Photo Credit – Adobe Stock
Milo Caravello | Perspectives Editor
Video games commonly bring people together. Online games, couch multiplayer, and joining communities centered around a favorite game led to many friendships and connections. There are a variety of games which students remember most fondly.
Many students cherish Minecraft, a timeless classic. Officially released to the public in 2011, students recall growing up during Minecraft’s peak popularity in gaming communities and on YouTube.
“I’ve always remembered the early days of Minecraft,” Ava Hutko, a senior, said. “I feel like that’s a popular one. I don’t game that much, but I’ve always played Minecraft and still do. I remember the old graphics. It’s grown so much.”
From the blocky aesthetic to the calming music, Minecraft has cemented itself in the minds of teens and young adults.
“When I was younger, I played Fortnite and Call of Duty on PlayStation,” said a freshman student. “My brother and I played Skylanders and Pokémon, stuff like that. He’s into For Honor right now. I played Minecraft too, definitely nostalgic.”
In my personal experience, I am aware of how nostalgic and important games have been to me. I also made memories with my own sibling through multiplayer games, such as Skylanders. During the pandemic, my sister and I grew very close by bonding over video games such as Super Mario 3D World and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes.
Wii Sports were also memorable to us. When we had family over, we’d always play bowling on the Wii. “I remember we would mute the sound on the TV and play music instead. It felt like a big party,” Sienna Caravello, my sister, remembered.
Kailyn Knudson, a senior, also acknowledged the sibling bond games brought to light. “I used to play a Donkey Kong one, and there was a Spider Man one for the GameCube,” Knudson said. “I played with my siblings all the time. We played a lot of Minecraft too.”
Many students at Benedictine have fond memories from video games that allowed them to bond with others. Whether as sibling or a friend, sometimes the people who you never thought would be into video games are part of your favorite memories playing it.