The 7 best video games to lose yourself in this summer

the witcher 3 wild hunt

Summer is here! But amid the hot weather and long days, sometimes there's no better feeling than heading indoors to cool down, sitting back in your favorite chair, and finding a great video game to play for awhile.

So if you're feeling physically and/or mentally exhausted from the summer, and you want something to lose yourself in Eminem-style, check out these 7 "big" immersive video games where it's truly easy to lose track of time:

1. "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt"

I'll admit: At first, I found "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" to be too big and too ambitious for the time I had available to play video games. But earlier this summer, I started the game from scratch and decided I wouldn't skip past all the dialogue, but actually let the game fully immerse me — and I'm so glad I did.

"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" is, simply, one of the best games ever made. It's got a little bit of everything: Action, adventure, storytelling, romance, strategy, and decisions that actually affect the world you live in. And the world, by the way, is the star of the show: You can get lost just wandering around the fantastical world of "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," through bustling cities, dark woods, quiet villages by the water, and more. It feels like you're living in a medieval, Game of Thrones-type European world, and there's nothing like it.

Available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

2. "Super Mario Odyssey"

"Super Mario Odyssey" is just a joy to play. I actually played this game late last year, in the midst of a bad illness, and this game totally made me feel better. I played the game to completion with my fiancée, and neither of us ever wanted to put it down until the adventure was finally over — and then after that, we still wanted to uncover all the puzzles and secrets the game had to offer.

If you want to be immersed in a fun, cartoony, and lighthearted world starring one of the most beloved video game characters of all-time, look no further than Super Mario Odyssey. An adventure like this is perfect for the long summer months.

Available on Nintendo Switch.

3. "BioShock: The Collection"

Want to sink your teeth into some great science-fiction/horror stories? Do you like games where you can find and wield new superpowers? Then the BioShock games are for you — and thankfully, you can buy all three of them in a package that's been remastered for current-gen consoles, called "BioShock: The Collection."

"Bioshock: The Collection" includes "BioShock" (the 2007 classic); "BioShock 2" (from 2010); and "BioShock Infinite" (from 2013). In the first two games, you're surviving the underwater city of Rapture; in the final game, you'll be traversing the airborne city of Columbia. All three games drip with mood and atmosphere, feel great to play, and look even better than they did years ago thanks to the visual improvements in the remastered package. If you've never played a BioShock game before, or it's been awhile, it's time to jump in.

Available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

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