Christmas is just a month away and it’s about time to get with the holiday vibe. Well, I am anyway. I’ve got my Christmas tree, a mini Christmas tree for my desk, glitter in my pocket, I just love Christmas!
It’s selfish of me to keep the Christmas cheer to myself, even if it’s a tad early, so I’m going to do my part and spread the joy! Not in the form of free games I’m afraid, but instead I’m going to let you in on the top 10 games that you should definitely ask Santa for this Christmas.
In no particular order…
1. Assassin’s Creed III (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii U, PC)
Assassin’s Creed III is undoubtably the best in the series. A huge open world for you to run around and kill people, and a new addition to the series, animals! So now you are not only a hunter of man, but you can live the fantasy of collecting animal pelts and selling them on for profit.
That’s not all, of course. Assassin’s Creed III marks the end of the road for Desmonds story, and if you have been following the series from the beginning then you will want to play though and reach the epic conclusion. I won’t spoil it, you’ll just have to wait until Christmas day.
2. Borderlands 2 (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
A first person shooter with an RPG twist, if the original Borderlands was a triumph in mashing the two genres together, Borderlands 2 is the master. Hundreds of hours of gameplay are possible, especially with massive add-on packs available, and for more than a reasonable price. Packed with enough content to keep you away from the family over the festive season, you won’t be disappointed if Santa drops this on you.
3. LittleBigPlanet Vita (PS Vita)
LittleBigPlanet, but in your pocket. Need I say more? I probably should.
If you’ve played through LittleBigPlanet 2, this is essentially more of the same, albeit for a few Vita exclusive features. The best part it, it’s not just one game, it’s thousands!!! With the ability to craft your own levels and download the weird, wonderful and wacky creation of other players, this will be sitting in your PS Vita for months. Plus, it’s going to be a bit cheaper in the run up to Christmas, so start leaving hints for your other half/mum and dad!
4. The Walking Dead
Don’t get this confused with AMC’s television series, The Walking Dead. It’s based on the same source material, but has nothing to do with the television series.
Instead, Telltale Games produced a five-part, point-and-click horror game. It may sound a bit babyish, and the graphics may not be the most realistic, but my word, this is one hell of a series. Initially released as episodic content to download through Xbox Live or the Playstation Store, Telltale have confirmed the series will see a retail disc-based released featuring all five episodes. Currently it’s set for release on December 4th, just in time!
5. Dishonored (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
It’s a rare occurrence these days for a brand new intellectual property to be released without there being some sort of red dot sight making its way in there.
Dishonored is different, in fact it’s unique to all other games that have released this year. You play as Corvo Attano, an assassin out to exact justice on those who framed him for murder. Played from a first person perspective, you traverse the steam punk city of Dunwall while taking out foes with your many weapons, or magic, or not at all. The unique thing about Dishonored is that you can go through the entire game, start to finish and not kill a single person. If you haven’t gotten around to playing through this one, then get it on your list, you won’t be disappointed.
6. Far Cry 3 (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
What do you want from your shooter games? If it’s multiplayer, your best off sticking to Halo 4 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. If it’s a single player experience that you’re looking for, Far Cry 3 will more than sort you out.
You’ll find yourself on several occasions picking your jaw from the floor when playing Far Cry 3, simply because it’s a highly polished action-shooter. A story with characters that are unforgettable as well as some of the smoothest open world gameplay makes Far Cry 3 the most exciting first-person-shooter this year, and yes I am aware that Halo 4 and Black Ops 2 were released this year, but neither of them can hold a torch to the single player offering of Far Cry 3.If you find this in your stocking, you’ve been very well-behaved and deserve to enjoy every moment.
Or you bought it for yourself…
Check back this weekend for a full review of Far Cry 3.
7. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PS Vita, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, PC)
The Lego games have gained many fans since the first Lego Star Wars game baffled and amused us with the silly jokes and addictive smash-everything gameplay.
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is no different, well, except this time around the little Lego character now have voices instead of sounding like they are chewing on a sock. That’s not all that’s new, you can now tear it up Batman style along the open-world iteration of Gotham City.
Over 70 characters to unlock and play as, including but most definitely not limited to, Flash, Superman, Batgirl, Robin, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. If this isn’t on your list this Christmas, you have either played it, or you are evil and don’t like Lego. Only evil people don’t like Lego.
It should also be pointed out that the console versions are the version you should go for, the handhelds are a little bit disappointing.
8. Sleeping Dogs (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC)
If you’re growing tired of Grand Theft Auto IV and need an open-world adventure to see you through until the release of GTA V, Sleeping Dogs will do just fine.
Sleeping Dogs takes you along for one hell of a ride across a fictionalised version of Hong Kong. You might think this is no more than a GTA rip-off set in Hong Kong, but it’s not. Sure there’s some similarities, they’re both open world adventure games, but that’s as far as the similarities go. Where in GTA you will be running through missions with an assortment of guns hidden in Niko’s jacket, Sleeping Dogs has you beat the living reign bells out of the bad guys, with the occasional firefight to mix things up. It might sound odd, but trust me, the beast and smash style fighting is as satisfying as you could wish for.
Just make sure it isn’t on the family TV when the family comes over on Christmas Day…
9. Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale (Playstation 3, PS Vita)
Sony’s answer to Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. comes in the form of Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale, pitting the most unlikely of characters against each other in a fantastic 2D arena based brawler.
It’s got a single player mode, it’s got and online multiplayer mode, but best of all, it’s got local multiplayer mode. Get some mates or family members and lay down the smack talk while you pummel each other with the best of Sony’s franchised characters, as well as a few third party guests. There is literally nothing better in this life than beating the fluff out of Sackboy. Other than beating an actual Sackboy teddy, of course.
Seriously though, this will keep you and your mates laughing and competing for months, the gameplay is solid and as an added bonus, if you own a Playstation 3 and a Playstation Vita, get the PS3 game and you’ll receive a free copy of the PS Vita version. Bargain!!!
10. ZombiU (Wii U)
If Santa is bringing you a Wii U this Christmas, I hope ZombiU was on the wish list.
ZombiU is Ubisoft’s take on a zombie apocalypse. Set in London, you beat zombies around the head with cricket bats, shoot them with guns, the standard really. What makes ZombiU unique is the way in which you play. Utilising the Wii U’s Gamepad, you get the real feel of immersion into this dark and nasty world.
That’s not all, once you die, that’s it for that character. You re-spawn as a new character, and if you want to get hold of the goodies you had stashed with your now zombified previous character, you have to go back to the place you died. Die hard zombie fans will love it, not one for your younger siblings to play on Christmas day though…
Whats on your list this Christmas? Anything from our list? Or is there a game you think we left out? Let us know in the comments below.