts of entertainment that make you want to get and play.
2MLB The Show 23
San Diego Studios brings us open-air baseball with The Show. MLB The Show 23 is a well-received game from a beloved franchise. This simulation baseball game was created to embody the sport as closely as it can. From life-like graphics, professional rosters, and precision mechanics, MLB The Show 23 is the most realistic baseball game on the market.
Nothing signifies the beginning of spring like the start of the Major League Baseball season (if that’s your thing). As the weather starts to clear up, play begins and baseball fans finally have a reason to get out of the house again.
1Pikmin 3 Deluxe
With bright aesthetics in lush outdoor environments, Pikmin 3 Deluxe is the quintessential game for spring. As outer space explorers who have landed on a foreign planet, you must control plant-like soldiers to solve puzzles, collect resources, and defeat enemies. Set in a garden with levels made up of nature puzzles, Pikmin 3 Deluxe looks, feels, and plays like a springtime adventure.
This strategy-adventure game will have you looking at your own backyard with a newfound attention to detail, seeing the micro-biome behind the scenes like never before. And if you enjoy Pikmin 3 Deluxe but are ready to head outside, Nintendo has a mobile spinoff similar to Pokemon Go - Pikmin Bloom.
