The holiday season can feel overwhelming, but we’ve got you covered! Check out our holiday gift guide for great ideas to delight the gamers in your life.
CHEERFUL GAMES
Sonic X Shadow Generations for Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation and Xbox – $50
It’s not a bold claim to say that Sonic Generations is easily one of the best Sonic games of all time, so it’s impressive how they managed to improve on a near perfect product with the inclusion of a new campaign featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. Building on the foundation Sonic Generations set up, Shadow Generations takes the initial 2D hub world and turns it into a fully explorable 3D space. I can’t stress enough how much fun I had speeding around that place, hitting ramps or grinding rails while grabbing collectibles along the way. Shadow himself is a blast to play as, with powers that allow you to surf or freeze time to effortlessly bounce on missiles that are firing your way. The levels and bosses even rival some of Generations’ best, with some genuinely thrilling stages that had me itching to get to the next. All of this, on top of a remaster of the original Sonic Generations, makes Shadow Generations a must have for Sonic fans or anyone interested in dipping their toes in the franchise. (Diego)
Sonic Generations has long since sat atop my list of 3D Sonic games, and I don’t think that is an unpopular opinion. Even considering that, they managed to elevate it to levels that anyone can appreciate with Sonic X Shadow Generations. Whether you are a newcomer to the franchise, someone a little unsure of sonic, or a long time fan this is one you will not want to skip. The original game has a beautiful new coat of pain and runs like a dream, while the new Shadow segment offers a new set of levels featuring the titular dark hedgehog that brings his own flavor, abilities and hub world! I don’t think it’s a stretch when I say Sonic X Shadow Generations is a must! (Frank)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection for Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation and Xbox – $40
I first played Ace Attorney Investigations on a family trip and was one of the many people hoping the sequel would one day be localized. Now, both games are freely playable in this excellent package, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, and they’re as exciting and riveting as ever. The plethora of bonus content further makes this the definitive grouping of two brilliant Ace Attorny spin-offs, especially thanks to the toggleable updated HD visuals and newly arranged music. Anyone who enjoys Ace Attorney or intriguing stories in general would be thrilled to receive the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, even if you have little experience with the series or genre. (Spencer)
After playing Ace Attorney Investigations back on the DS and spending the next decade asking for a translation of Ace Attorney Investigations 2 at every possible opportunity, I was overjoyed when Capcom announced that both games would be coming together to modern platforms as the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. With beautiful new HD graphics that make the sprites look better than ever and two games filled with the typical charm and humor expected of the series–particularly in the second game, which is officially translated now for the first time and widely considered to be one of the best in the series–it’s a collection Ace Attorney fans don’t want to miss. (Samantha)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
Little Kitty, Big City for Nintendo Switch, PC and Xbox – $25
Little Kitty, Big City is the vein of Untitled Goose Game and Goat Simulator, which is to say it’s about being an animal and causing an amusing amount of chaos as you run around causing problems on purpose. I’m not even going to pretend to be unbiased because I have two black cats with green eyes, so it was basically like playing my cats. On the day I was writing this up, I had to sit and supervise while the maintenance guys were fixing my dryer, because in the span of five minutes, one of my little kitties: attempted to eat a plastic bag some parts were in, tried to crawl inside some of the tubing, attempted to slither behind the dryer, and tried to headbutt the guys’ water bottle. The game perfectly mimics this experience with achievements for knocking things over, breaking things, napping, and other catlike activities, all accompanied by a pleasant soundtrack. You are seldom in any real danger and frequently you are being a little menace to society. It is basically perfect if you like cats. (Tom)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
Visions of Mana for PC, Playstation and Xbox – $60
In a heavy year for RPGs and JRPGs, Visions of Mana still carves out a unique space for itself. Not only is it the first new entry in the Mana series in almost 20 years, but its small, arena focused action combat helps provide a faster pace than some of its turn-based counterparts. The colorful and bright world is fun to explore and the quest set up in Visions of Mana provides a strong setup, letting the story move quickly out of the gate. If an action RPG sounds more your speed, Visions of Mana is an excellent choice. (James)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
SaGa Emerald Beyond for Nintendo Switch, PC and Playstation – $50
Some are constantly bellowing that games have become too easy, they long for the days of commonplace turn-based combat and questionable translations. For these battle-worn gamers the perfect gift might be SaGa Emerald Beyond, a turn-based JRPG with multiple protagonists, a world full of pitfalls, and a robust combat system that can be manipulated to your advantage. SaGa Emerald Beyond, like many SaGa games before it, features multiple protagonists with their own starting points and various paths to take making a fairly non-linear narrative experience. Featuring interesting and addictive gameplay elements like the glimmer system, allowing you to learn new moves during combat, and united attacks, having groups of allies participate in a series of attacks. SaGa Emerald Beyond might not be for everyone but it’s perfect for the battle-hungry turn-based JRPG fan in your life. (Nick)
Persona 3 Reload for PC, Playstation and Xbox – $70
Persona 3 Reload is one of 2024’s most well-received games. It launched earlier this year on February 1 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. As the name suggests, it’s a remake of the 2006 Persona 3. The remake faithfully brings the classic game to modern standards while introducing enough for newcomers to enjoy. The Persona series has always had a certain charm to it, in the sense of a group of kids coming together because they’re the only ones who can certain evil forces that threaten them. If you’re looking for a game with compelling characters and plenty of content to get lost in, Persona 3 Reload is the game for you. (Luis)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
Silent Hill 2 for PC, Playstation and Xbox – $70
You never know how remakes will go, so I had no idea how accurately the Silent Hill 2 remake would adapt and update the original title. Luckily, it’s turned out great, as the remake retains all of the eerie charm and haunting atmosphere of the original. The new performances are top-notch, the gameplay is tense and freaky, and the world is as rich and memorable as ever. If you’re shopping for gifts for any horror lovers out there, you can’t go wrong with a copy of Silent Hill 2. (Spencer)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
Jackbox Party Pack 10 for Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation and Xbox – $30
It had been a while since ive had friends over for an in-person game night, and Jackbox Party Pack 10 was essential to making the night memorable. The two stand out tiles in the pack we kept going back to were Tee-KO 2 and Timejinx. Tee-KO 2 continues to be chaotic and silly, and gives us all the option to remember the night forever, with our horrible shirt ideas now available as a hoody. Time Jinx takes the Jackbox classic concept of trivia and makes for a fresh experience. If you have to gather with people in a physical space, and socialize with them this holiday season, I’d recommend distracting yourself and those around you with Jackbox Party Pack 10. With minimal setup you’ll have even the least tech savvy person participating while you wait for dinner to be served. (Austin)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for PC, Playstation and Xbox – $70
Treyarch’s entries in the Call of Duty series have always been my favorite, so with it being four years since the last Black Ops title, and nearly ten since the one before that (we don’t talk about 4 in this house), I’ve definitely felt a bit starved for my silly conspiracy filled spy thriller and Black Ops 6 doesn’t disappoint. I’ve always preferred the more fantastical campaigns that Treyarch supplies, and Black Ops 6 keeps that up with an adrenaline filled campaign that bounces between high-octane action and patient stealth. Jumping into multiplayer after the campaign was like a refreshing visit with an old friend, as old muscle memory kicked in and I was immediately back in my groove. The omnidirectional movement is a very welcomed addition to the movement system that I hope is here to stay. And of course, zombies is always a blast to play through no matter what iteration of the mode we’re on. If you’re itching to get back into Call of Duty, I can’t recommend Black Ops 6 enough. (Diego)
Black Ops 6 is the best game in the Call of Duty franchise that we’ve had in years. It felt like the series was beginning to stumble with how Modern Warfare 3 was received, but Treyarch and Activision brought their A game with this one. The campaign is refreshingly bombastic, and better than any Hollywood blockbuster film that I’ve watched this year. It’s crazy to think that some kind of weird made up term like “omnidirectional movement” could lead to something exciting, but it really does freshen up the multiplayer moments especially. I am really looking forward to some downtime during the holidays when I can just dedicate myself to some Black Ops 6 multiplayer, with my friends across any platform thanks to cross-play. (Austin)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for PC, Playstation and Xbox – $70
The Like a Dragon series has always fascinated me. Slice of life Japan mixed with some truly exciting and bizarre story beats. With Infinite Wealth I learned that it’s more than just the Japan setting that does things for me, but it’s the strong characters and writing from the team at Ryu Ga Gotoku. Playing as Ichiban while exploring Hawaii has once again satisfied my travel itch. The depth of content and systems that i’ve come to expect from a Like a Dragon game are here again in Infinite Wealth and I found myself really sinking time into the Island and Pokemon style minigames this time around. I can’t wait to see what Ryu Ga Gotoku does next with the Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii spin-off coming next year! (Austin)
You can read our review of the game for more information.
