The holiday season is a great time to relax, spend some time with family and then spend even more time trying to blaze through your gaming backlog like a Charizard in a fire-red race car. Since game developers seem to think there are only three months in the year, many gamers often find themselves with nothing to play from spring through fall, then everything to play between Christmas and New Year’s.
While most holiday gift requests will be for the major blockbusters of the year — such as Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Titanfall 2, and Battlefield 1 — I’ve decided to dedicate this gift guide to the smaller titles you may not know about that are equally deserving of some playtime. The following six games may not melt your eyes with 4k graphics; but they’re brimming with heart and soul and, best of all, they’re fun to play. Here are my picks for video game holiday gifts the gamers in your life will thank you for:
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Bridge Constructor
Why buy it? I know what you’re thinking… How could a game based around building bridges be any fun? Actually, Bridge Constructor is a puzzle game of sorts that features realistic physics and equally unrealistic explosions. The game allows players to construct bridges of their own design, with the basic objective being to build a workable bridge that cars/trucks/fuel tankers will then attempt to cross. It’s easy to learn, can be played in short bursts and is actually a lot of fun. The upcoming PS4 release also includes the Slope Mania downloadable content (DLC), which adds even more complex challenges to the game.
Release Date: December 13 (PS4, already available on other platforms)
Price: $9.99 (PC, PS4, Xbox One) $1.99 (Android, iOS and Windows devices)
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One and Mobile Devices
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero
Why buy it? Shantae is a gaming franchise that has been around for almost 15 years now. Debuting as a Game Boy Color title back in 2002 (if you don’t remember the Game Boy Color, sigh, here’s the Wiki), the titular belly-dancing genie has been captivating a “modest,” but loyal, fanbase throughout her previous three adventures primarily on handheld devices. Her newest game, stylized as 1/2 Genie Hero, marks Shantae’s first time being specifically developed for HD consoles. The series is developed by WayForward, who serious gamers will know for their platforming chops as well as the recent Ducktales: Remastered remake. If you know any gamers who love the Donkey Kong Country series, odds are they will adore Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.
Release Date: December 20
Price: $29.99
Platforms: PS4, PS Vita, Wii U
ESRB Rating: T for Teen (Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes) because, and I’m quoting this directly from the ESRB, “several female characters wear bikinis or bikini-like outfits that reveal large amounts of cleavage.”
Stardew Valley
Why buy it? In a world obsessed with trending buzzwords like High Dynamic Range (HDR) and constantly pushing the boundaries of pixel counts and frame rates, it can sometimes be tough to play retro-inspired games with visuals reminiscent of the 8 and 16-Bit eras. But Stardew Valley is a game dedicated to improving upon the formula cooked up by classics like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley asks players to “learn to live off the land” by giving them the freedom to fish, farm and mine resources — with a little dungeon crawling thrown in for good measure — in order to build a sustainable living and become a productive part of their virtual community.
Release Date: December 13 (PS4), December 14 (Xbox One), already available on PC
Price: $14.99 (PC), TBD (PS4, Xbox One)
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: Not Rated (I recommend the game for teens and up, due to some light alcohol and drug references, and suggestive — though optional — sexual situations)
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (Season 3)
Why buy it? Don’t worry if you get nervous around controllers with a lot of buttons, The Walking Dead is very simple to play and leans on storytelling over fast-paced action (meaning you don’t “play” it as much as you “experience” it). The game stands completely alone and has nothing to do with the characters on the show, so you can play at your own pace and never have to worry about spoilers. That said, the characters in the game are just as easy to grow attached to. Season 3 of Telltale’s The Walking Dead, subtitled A New Frontier, is a must-own for gamers who played the first two seasons, and a must-try for Walking Dead fans who need more satisfaction than a weekly show can provide.
Release Date: December 20 (Episodes 1 & 2. Future episodes will release monthly)
Price: $29.99 (for the season pass, which contains access to all episodes as they are released)
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2
Why buy it? With Pac-Man Championship Edition 2, the bottomless sphere capable of eating ghosts (no explanation needed?) returns to his roots with a colorful, 3D twist. New game modes that will be unfamiliar to those who haven’t played the game in a decade or two include Score Attack and Adventure Mode; the latter features some game-changing boss fights, remixed rules and objective-based challenges. Plus, the console edition comes with three classic arcade games as a bonus: The original Pac-Man, Galaga & Dig Dug. It’s the perfect blend of old and new!
Release Date: Already available (released for PC on September 13 before releasing on consoles November 1)
Price: $12.99 (PC), $19.99 (PS4, Xbox One)
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone (though please note that this version of Pac-Man contains bright, pulsating, multi-colored flashing lights.)
ARK: Survival Evolved
Why buy it? ARK actually made last year’s holiday gift guide as well, back when it was just starting out its run on Steam Early Access. After a year of content and gameplay updates, Studio Wildcard announced alongside the PS4 version’s launch that ARK is intended to be content complete by Spring 2017. Players can finally enjoy the survival adventure that allows you to tame gigantic dinosaurs and dragons. Do you really need to know anything else?
Release Date: December 6 (PS4), already available on PC and Xbox One
Price: $54.99 (PS4, contains main game and Scorched Earth expansion)
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
ESRB Rating: M for Mature (Intense Violence, Blood)
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