420, also known as the Stoner’s Holiday, is a time for friends to get together and partake in some groovy recreational drug use. Some folks make a big deal out of it, going as far as decorating their house with black lights and dayglow paint, while others prefer to just smoke a doobie on the couch and eat an entire pantry of junkfood (and then eating the shit nobody wants to eat just because you ate all the junkfood last night and never made it to the store). Your drug of choice is entirely up to you, but no matter your decision, you’ll likely be looking for some stimulation to enhance your experience. I have taken it upon myself to put together a list of bodacious games that are easy to play, trippy, or just downright fun for individuals in an “enlightened and creative” state of mind.  Depending on your drug, your experiences might be enjoyable or downright boring, and in that case you should take more drugs.

These games are in no particular order, as each game is entirely different and is set to serve a different purpose. There is one common theme among all titles: they are all simple pick-up-and-play type games. This list contains games for loner-stoners, party stoners, pot-heads, coke-heads, and shroom-munchers. If you’re on bathsalts right now, you’re probably sitting in the bathtub reading Nerd Bacon through 2 slices of raisin bread, and getting ready to break your mirror and use the shards as mulch for your puppy garden growing above your bedroom closet. Welcome to the top 8 games to play on 420!

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 Contra

NES

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What?

Released in 1988, Konami set the world ablaze with Contra, an incredible 1 or 2 player game that combined fun with difficulty in a vibrant animated 2D world. Contra is considered by many to be the best run n’ gun game ever made, and is highly regarded as one of the most difficult games ever made, too. Two player mode was by far the most popular way to play Contra, because playing simultaneously with a friend added to the overall experience of the non-stop action.[/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

While it is very unlikely that you and a friend (or even just yourself if you’re a loner-stoner) will ever beat Contra, high or sober, the experience that the two of you have will be remembered (maybe) for a long time! Playing in the 2D side scrolling alien-infested world, the two of you will take full advantage of your unlimited ammo and go so ham on everyone. In addition to your default gun, there are six other guns to upgrade to which will undoubtedly add to your giggly mayhem! While not a revolutionary game in 1988, and a pretty damn old game today, it’s still incredibly fun! Don’t forget to use the Konami Code for your 30 lives. At the title screen, press Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start and you should have 30 lives![/ezcol_1half_end]

For 1 to 2 stoners

Pairs well with a 30 rack of Bud Dry

Click here to read a full review of Contra for the NES

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Super Smash Bros. Melee

GameCube

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What?

Super Smash Bros. Melee is the follow-up to the Nintendo 64 original. Melee is a fighting game that features characters and stages from the Nintendo universe, such as Mario, Princess, Donkey Kong, Ice Climbers, Link, Marth, Game & Watch, and many many more. In addition to some of the standard Nintendo characters, a number of Pokemon characters are included in the star-studded cast such as Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and a few others. With myriad stages ranging from flat to floating to transforming, gamers will never feel like they’ve run out of stuff to do. There are 3 modes to play, classic, adventure, and multiplayer, with multiplayer being the most popular of them all. Melee was a smash success for Nintendo, so if you ever decide to break out the ol’ GameCube at a party, odds are most of your friends have played it and will enjoy the nostalgic party favor.[/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

While your drug of choice might have you wanting to relax a little more or have some trippier eye-candy, Melee might actually keep your 420 buddies entertained! There’s nothing quite like getting together with three of your best friends, getting stoned, and having an all-out slugfest with some of your most beloved gaming characters. If there are more than four of you, there’s a simple solution: loser sits out a round while a new person jumps in and takes his/her place! Furthermore, with lovable/recognizable characters like Yoshi and Kirby, Super Smash Bros. Melee isn’t just for the fellas! The ladies will likely want to get a piece of the action too! And by “piece of the action,” I don’t mean freeloading off of your stash, even though they’ll probably want to do that too.[/ezcol_1half_end]

For 1 to 4 stoners

Pairs well with a bump of Bolivian marching powder

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LSD Dream Emulator

PlayStation (Japanese)

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What?

LSD Dream Emulator is one wacky-ass game. With no apparent purpose, goal, or objective, you simply walk around a dream world in a first-person perspective. The real purpose is to explore this dream world, which is composed of oddly textured walls, strange colors, flying through various environments, and so much more. While LSD Dream Emulator is a unique and different experience for a video game, it does provide a somewhat surreal and artistic expression that can really open up a player’s own creative thought processes. The environment can suddenly change with no provocation, such as a strange creature appearing out of thin air, or eyes popping up on the walls. So while there’s not much to actually do in LSD Dream Emulator, there is more than enough to explore, if that’s something you’re into.[/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

Because it is so odd and different, you are likely going to want to be extremely stoned for this one. Likewise, if you are tripping your balls off on something pretty hallucinogenic, you might actually want to avoid this game (unless you’re not afraid of a bad trip). But do I really need to say WHY you should play this game on 420? Even though it is only a 1-player game, your friends can join in on the trip with you by just watching you explore. The graphics are a little dated, but the point still gets across… and that point is that it’s pretty enjoyable to explore your dreams, no matter how odd they are. AND, you can access this game easily through emulation. Check here for some tips![/ezcol_1half_end]

1 stoner only (be alone… be so alone when you take this trip)

Pairs well with a half eighth of liberty caps

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Duck Hunt

NES

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What?

If you’re unfamiliar with the game Duck Hunt, then you’re an ignoramus! Okay, I have some anger issues. That was uncalled for. But what I’m trying to say is that Duck Hunt was a wildly popular game way back in the day, and it was either a pack-in with the NES Action Set, or it could be purchased individually. Duck Hunt is a first-person shooter / hunting simulator game in which the player uses the NES Zapper light gun to shoot flying ducks or clay pigeons. There’s not much more to the game than that, but this isn’t the kind of game that necessarily needs to have depth. Duck Hunt is a very fun game for what it is on the surface, and it is really enjoyable for people of all ages. The idea is to go as far as you can and get as many points as possible![/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

Some might think having Duck Hunt on this list is a little weird. But I know I don’t. The simplistic and cartoonish nature of the game combined with a fat blunt and a stoned friend really make Duck Hunt more than just a shooting game. It becomes a competition to see who can go further. While you will have to take turns, it is fun to see your friend lose on level 12 knowing that your highest level is 15! Unfortunately for Duck Hunt, ADHD, stoner-boredom, and modern technology have given Duck Hunt moderately low replayability. Furthermore, it might be challenging to get your old CRT television out of the attic just for an NES game. The choice is yours, but if you’re like me, pulling out all your old games is half the fun anyway! For simultaneous gameplay, pick Game A. Now the 2nd player can control the duck with a basic controller.[/ezcol_1half_end]

For 1 or 2 stoners

Pairs well with a funny J full of some kinda sativa bud

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Fifa ’11, ’12, ’13, or ’14

XBox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

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What?

FIFA soccer (or FIFA football, depending on where you live) is a series of soccer video games featuring international soccer leagues. The FIFA franchise has been going strong for quite some time, but it wasn’t until the first FIFA release on the 7th generation systems that the series really began to pick up steam at a rapid rate. Each successive year features an updated roster, new/updated mini-games, and typically some other minor additions, but every few years the game receives a semi-major overhaul in the main gameplay mechanics.

FIFA games are all about competition, talking trash, and making side bets. What a masterful game EA Sports has created. But don’t be fooled by the competition, as Pro-Evo is garbage compared to this series. Since 2011, FIFA has been translated into almost 20 languages and is accessible in over 50 countries, which easily helped make FIFA the most profitable sports video game ever created.[/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

I chose FIFA’s ’11 through ’14 because as a fan of the series, and annual owner of the FIFA titles over the last 10 years, I noticed some advancements in gameplay over its previous iterations. The gameplay is simple enough that no matter how stoned you are – and with the difficulty all the way down – you and your friends can play a pretty exciting match of soccer. And what do you do when you start to get bored? Make up your own games! Example 1: A friend and I decided to see how many red cards we could get in one match. Example number B: Set the difficulty all the way down, pick the absolute best international team, play against the lowest MLS team, and just dominate the shit out of their stupid faces. And example number D: You and 4 friends play on the SAME team instead of playing against each other. I think you’ll find that challenge to be pretty high.

Regardless of which FIFA title you choose between the four mentioned above, you will have a damn fine time. It’s fun enough for anybody to pick up and play at any time, and even if it’s only one or two short games, you will still have entertained yourself for close to an hour![/ezcol_1half_end]

1 to 4 stoners

Pairs well with a doobster packed with cheebah or a trip with old lady snow

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Dr. Mario

NES

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Dr. Mario 64

Nintendo 64

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What?

Dr. Mario and Dr. Mario 64 are puzzle titles that feature Mario as a doctor. His goal is to eradicate the world of all viruses by using his pills. Each virus has a different color, and it is up to you to match the falling pills with the appropriate virus of the same color. Once you match four pills of the same color to the virus of the same color, that virus will disappear. It is up to you to clear the screen of all viruses. These 2 Dr. Mario titles are very similar to one another, except the Nintendo 64 version features some updated graphics and a 4-player mode. So depending on what system you have and how many friends you have with you, one option might be better than the other. While I feel like Dr. Mario 64 is ultimately the easiest solution as it functions identically to Dr. Mario on the NES, for some of you folks out there, you might enjoy the nostalgic rush of holding the classic 2-button controller in your hands.[/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

Simple. These games are both HIGHLY addicting and can entertain a stoned (or sober!) person for hours! These games were chosen over Tetris due to their more frantic gameplay, better handicap system, and better visual presentation. The great handicap system allows any newbie to play against even the most seasoned Dr. Mario-ers! The Cubist and I used to regularly play Dr. Mario for hours, and in fact both of us got so good at it that we would challenge each other on the highest level and race to zero viruses! One round on the highest difficulty can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour+, depending on your abilities. So, for the stoners who like to just veg out and lose track of time, either Dr. Mario game is a great option.[/ezcol_1half_end]

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1-2 stoners

Pairs well with a bong rip of something super sticky and skunky

Read a full review of Dr. Mario for NES[/ezcol_1half]

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1 to 4 stoners

Pairs well with Florida snow numbies and 2 bumps on the side

Read a full review of Dr. Mario 64 for N64[/ezcol_1half_end]

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Rez

Dreamcast / PS2

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Rez HD

Xbox 360

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What?

Rez is a highly unique rail-shooter game with exceptional graphics, a unique soundtrack (which is partially created by the gamer), and simple gameplay. The story takes place in a futuristic supercomputer network that is mostly controlled by an A.I. entity known as Eden. When Eden becomes self-aware and begins to question her own motives and existence, she enters a shutdown sequence. If Eden completes her shutdown sequence, the result would be a worldwide catastrophe. You play a hacker, and your goal is to traverse the network mainframe and reboot the system, all while avoiding the various viruses that attempt to kill you. The story is unique, the gameplay is solid, but the true magic in the game comes from the music.

Rez is set to an electronic music soundtrack that evolves as you progress in the game, but certain musical effects are generated by your actions or the enemies around you. For example, I shot an enemy once and the game inserted a short high-hat percussion effect, and another time I shot an enemy and it inserted a funky electronic sound musical effect. The game is also graced with phenomenal graphics and excellent animation.[/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

The colors of the wire frame enemies and surroundings laid on the black background give Rez a dreamlike feel. I’ve never really been into techno music, but the electronic beat pairs perfectly with the animation and often-frantic gameplay. Even if it’s not a perfect game, it is just… cool. This is one of those games that just captivates your mind, no matter what drug you’re on. While Rez does get a little more difficult as time goes on, it has some really easy moments that are perfect for getting familiar with the game AND keeping you entertained at the same time. One of my top-favorite games, Rez is great whether you’re up, down, or have no clue which way is up or down.

Rez HD provides an update in the graphics and sound departments, but the real prize here is that it is more accessible to the general public now that it is available on Xbox 360.[/ezcol_1half_end]

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1 stoner

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1 stoner

Read a full review of Rez HD for the Xbox 360 here [/ezcol_1half_end]

Pairs well with a half eighth of boomers

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Grand Theft Auto Vice City

Xbox, PlayStation 2, Windows

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Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

Xbox, PlayStation 2, Windows

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What?

Both of these games saw the Grand Theft Auto series go in the right direction. While GTA3 is the first 3D title in the GTA series, it wasn’t until Vice City was released that people saw the real future of the series. Vice City and San Andreas aren’t all that different from each other in game mechanics and gameplay, but they do feature an entirely different environment, missions, story, and more. These games saw a much-desired emphasis on free-roam gameplay where gamers could roam Vice City or San Andreas and perform countless actions, whether mission-based or simply because you’re stoned and thought it would be cool. Regardless of whether you’re a missions-guy or a free-roam-guy, these two titles have exactly what you want.[/ezcol_1half]

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Why on 420?

These games were great back then and they’re still great now! Granted, the graphics and controls might feel a little dated, and the worlds are limited, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to enjoy. You are probably asking yourself, “Why did Nerdberry choose these two titles over GTA4 or the brand new Grand Theft Auto V?” Simple. I feel that the mindless, effortless, and sheer ridiculous gameplay in GTA Vice City or San Andreas reached its peak. The inclusion of the online systems in GTA4 and 5 take away that sitting-at-home-stoned-by-myself-killing-people-for-no-reason-and-loving-every-minute-of-it feel you get when you get stoned and play either of these 2 titles. You don’t have people jumping into your game to kill you for no reason, forcing you to go incognito and play invincible.[/ezcol_1half_end]

Furthermore, the sheer level of imagination and creativity required to keep Vice City and San Andreas fun is what makes these games so great! Only the users mind is creative enough to come up with all the stupid little side-games that keep these open-world games enjoyable beyond its face value. Don’t get me wrong, GTA4 andGTA5 are amazing games and I’m not saying these games are better. Vice City and San Andreas offer up plenty of no-frills nonsense, and any user can keep themselves busy for hours just riding around mowing down civilians and running from the cops for no reason.

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For 1 stoner

Pairs well with just about anything

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For 1 stoner

Pairs well with an extra large crack rock

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AS YOU CAN SEE, you have many games to choose from, and no game is the wrong choice. You might be one of those potsmokers who likes to veg out on the couch to a casual game that requires no effort, or maybe you like to eat a few caps and really dig deep into a trippy colorful game. No matter what you’re on, Nerd Bacon has you covered. But don’t let this list limit your imagination! Experiment with some of your own games and maybe you and your buddies can make your OWN traditions.

Now, go explore Nerd Bacon some more and share your silly stoned thoughts with us! Roll a fat L, walk the white line, get your mushroom pizza extra crispy, and pop in a fun game! Happy 420 to everyone!

*Please note that Nerd Bacon and any of its affiliates do not promote or condone the use of illegal drugs under any circumstance. But if you’re going to do them anyway, push the limit!