It might have been an absolute mess in most other spheres, but 2016 was a killer one for gaming. So much so, that if you’re looking for that perfect present for the gamer in your family, it might be hard to narrow one down.
Here’s our suggestions for some of the best games this holiday period:
Blockbuster action: Battlefield 1 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
When they zig, you zag. With every other shooter these days going for the futuristic military field, Battlefield 1 brings back the old school feel. The single-player is decent, which is a nice change for the series, but the real meat here is in the multiplayer.
Thinking man’s action: Dishonored 2 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
Bethesda’s original Dishonored was a break-out hit with a fresh setting, even if it did take a lot of its cues from early stealth games such as Thief. Dishonored 2 builds on that success, but it’s a bit slower paced than some of the bigger blockbuster games. This is not really one for the run’n’gun crowd if they want to get maximum enjoyment out of it.
Under the radar: Titanfall 2 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
One of the resounding cries across the internet for the past few months has been that Titanfall 2 is criminally underrated. Perhaps they only have themselves to blame, releasing between two big blockbusters in Battlefield 1 and the latest Call of Duty. Best thing: all additional content is free. No paid DLC. No ‘season pass’.
Console specialist: Final Fantasy XV (Xbox One, PS4)
For a game that has gone through development hell (and this isn’t the last one on this list that has), Final Fantasy XV had every reason to fail. It’s still not perfect, but it’s far better than it has any reason to be. The biggest problem it has is not being available on PC.
Perfect for kids: Skylanders Imaginators (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Another year, another entry in the “bringing toys to life” category that at this point is a really thinly veiled attempt to extract maximum dollars from parents’ purses. But kids love it, and maybe that’s all that matters.
For the sports fan: Steep (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
There’s plenty of great sports titles out there at the moment that will tickle fans of their specific sports (NBA, FIFA, etc), but for all round interest, check out Steep. It’s a snowboarding simulator with a surprisingly open world that gives players the freedom to explore and tackle its challenges in a variety of ways.
Indie darling: Owlboy (PC)
This one is a blast from the past, but easily up there with some of the best games of the year. It perfectly captures that Super Nintendo-like feel, and delivers on the type of exploration and combat gameplay that just doesn’t exist in games anymore.
Portable powerhouse: Pokemon Sun/Moon (3DS)
It’s Pokemon – kids love it, even adults love it. If you or your giftee has outgrown their infatuation with Pokemon Go, maybe give this a try. It’s more than just a rehash of the same Pokemon game that’s come out for the past 15 years.
The one we waited decades for: The Last Guardian (PS4)
There’s a eerily similar feel to the remnants of Final Fantasy XV’s troubled development – not everything works that smoothly, and there are some odd design decisions that don’t seem to match the rest of the game. Many parts feel deeply outdated, but there’s puzzles to solve and you’ll probably cry at the end of it. What more could you want from the creators of Ico?
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