Things to Do In Isolation!

Our comprehensive list of ways and recommendations to keep entertained whilst you’re self isolating or socially distancing

(all links correct at time of writing)

Books

The Strain – Guillermo del Toro
The Girl with All the Gifts – M.R. Carey
How to Survive the End of the World (When it’s in Your Own Head) – Aaron Gillies aka TechnicallyRon
Reasons to Stay Alive & Notes on a Nervous Planet – Matt Haig
The Flatshare – Beth O’Leary
The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time #1) – by Robert Jordan

Also check out Project Gutenburg for lots of free classic ebooks

Comics

Free Comics

Golden Age Comics – https://comicbookplus.com/
Some great new reads – https://devils-due-1first-comics.myshopify.com/collections/digital-comics
Some more great free firsts – https://vaultcomics.com/free-firsts/
Over 700 free comics – https://www.comixology.co.uk/free-comics
Lots of free Marvel comic samples – https://comicstore.marvel.com/free-comics
Lots of free DC comic samples – https://www.dccomics.com/tags/free-comics
Lots of free Image comic samples – https://imagecomics.com/comics/read-first-issues
See pinned tweet for thread of comics available via DropBox – https://twitter.com/ValiantComics
Free copy of JUDGE DREDD: CASE FILES 05 – https://shop.2000ad.com/catalogue/GRN281

Webcomics

Ten Earth Shattering Blows is a fantasy graphic novel you can read online. It contains violence and, occasionally, a tit. https://tenearthshatteringblows.com/archives/comic
Detonator Girls https://detonatorgirls.tumblr.com/ from https://harryclabon.com/comics
Bobbins is an original webcomic, that ran from 1998 to 2002, and then again from 2013 to 2015, by John Allison. https://bobbins.horse/
Quarantine Comix – Daily comics by Rachael Smith- https://twitter.com/rachael_

Games

Sales & Stores

PSN Mega March Sale – https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/grid/STORE-MSF75508-MEGAMARCH/1
Ubisoft U-Play – https://store.ubi.com/uk/spring-sale
GOG Spring Sale – https://www.gog.com/games?page=1&sort=popularity&price=discounted
Steam Specials – https://store.steampowered.com/search/?specials=1
Epic Game Store – https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/
Nintendo E-Store – https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Nintendo-eShop/Nintendo-eShop-Nintendo-Switch-Nintendo-3DS-and-Wii-U-109605.html

Recommendations

Coffee Talk – https://geekybrummie.com/gaming/game-review-coffee-talk/
LUNA The Shadow Dust – https://store.steampowered.com/app/465100/LUNA_The_Shadow_Dust/
WORLD OF HORROR – https://store.steampowered.com/app/913740/WORLD_OF_HORROR/
Yes, Your Grace – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1115690/Yes_Your_Grace/
X-Box Game Pass – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/xbox-game-pass

Mat has also scoured the internet for free games but be quick! (All links are valid at time of writing.)

The Stanley Parable (2013)
Describing the Stanley Parable is a challenge without giving too much away. It’s a narrative exploration simulator like the likes of The Witness, with disorientating puzzles interlaced with dark humour and self-awareness similar to the Portal series. It’s cleverly crafted, well designed and is a must have indie game that has to be experienced first-hand. If nothing else on this list, I urge you to give this one a look. You’ll have to claim it through the Epic Games store, so you’ll need to get an account but it’s quick, easy and well worth it for this game.
Watchdogs (2014)
Watchdogs was one of the most anticipated games the year of its release and understandably too. Despite a rocky launch, this action-adventure game has an ambitious heart to it, with excellent environments in the form of a fictionalised version of Chicago, and an interesting core hack mechanic as you roam the city and complete story and side quests. Again, like the previous entry you’ll you need to claim it through the Epic Games store, and it’s worth it for this Triple A title.
GOG’s “Stay-at-home” bundle
Good old Games (popularly known as GOG) are giving away an astounding 27 games including classics dating back to 1979 and a playable prologue of the brand new city-building sim Builders of Egypt. Stand out titles for me are GWENT: The Witcher Card Game, which is literally the card-game from the main series and Shadow Warrior Classic Complete edition which is a pivotal early 3D First-person-shooter developed by the team behind Duke Nukem 3D. All titles are DRM-free and compatible with Windows; some are also available for Mac or Linux.
Drawful 2 (2016)
Drawful 2 is free on Steam – and that’s awesome. It’s a hyperactive Pictionary game that’s perfect social-distancing as you can play this with people you live with, but also remotely with friends and relatives. You sketch a picture on your phone or tablet based on a text prompt, and then everyone gets to vote on what the picture represents.
Bonus: Football Manager 2020 (2019)
This seminal football management simulator almost didn’t make the list because you can only play the game for free until 30^th March. Still, whether you’re a fan of the series or just starting out, you’ll have a couple of days to try the game before you buy.