During the semester, all of my free time is gobbled up by classes, homework and anxiety about homework. But during the summer, I finally get back my evenings and weekends to do whatever the hell I want to do. Summer is my time to travel, learn new skills and broaden my horizons. I look forward to those warm nights of freedom, not having to worry about due dates for papers or what assignment I've probably forgotten. My mind can focus on other things, like exploring a new place, learning an instrument or teaching myself a foreign language.

Or I can binge-play video games until my eyes bleed. Here's a collection of my most anticipated video games set to release this summer:

1. "No Man's Sky" (PS4, PC)

"No Man's Sky" is a first person adventure survival video game developed by indie studio Hello Games. It's set in a gorgeous retro-colored open-world environment that is composed of over 18 quintillion planets for the player to explore. To put that into perspective, Sean Murray, one of the creators of the game, has said that to get from one end of No Man's Sky's universe to the other would take about 100 hours without the aid of hyper boosts. That's intimidatingly large. For someone like me, who spends more time in a video game exploring every nook and cranny than actually playing the story, this is a dream come true. So what is the actual point of "No Man's Sky"? There really isn't one. Murray has said in interviews that the point is less about an "end game" and more about discovering your own path in the universe. Whether that's a violent warrior, a resourceful trader or a peaceful horticulturist, the quests of the game are the player's to make. Look for it, June 21.

2. "We Happy Few" (XB1, PC, Mac)

Described by the developers as "a game of paranoia and survival, in a drugged-out, dystopian English city in 1964," and inspired by novels such as "Brave New World" and "1984", "We Happy Few" is a first person horror game unlike any other. I'm not a huge fan of horror games because I am, actually, an overgrown baby, but "We Happy Few" by Compulsion Games is such a surreal twist on the genre that I am very eager to give it a go. The game takes place in Wellington Wells, a city inhabited by "Joy" addicts, a drug that allows the user to forget everything bad that has ever happened to them. You, the player, are a non-Joy user whose goal is simple: escape the city before the citizens try to kill you for being a Downer. Creepy, aesthetically beautiful, and with a plot that's most likely going to pack a serious punch of satire, "We Happy Few" is a must-play for both casual gamers and horror enthusiasts alike. Set to be released sometime in June.

3. "Obduction" (PC, Mac)

I'm actually a huge geek for graphic adventure puzzle games, so two of the first video games I ever played was Cyan Worlds' "Myst" and it's sequel, "Riven". Now, almost a decade after the release of "Riven", Cyan Worlds has heard my pleas for more science fiction themed puzzles and is releasing "Obduction
the first person "spiritual sequel" to "Myst" and "Riven". Set on an alien planet juxtaposed with a small American mining town, "Obduction" follows the same tradition as its successors as being a mostly visual and not very dialogue-heavy experience. It is up to the player to explore the foreign environment alone, without much guidance, in order to figure out a way to return home. The game expands across several worlds and incorporates an updated choice and consequence game mechanic. Basically, the player is free to do as they wish to solve puzzles and get home, but every action has a reaction that can prove rewarding or devastating to the world. "Obduction" is set to release at the end of June.

4. "Deus Ex: Mankind Divided" (PS4, XB1, PC)

"Mankind Divided" is a part of the Deus Ex franchise developed by Eidos Montreal, a collection of cyberpunk-themed action role-playing games. While not technically an open-world game, "Mankind Divided" is still incredibly huge for a leveled game. Developers have said that the largest location clocks in at over one kilometer in size. This game is a unique hybrid of both a first person shooter and a third person role-playing game. As a shooter, the gameplay includes improvements to weapon handling and better control over the player character's augmented abilities (think along the lines of "Bioshock"). As an RPG, the plot revolves around the player's choices and the consequences of said decisions, featuring an advanced dialogue tree that gives the player the option to roleplay the protagonist as good, bad, smart or dumb. So if you're into either genre, look for "Mankind Divided" on August 23.

5. "Mafia III" (PS4, XB1, PC, Mac)

I'll be honest, I didn't play "Mafia I" or "Mafia II". But I do love "The Godfather" and the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise, and this just seems to be a wonderful marriage of the two. "Mafia III" is a third-person action-adventure game developed by Hangar 13. Set in 1968 in the fictional open-world city of New Bordeaux (based on New Orleans), the plot follows bi-racial Lincoln Clay as he attempts to build his own mob of organized criminals to bring down the Italian Mafia. This game is not only turning heads for being a major release that features a protagonist who is not a scruffy-faced white guy, but it's also making waves for its massive amount of explosions. It's been revealed that most cars in the game, upon impact from the player car, will explode within a couple seconds, giving the player the opportunity to use AI cars as bombs during car chases. If you're someone who loves stories that tackle racism and injustice, but also love violence and explosions, this is going to be a must-have. Technically, "Mafia III" comes out on October 7, but I'm including it here because there have been rumors circulating that we could potentially see a surprise summer release. Also, it looks like a kick-ass game and everyone needs to know about it.