November 2024
There are new games to borrow from the Russell Library! Itching to bring home something to share with your friends and family? Or looking for a more beefy, immersive time sink that you can get lost in? We’ve got you covered with our latest additions. Here are six titles new in our collection that you might be interested in:
Nintendo Switch Sports
Available for: Nintendo Switch
If you remember playing Wii Sports, you may want to check out the newest iteration. Using the detachable Nintendo Switch controllers (“Joy-Cons”, for the uninitiated), you can play eight different sports, either alone or with friends! The full list includes bowling, tennis, soccer, volleyball, badminton, chambara (sword-fighting), golf, and basketball, so there’s something for everyone.
**For those who own a Nintendo Switch Lite, you’ll need a separate pair of detached joy-cons in order to play, since it requires motion controls.
Click here to request Nintendo Switch Sports.
Princess Peach Showtime!
Available for: Nintendo Switch
Imagine a lovely night out at the theater, spoiled because a wicked sorceress takes control of the building, trapping everyone inside (don’t you hate when that happens?). Fortunately, Princess Peach and her companion Stella are here to save the day!
In this adventure, Peach will traverse the different plays as the star of the show. The stage sets, lighting and music are wonderful and whimsical, but the real magic happens when the Princess transforms, gaining new powers from each costume she wears. By becoming a swordfighter, a detective, a ninja, and even a pastry chef, Peach must rescue the other performers and overcome the evil magic that’s taken over the Sparkle Theater.
Click here to request Princess Peach Showtime!.
The Oregon Trail – Deluxe Edition
Available for: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
If you have fond memories playing The Oregon Trail in school, you might want to check out the new Deluxe Edition, available for PS5. This modern take on the educational classic remains true the original game, but with some fresh polish and additional content. Form your party, stock up on supplies, and expect the unexpected — you’ll need your wits about you to survive harsh environments, fend off starvation and dysentery, and make it to Willamette Valley, Oregon, in one piece.
The updated pixel graphics set against more realistic backdrops make for a visually pleasing experience, and the new soundtrack from Gameloft and Nicolas Dubé measurably enhances the journey. The developers of this game also included contributions from Native American scholars in order to more respectfully represent Native American perspectives with respect to the impact of westward expansion on indigenous populations in the 19th century.
Click here to request The Oregon Trail.
Forza Horizon 5
Available for: Xbox Series X, Xbox One
If you like cars, racing, exploring (or all three), definitely check out Forza Horizon 5. There are hundreds of vehicles, most modeled after their real-life equivalents. You can engage in thrilling races both online and offline, while exploring an enormous map (nearly 80 square miles!) based on real-life locations in Mexico.
But the details go beyond just the cars and geography. Forza Horizon 5 was the winner of The Game Awards “Best Audio Design” in 2021, and you can read extensively about the developers’ use of “car foley” to record real sounds for every car in the game. It also has an in-game radio featuring over 100 songs, so you can put on some tunes while you cruise across the Mexico countryside. It doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the nicest looking games out there, in my opinion.
Click here to request Forza Horizon 5.
Red Dead Redemption II
Available for: PlayStation 4 (also compatible with PlayStation 5)
Speaking of nice looking games, be sure not to overlook this title from 2018. In Red Dead Redemption II, you play as outlaw Arthur Morgan, as he navigates a fictionalized version of the American West in 1899. Travel and survive the landscape, commit robberies and heists, and learn about Arthur’s internal struggles as he contends with rival gangs, the decline of his familiar lifestyle, and the challenges that come with doing right by his chosen family.
At times grisly and gruesome, and elsewhere tender and heartfelt, this game has it all. Action, adventure, friendship, betrayal, bear attacks, you name it. All of this to be found in a sprawling world so detailed, you’ll practically never run out of things to discover on your journey.
Click here to request Red Dead Redemption II.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Available for: Nintendo Switch
Seasoned fans of The Legend of Zelda series are well accustomed to the so-called “formula” of a Zelda game: you play as Link, the elf-like hero who wears a green tunic and wields the Master Sword, as he battles monsters and conquers dungeons to save the Kingdom of Hyrule. And while Princess Zelda always plays a crucial role in the story, she has never been the playable protagonist of her own game… until now!
In The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, many of Hyrule’s citizens, including Link, are stolen away by mysterious rifts, and it’s up to Zelda to solve the mystery of their disappearances. By creating “echoes” of found objects and monsters and using them to her advantage, Zelda is able to approach obstacles from a new angle — you’ll need your wisdom to overcome the many challenges you’ll face!
If you’ve never played a Legend of Zelda game before, don’t worry; Echoes of Wisdom is a standalone story, as are most Zelda games. This one has a lovely toy-like aesthetic going on, and at times feels like you’re playing inside a continent-sized diorama. The soundtrack is equally whimsical, and will leave you whistling the main theme long after you’re done playing. At every step, Echoes of Wisdom will both surprise and delight you.
Click here to request The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
There are now over 40 games available to borrow from the Russell Library, including some other new additions listed here:
- Minecraft (Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Switch)
- Super Mario RPG (Nintendo Switch)
- Horizon Forbidden West (PS5)
- Persona 3 Reload (PS5)
- Persona 5 Tactica (PS5)
- God of War: Ragnarok (PS5)
- Elden Ring (PS5 and Xbox)
Our collection will continue to grow as we keep up with new releases, so you can always find something new to play. Happy Gaming!
The Library Vault 
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