College students have no time. As a full-time student, father of three, and business owner, I definitely understand the struggle. I think it's fair that we expect the college experience to be a bit more immersive, but it shouldn't be all-consuming. Take a moment and count the number of articles and links to studies on the "positive effect of recreation on college students" when you search up that string in your browser. One way to fulfill that, and in my opinion the best way, is video games.

2017 was an awesome year for gaming, and 2018 looks promising with some huge releases of its own! There are tons of great games on literally every platform; the time has never been better to play video games!

I'm not gonna lie, I DO feel a bit like a conquering hero returning to the ticker tape parade that was thrown in his honor. I'm riding in the back of a cherry red '67 Chevy convertible and the roar of the crowd is almost deafening. Then a young man steps out of the throng and he shouts: "But...what games should we play?"

"Fear not, citizen," I say with an aesthetically pleasing, yet authoritative tone. "I have...A LIST!" At this point there's pyrotechnics and everybody starts cheering again. So without further adieu (and in no particular order), I give you:

1. "Overcooked"

Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)

Price: $16.99 - 39.99

Players: 1-4

Why you should play it: Overcookedis a fast-paced, couch co-op, cooking game for up to four players.

The game sports a very simple control scheme that players of any skill level will find easy to learn and master. This especially comes in handy as the pace and difficulty of the levels reach a fever pitch.

You're screaming at your partner(s) to get you the rest of the ingredients before the damn floor splits again and you can't serve the burger before the order expires. I've never had so much fun AND wanted to choke someone at the same time.

This title is a perfect pick for a holiday or summer break with your family, but it may start fights...serious fights.

2. "Florence"

Platform: Mobile (iOS, Android)

Price: $2.99

Players: 1

Why you should play it: Strictly speaking, "Florence" is a 'slice of life' visual novel, or as the developer calls it, an "interactive experience," about love, loss, and learning to love yourself.

I know that depending on what side of the argument you end up on, you may not even believe that this is, in fact, a game, but I included it because it was a fun and enriching experience from the same developer that brought us the award-winning mobile game: Monument Valley (and contributed to Cuphead).

This game does a good job of making the interaction fun and relevant while keeping the player fully invested in the story and hitting them right in the feels.

I didn't cry, and whoever says I did is lying.

"Florence" only takes about 30 minutes to complete, but for that short time, I found in the game's titular protagonist, a character that I, and literally every other human being on the planet, can relate to.

3. "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice"

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC (Steam, GOG)

Price: $29.99

Players: 1

Why you should play it: "Hellblade"is a visually stunning, story-driven, dark fantasy masterpiece. I know that probably comes across as a little extra, but this game is truly interactive art.

You play as Senua, a Celtic warrior who travels to Helheim (the Viking underworld) to save the soul of her fallen lover. Alongside the constant sense of dread and near seamless transitions between cinematics and gameplay, the game's most prominent feature is Senua's struggle with mental illness.

"Indie AAA" developer, Ninja Theory ("Heavenly Sword," "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West," and "DmC: Devil May Cry"), uses both visual and auditory hallucinations to really immerse the player in the struggle of Senua's psychosis and how it influences and often impedes her journey.

My suggestion: Turn all the lights off and play this game with your headphones on. The combination of the darkly beautiful environment, challenging puzzles, and unsettling whispers of Senua's insanity will help fuel your own descent into madness.

4. "Destiny 2"

Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC (Blizzard Store)

Price: $25.99 - 59.99 *Free Trial Offer

Players: Multiplayer (Only only)

Why you should you play it: With 60+ awards under its belt, Bungie's second installment of the "Destiny" FPS (first-person shooter) franchise was a critical and commercial success.

The best part? The game was great when it was released, and it's only getting better.

"Destiny 2" features a mixed bag of solo missions (that can also be played with friends online) and multiplayer gameplay (PVP and raids) that continues to expand long after you have completed the main story of the game.

Speaking of the story, it's really good. I was worried based on watching the trailers that they would rely pretty solely on the schtick of Cayde 6 (a wise-cracking hunter that fans of the series will remember from the first game), but I was pleased to find that they put a lot of effort into making a diverse cast of characters (especially my favorite bipolar AI: Failsafe) that really deliver the plot.

Critics of the game say that the enemy AI is dumb and it makes the game too easy. Admittedly, there are times when the game feels a bit like a shooting gallery, but that's also a strength because the guns in this game are SO fun to shoot.

With a free trial from Bungie, you can't go wrong picking up one of the best games of 2017.

5. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"

Platform: Nintendo Switch, WiiU

Price: $59.99

Players: 1

Why you should play it: If you don't have a Nintendo Switch, go and buy one specifically for this game (and for other reasons I'm sure). Even though this isn't a "Best of..." list, it's basically a gamer law that if you have a list of the best games, you have to include a "Zelda" or "Mario" title.

That, however, is not the reason "Breath of the Wild" made this list.

For a few years now, many of us have believed that Nintendo's best days were behind her and that we really shouldn't get our hopes up for anything new and exciting. Look how wrong we were. Nintendo's first foray into the open world style game is an absolute success and the best game of 2017.

"Breath of the Wild," says "Yes!" in every way a game should. If you want to start the game and immediately go and fight the end boss, then go for it. If you want to try and climb the highest mountain you can find just because, then you can.

What's more, the game actually rewards you for doing the stuff you've always wanted to do. If you climb a random mountain, you're sure to find loot and a fun adventure! Buried under all the freedom this open world has to offer is a story rich game that has literally hundreds of hours of gameplay.

This is one of Nintendo's crowning achievements and positive proof that they can't be counted out yet.

The list I shared with you is not a compilation of the newest, most commercially successful, or most critically acclaimed titles. Each of the games were chosen for different reasons.

They may offer a fun co-op experience with friends, an immersive story-driven narrative, or just the chance to blow some shit up and let off steam. I hope you like my choices, but I encourage you to go find the games that appeal to you and your interests.

Regardless of the title you pick, or whether you play solo, co-op or multiplayer, I hope you have a great time de-stressing and creating memories.