The holiday season’s approaching and the time to buy gifts for your loved one draws near. Let us take the hard part out of holiday shopping for you with our holiday gift guide!
VERY MERRY GAMES
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – $70
Everyone’s favorite shooter returns this year with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and multiplayer changes being the biggest draw. If you played the previous Modern Warfare, all the skins, weapons, and camos obtained will transfer over to the newest game. Slide canceling movement is also brought back after much feedback which makes movement snappier overall. Additionally, the original Modern Warfare 2 maps make a return so players will be able to enjoy Farm 18, Mercado, and Shoot House in all its updated glory. For the yearly Call of Duty player in your life, Modern Warfare 3 will certainly be a great addition to the stocking stuffer.
Like a Dragon Ishin! – $60
Like a Dragon Ishin is a cult classic and spin-off that takes place in the Bakumatsu era in Japan. Fans of samurai video games and Japanese history will find a lot to like and take in. It has all the essence of the Yakuza games: a dramatic story campaign, fast combat, goofy sidequests, fun minigames, and deep world exploration. It’s also a remaster so there are a couple of enhancements and quality-of-life upgrades that are much appreciated. If you’re looking for a well-rounded package to play this holiday with plenty to do, look no further than Like a Dragon Ishin. You can read our review of the game for more information.
Forspoken – $70
Sometimes you just need a snarky blockbuster that prioritizes fidelity over substance, and Forespoken really scratches that itch. One of the best-looking 3rd party games on the PS5, Forespoken isn’t breaking any molds when it comes to its gameplay or story, but it does deliver some satisfying moments, and some breathtaking visuals. This is a game I’d recommend playing when you need a bit of that mindless, blockbuster-style content to escape from some mandatory family time this holiday season. You can read our review of the game for more information.
Hi-Fi Rush – $30
Hi-Fi Rush came out of nowhere and absolutely exceeds what it sets out to do. Developer, Tango Gameworks, might not be known for brightly colored, fast-paced action games, but they’ve truly broken out of their shell for this one. Hi-Fi Rush harkens back to the Dreamcast with quirky characters, frenetic combat all while encouraging players to focus on the beat of the music. That rhythmic element is carried across combat and environmental traversal in a way that really blurs the lines between action and music genres, in a standout manner. (Austin)
Hi-Fi Rush took me by surprise, as it manages to interpret and present exciting rhythmic gameplay in a way that’s entirely new to me. Everything goes to the beat, which makes smacking down robots (who have very charming designs) a toe-tapping blast. The visuals and performances have an abundance of charm, the music is bumping, and trying out new combos to the beat is so fun that it kept me experimenting with combat in essentially each fight I took part in. There’s really nothing quite like Hi-Fi Rush, and I can’t believe I waited this long to play such a delightful and refreshing game. (Spencer)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective – $30
I had no idea Ghost Trick was even a game until the remaster was released this year. Pitched as a puzzle adventure game where you take control of a ghost that has supernatural powers, I was excited to check it out. Even more exciting is that it was directed by Shu Takumi, a notable director for the Phoenix Wright series. And it shows. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective feels like it takes place in the same universe as Phoenix Wright. Not just in humor and writing, but art, and down to the sound effects as well. Sissel finds himself dead with no memory of who he was or how he died. His new friend Ray explains that he has until morning to figure out what happened to him before he’s gone forever. Using your supernatural abilities to link up with humans, travel phone wires, and minimally manipulate inanimate objects in the world helps Sissel find out how he met his untimely demise. This is definitely a must-have if you’re a fan of puzzle games, mystery narratives, and the Phoenix Wright series.
Thirsty Suitors – $30
You don’t always get a clean break from your past and sometimes you have to come crawling back to it with your tail between your legs. Jala is experiencing that exact thing, coming home after running away with a girlfriend and losing contact with her friends and family. While that alone is a lot to deal with, Jala didn’t count on the angry exes of her past to team up and confront her one by one in a series of turn-based battles. Armed with a skateboard and a set of early 00s PNW skater-wear, Jala needs to fight, cook, and skate her way back into the good graces of her family before her sister’s wedding. The humor in this game is top notch and the care taken into sharing a cultural experience that may not be widely understood is very much appreciated. Thirsty Suitors has all the emotion of a game that’s both willing to wear its heart on its sleeve and not take itself too seriously. Jala’s over-the-top antics while cooking are truly necessary to cut through her mother’s judgmental words. There are a lot of different mini-games and places to explore, and Thirsty Suitors is well worth the price of admission.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure – FREE (with Apple Arcade)
Cozy gamers rise up, we got an adorable mobile game with the whole Sanrio crew and the holiday season is the perfect time to bundle up with a blanket to play Hello Kitty Island Adventure. Explore a sprawling park that’s teeming with puzzles and activities for you to find, along with quests you can do from your favorite Sanrio characters to increase their friendship level with. On the surface the game seems like it might just be your typical Animal Crossing clone, but it separates itself enough to really forge its own identity. Anyone looking for a relaxing, chill mobile game will find a lot to love here.
Cocoon – $25
Alien, obtuse, delightful. A strange, otherworldly puzzle game with no tutorials and absolutely no hand holding. The mechanics are simple and easy to grasp, but the presentation makes it feel like something you’ve never seen or played before. At times it genuinely feels like you’re playing something that has been somehow beamed to you from another planet. It’s hard to talk too much about it without spoiling too much, but I’ll leave you with this: It’s just normal bug stuff.
