Its been one heck of a year for us gamers. Fortnite continues its quest for world domination, Tetris became relevant again and Red Dead is still devouring everything in its path. But with this many huge releases devouring our time, it’s easy for some unsung gems to slip under the radar. Luckily for us, big ol’ Saint Nick will be nipping around soon, offering a chance to fill in those gaps in your library; and let your nearest and dearest pay for it – excellent. This is our list of games you absolutely need on your Christmas list.
Assassins Creed: Odyssey // PS4 and Xbox One
If like a lot of fans, you fell off the Assassins Creed bandwagon, now might be the ideal time to hop back on. Ubisoft’s latest iteration of its persistent open-world franchise marks an inspired return to form, and quite possibly the best entry in the series to date. This time around, the convoluted modern-day storyline has been placed on the backburner in favour of a more grounded, family-driven affair. All the hallmarks that make an Assassins Creed game are present, but each is given a new lease of life thanks to a huge overhaul. The dull combat has been replaced by a deep system with plenty of room for individualisation, the shaky water battles are now grand and satisfying, and the ancient Greek world is just dying to be explored. There is truly no better time to dust off those hidden blades and start barrelling over rooftops.
God of War // PS4
All the way back in May, Sony Santa Monica released what can only be described as a generation defining game. The God of War series was in dire need of a change. For the all earlier titles boasted in pure action and gameplay, it severely lacked in narrative and character development. This makes what Corey Barlog and his team accomplished with this reimagining all-the-more impressive. Main protagonist Kratos is totally transformed from an angry, lifeless one-man-army into a relatable struggling father who’s battling to steer his son on the right path. The game does a remarkable job of making you feel the pain, happiness and wonder etched on every character’s face, thanks in no small part to the inspired camera work; which firmly grounds you in the shoes of Kratos. Mix this with one of the most visually stunning worlds and perfectly written stories the PS4 has to offer – and you’re left with nothing short of a masterpiece.
A Way Out // PS4 and Xbox One
If there’s one thing we seem to be genuinely devoid of in gaming currently, its real quality co-op experiences. That’s what makes the success of A Way Out so exciting, it fills a huge gap in the market and delivers a unique experience all in one quirky package. The game itself is in an intriguing one, it revolves around two playable characters attempting to plan and execute a daring escape from a tightly guarded prison. Each stage of the plan can be approached from numerous different angles, requiring timing and communication to pull off smoothly. The whole the process has an immensely cinematic feel to it, encapsulating the nail-biting pressure of avoiding being caught and the heart-pumping thrills of a high-speed chase. Grab a mate and see how many times you screw-up.
Detroit: Become Human // PS4
The latest effort from renowned developer David Cage and Quantic Dream is arguably one of the best. Spawning from a mere tech demo in 2012, Detroit places you in the synthetic shoes of three different androids in their individual storylines. The studios tried and tested formula of branching dialogue options and dramatic set-pieces is here, and they may have finally perfected the concept they introduced with Heavy Rain in 2010. As is the draw with much of the studios work, the wealth of the game comes from the unpredictability of its plots. Most notably, this stems from the premise that any of the characters you control and interact with could ultimately live or die, depending on the decisions the player (that’s you) makes. No pressure then, cheers David.
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy // PS4 and Xbox One
If you’re after a healthy dose of nostalgia for Christmas, look no further than the definitive Spyro package. Remastered from Insomniacs beloved original, Toys for Bob (who handled the Crash Bandicoot reworkings) have done a wonderful job of bringing the purple dragons first three titles to the current generation of hardware. From a visual point of view, the trio has never looked better; every castle, tree and sheep absolutely pops with colour and looks how you thought it looked at the turn of the century. The now iconic 3D platforming stands the test time and feels as good now as it ever did, meaning you’ll want to free every dragon and collect every gem all over again. Whether you’re gliding though them for the first time or the twentieth, this is a collection that is more than worthy of Syros legacy.
