Video games are typically better to play when you're high, trust me, I would know.
There may be a variety of reasons for my previous statement, depending on what you look for in a video game. Whether it be compelling stories, intense battles, or stunning visuals, marijuana lends itself well to the art form and pastime, especially when the game you're playing targets particular senses. The most stimulated sense when playing video games is definitely your vision, which coincidentally enough can also be enhanced via the effects of THC. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the five most visually appealing video games to play while high.
SUPER MARIO BROS. 3
In reality, any and every video game featuring the iconic plumber should be on this list. But for the sake of time, and what’s left of this buzz I’m on, I’ve decided to go specifically with Super Mario Bros. 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Retro and nostalgia is all the rage right now, and with the current climate of the internet, you can literally just emulate this game on a web browser from your phone. Go and buy it if you can, but I mean, they’ve made their money from it. Not only are the color pallets of each world appealing and easy to look at, but everything is digestible and easy to play. Every character, level, and boss battle is somewhat unique, especially for its time, and that’s why Super Mario Bros. 3 has stood the test of time. People have been getting baked and eating mushrooms with Mario since the 80’s, and I don’t see any reason why we should stop now.
RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2
Although this game has been out for a handful of years at this point, Red Dead Redemption 2 still holds up in every aspect, especially graphically. The conversations and storyline and music and beautiful scenery are all so appealing that it’s genuinely hard to turn this game off. Whether playing online with friends or grinding away at the story mode alone, RDR 2 has so much to offer visually, and the realism of every nook and cranny of its gigantic map is stunning. I’ve gotten baked and lost myself in this game for hundreds of hours over the years, and in no way does it ever get old. The most incredible part is that there’s so many unique ways to lose yourself in RDR’s immersive take on the American old west. You wanna be a cowboy and take part in epic battles? Or, do you want to traverse epic lakes, forests, and mountains, while hunting, fishing, and foraging your way through nature? Every minute detail is a treat to ingest visually, and rumors are Red Dead Redemption 3 is on its way sooner than later, so who knows how they’ll elevate this immaculate series.
HIGH ON LIFE
High on Life was written and created by the folks who make Rick and Morty, and is about an alien cartel threatening to use humans as drugs. You step up as a hero and befriend talking weapons and hilarity ensues. Not only is this game's cartoony animation style very appealing, but the dialogue and characters are immensely funny as well. You’ll have tears rolling down your eyes, and by the time you wipe them dry, you’ll be treated to a hilariously immersive world that feels like something straight off of Cartoon Network. For Xbox players, this game is free right now on Game Pass, so pack a bowl, get high on weed then get High on Life.
THE ARTFUL ESCAPE
This next entry is a game that might have gone overlooked by many people, but if you love to get baked, listen to tunes, and look and trippy stuff in the sky, The Artful Escape was made for you. The Artful Escape is underrated as it is truly one of the greatest music-focused games ever made. The story follows a young guitar prodigy who goes on an epic journey to find his voice. It's set in a vibrant and colorful world filled with awesome musical jams, and players get to travel around the multiverse playing music. Ultimately, the endgame is for the player to find their own stage presence and persona while escaping the expectations of society. The Artful Escape is a psychedelic journey that is both intense and calming at times, and is without question one of the most visually stimulating video games while high.
AYAHUASCA
Ayahuasca is fun. Ayahuasca the video game is also fun too, which is what I’m primarily here to talk about. Ayahuasca is one of the scariest and at the same time most beautiful experimental games ever made with VR support. In what is essentially a film, the characters get fully immersed in weird psychedelic visions after taking the aforementioned drug. Players take part in tons of super trippy visions and sightings, and every single character has a different experience each time. The game not only has impressive atmospheric visuals but also staggeringly hypnotic sounds that enhance the vibe of the weird world players are thrusted into. Thanks to the motion sensors in the headsets, the game will either intensify or diminish the visions based on the players’ moments and posture. Ayahuasca is the closest most people will ever get to taking actual ayahuasca, hanging out with shamans, or traveling to the heart of a South American rainforest.
