It’s no surprise there’s been a surge in video game purchases and downloads since COVID-19 reared its ugly head. According to Bloomberg, Italy saw a massive two-thirds data spike through its main telecom networks in the early half of March, and it seems bandwidth-hogging online multiplayer games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty were behind that surge.

Speaking of Call of Duty, a March 13 tweet from its official account revealed that Warzone, a free-to-play battle royale spin-off, reached a record-breaking 15 million players in just three days following its March 10 release. (The previous record was held by Apex Legends, which saw 10 million users in three days back in February 2019.) That’s huge, but not a total surprise considering the circumstances.

Hours of button-mashing can help you pass the time and take your mind off the woes we’re all facing. Thankfully, there has been a huge variety of notable video game releases during the pandemic, with two major drops coming this week.

Here then are five games you should check out during the #StayHome lockdown.

DOOM ETERNAL

Kill time by slaying fiendish hordes in DOOM Eternal, the hyperkinetic follow-up to 2016’s DOOM reboot. In this highly anticipated sequel, Earth has been invaded by hell’s armies, and as the lead hero known as the DOOM Slayer, you must navigate numerous demon-infested terrains and annihilate the fiends with your over-the-top arsenal. Run out of ammo? No problem; “rip and tear” them with your signature chain saw. Just don’t run out of fuel.

Fast-paced and with insane graphics, super-cool level and character design, gargantuan bosses and a wicked industrial soundtrack, this action–sci-fi–horror first-person shooter is a gorehound gamer’s delight. Even after you complete the single-player campaign, more hours of fun can be had with your friends in the new online multiplayer battle mode.

NIOH 2

If you’re an advanced gamer looking for a challenge that involves more than just shooting and blowing things up, look no further than Nioh 2. In this brutal and beautiful action-fantasy role-playing game, you’re teleported back to a fantastical version of Japan’s turbulent Sengoku period of the late 1500s, filled with samurai, supernatural warriors and mythological creatures. You even get to choose spirit animals that add unnatural powers to your character.

Thanks to Nioh 2‘s insanely detailed character creator, you can choose your gender, hairstyle, muscle tone, bone structure, voice pitch, tattoos, scars, skin tone, makeup and a lot more—adding a personal stamp that makes your character feel like your own. Much like FromSoftware’s challenging Dark Souls games, it also allows you to summon other players online when the going gets tough—and it will get tough. Many of Nioh 2‘s merciless bosses will beat you into submission, which adds to the glow of gratification if you manage to take them down on your own.

DARKSIDERS: GENESIS

For this prequel to the Darksiders trilogy, it seems the creators of this action-fantasy-adventure franchise decided to go in a new direction. Taking inspiration from Blizzard’s Diablo series, Darksiders: Genesis introduces a bird’s-eye-view gameplay style, and it works beautifully. You take on the role of the brutish sword-wielding War and set off with your wisecracking, gun-toting brother Strife. You’re both Nephilim (half angel, half demon)—oh, and you’re two of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. You’ll navigate various realms and take down your enemies and bosses with swords, guns and sorcery while investigating the deceptive demon-king Lucifer.

But this is no mere hack-and-slack adventure game. Along the way you’ll encounter puzzles, labyrinthine pathways, challenging gauntlets and epic arena battles. You’ll also use looted souls to upgrade weaponry and gain new abilities that may encourage you to re-explore previous areas and access blocked pathways and hidden treasures. Plus, you have the option of two-player cooperative mode—a first in this franchise. What makes this game so charming, though, is its likable villains, rich mythology and colorful dialogue between the two leads.

RESIDENT EVIL 3

Much like last year’s Resident Evil 2 remake, Resident Evil 3 is back with a major makeover featuring spectacular up-to-date graphics and gameplay. In this third-person survival-horror shooter, citizens of Raccoon City are dealing with a pandemic of their own—one caused by a “cannibal virus” that turns people into zombies. As in the 1999 original, you play as S.T.A.R.S. special forces officer Jill Valentine. As you attempt to escape the city and its legions of the undead, you’re ruthlessly pursued by Nemesis, a hulking, unstoppable bioweapon created and dispatched by the evil Umbrella Corporation.

Your anxiety level will go through the roof when Nemesis jumps out of nowhere and starts chasing you; your only option is to run like hell. There are jump scares aplenty, and you’ll often catch yourself sighing with relief when you reach a safe zone. It’s truly like being in a horror movie. Bonus: Resident Evil 3 comes with Resident Evil Resistance, a thrilling online multiplayer survival-horror experience that feels a lot like being in an escape room.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE

After 15 years of teasing and five years of official development, the long-awaited reimagining of 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, arguably the best of the Final Fantasy franchise and maybe even the best role-playing game of all time, has finally arrived. From its cinematic opening sequence to the moment the iconic characters all appear onscreen, it’s clear a lot of love, blood, sweat and tears went into this project.

The setting is the sprawling cyberpunk city of Midgar. You play as Cloud Strife, a mercenary who aids the eco-terrorist group Avalanche in taking down the sinister Shinra Electric Power Company. Loaded with hours of main-story missions and optional side quests, the game lets you exterminate creatures, collect rewards, blaze through motorcycle chases, wage chaotic boss battles and simply sit back and enjoy the dialogue and scenery in extensive cinematic sequences. You can even play darts and listen to a jukebox at a pub or engage in a round of Whack-a-Box with kids in the slum district.

This update has a new real-time combat system, and you get to switch and take control of various supporting characters who accompany you on your missions. They all have unique abilities (bare-knuckle brawling, magic powers, a knack for high-tech weaponry) and also provide lively banter along your journey. This ambitious remake is only a fraction of the original multidisc game; the rest will be released episodically. No word on when the other installments will surface, but they’ll certainly be worth the wait.