Video games encourage creativity, problem-solving, and are an immersive way to tell a story. In other words, they’re a perfect fit for libraries!
These titles were a couple of my favorites from last year. You can check them out today at the Iowa City Public Library.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a first-person adventure game for Xbox Series X that takes place between the movies Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The game excels at exploration, stealth combat and puzzles worthy of the famed archeologist. Players get to traverse visually stunning locations such as Vatican City, Giza and Sukhothai, each filled with secrets.
The game sends players on a worldwide quest to prevent a Nazi scientist, Emmerich Voss, from harnessing the power of the Great Circle — culturally important sites that form a perfect circle around the globe. The narrative is fantastic and filled with exceptional writing and voice acting. (Troy Baker does an amazing impersonation of Harrison Ford.) The game itself made me feel like Indiana Jones, which is all I’ve ever wanted!
Balatro is an addictive poker game for the Nintendo Switch. The game takes traditional poker hands and then modifies them with special jokers that carry various bonuses. For example, the “Greedy Joker” gives “played cards with Diamond suit +3 multiplier.” You have the chance to acquire new Jokers between rounds, called Blinds, as well as upgrade the scoring of particular poker hands. Unlike traditional poker, the game requires puzzle-like thinking, asking players to optimize their deck with multipliers, synergies and strategic additions (or subtractions) of cards.
The game has a retro-vibe with pixel art and a relaxing, low-fi soundtrack. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, and the game eases you in with a well-done tutorial. Each run offers different, random challenges, making every playthrough feel fresh, unpredictable and highly replayable. The difficulty ramps up to provide a satisfying challenge while striking a balance between luck and strategy. Whether you’re looking for a casual run or aiming for a legendary high score, Balatro delivers.
We have these titles and more for the Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation 4 and 5 at ICPL. All card holders are eligible to check out video games; you may have two checked out per account. Games are located on the first floor behind the Help Desk.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s March 2025 issue.
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