Holiday Gift Guide: 30 Video Games We're Wishing For
Thanks to our comprehensive list, you won't have to rely on Santa's fat ass to do your holiday shopping for you.
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Intro
When we were but tiny game journalists tied to our mothers' apron strings, we used to pray to Santa Claus to bring us the games we wanted. Then we found out it was actually our parents buying us those games, and we never forgave them for lying to us. Luckily for you, we're not your parents, and we would never lie to you.
That's why we put together this wish list—it's the 30 games we want most this holiday season. They're all recent releases, going back only as far as September, and they'll definitely please any gamer on your list. On the other hand, if you're like us (Scrooge, basically), you can just buy them for yourself. Either way, enjoy, and happy holidays!
30. Kirby: Return to Dreamland
30. Kirby's Return to Dreamland (Wii)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.41
Kirby's Return to Dreamland is well named—it's a welcome return to form for Nintendo's squishy pink mascot. It's perfect for oldschool gamers, fans of Nintendo games and kids alike.
29. Star Fox 64
29. Star Fox 64 3D (3DS)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Best Buy, $39.99
If you're going to revisit a classic, you might as well do it in 3D. That's what all the kids are saying, at least. Star Fox 64 plays smoothly on the 3DS, and the 3D graphical effects breathe new life into it. It's a great gift for anyone who played the original, as well as 3DS owners looking for a fun space-shooter.
28. Lord of the Rings: War in the North
28. Lord of the Rings: War in the North (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.96
Lord of the Rings games have a history of being rather hit-or-miss, but War in the North mostly falls on the side of hit. It's a good choice for Lord of the Rings fans, though there are some other fantasy games further down the list for non-Tolkien heads.
27. NBA 2K12
27. NBA 2K12 (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii / PC / PSP / PS2)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.99
The official NBA series is back with an update for the 2012 season, and it just may be the finest basketball video game ever made. That makes it the perfect gift for any sports fan on your list.
26. Dead Island
26. Dead Island (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $46.99
Dead Island is a gory zombie game, set on a disaster-stricken tropical island, with a focus on visceral melee combat and survival. If that sounds like it would appeal to someone on your Christmas list (and if they're a gamer, chances are it will), then it's the perfect choice.
25. Resistance 3
25. Resistance 3(PS3)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.99
Resistance 3 is a first person shooter set in the middle of the 20th century, giving it a unique mix of World War II-era and alien technology and weapons. Any PS3 gamers worth their salt will be well familiar with the series, since they're exclusive to the PlayStation 3, making Resistance 3 a no-brainer.
24. Rage
24. Rage (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $43.70
Rage is the new shooter from the developers who invented the genre 20-odd years ago. Luckily, it lives up to its pedigree, so it's a great choice for fans of first person shooters and rich single players experiences.
23. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
23. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.99
The long-awaited next entry in another classic series, Deus Ex: Human Revolution has a beautiful blend of role-playing and action elements. The plot will be engrossing to fans of sci-fi, and the hybrid gameplay should appeal to most gamers.
22. Goldeneye 007: Reloaded
22. Goldeneye 007: Reloaded (Xbox 360 / PS3)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.99
Goldeneye 007 is a re-imagining of last year's Wii re-imagining of the eponymous Nintendo 64 game from 1997. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions comes with updated graphics and other enhancements, as well as superior controls. It's an awesome gift for fans of the original or fans of shooters in general.
21. Gears of War 3
21. Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.99
Gears of War 3 is the perfect finale to a trilogy that, as far as Xbox exclusives go, is second only to Halo. Its macho gameplay should appeal to that man's man on your list, and its robust cover-based shooter gameplay should please fans of action games as well.
20. Fifa 12
20. Fifa Soccer 12 (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii / PC / PSP / 3DS / PS2)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $44.84
The Fifa series has always excelled at bringing the soccer (football, if you're a limey Brit) experience to video game systems. This year's entry is no exception, so it's perfect for soccer fans and fans of sports games in general.
19. Rayman Origins
19. Rayman Origins (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $58.99
The latest entry in the Rayman series has a unique art style and solid platforming gameplay, so it should appeal to young and old gamers alike.
18. Dance Central 2
18. Dance Central 2 (Xbox 360)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $48.86
The Dance Central series—from the developers that created Guitar Hero and Rock Band—is the perfect example of what Kinect (the Xbox 360's controller-less gaming add-on) excels at. Considering it's one of the outright funnest games available, it's a perfect gift for any gamer who has a Kinect and isn't a total stick in the mud.
17. Cave Story 3D
17. Cave Story 3D (3DS)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.99
Cave Story 3D is a reworked version of the 2004 PC game, and it fits perfectly on the 3DS. Its faux-classic , sidescrolling gameplay should please just about anyone with a 3DS, especially those who appreciate a unique experience when they see one.
16. Madden 12
16. Madden NFL 12 (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Wii / Wii)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $59.95
Madden 12 is the ultimate Madden experience. It's the twelfth entry in the only football series affiliated with the NFL, making it the perfect game for sports fans on your Christmas list.
15. Battlefield 3
15. Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $47.87
Battlefield 3 is one of the best modern combat simulators available today, and it's been vying for top spot against Modern Warfare 3 all year. The jury is still out on that rivalry (it'll likely remain there), but if your gamer giftee likes large-scale shooting games with multiplayer and vehicles, this one's for you.
14. The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection
14. The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection (PS3)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.50
This collection includes HD remakes of two of the finest games ever made, ICO and Shadow of the Colossus. They're sure to look gorgeous on today's giant screens, and their gameplay has aged well, so they'll definitely please anyone who played the originals.
13. Halo Anniversary Edition
13. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition (Xbox 360)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $37.99
Halo: Combat Evolved is one of the holy grails for fans of shooters on consoles, and this remake perfectly preserves its classic gameplay while updating it with gorgeous new visuals. It even comes in 3D, if you're into that. it's perfect for fans of the original, old school gamers and fans of the new Halo games (like Halo: Reach) alike.
12. Saints Row: The Third
12. Saints Row: The Third (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $55.58
Saints Row: The Third is like Grand Theft Auto on steroids and speed. It's a silly, epic crime game set in a huge city and with an enormous number of elements and mechanics. If the gamer on your list is old enough to commit vehicular manslaughter, they'll love it.
11. Forza Motorsport 4
11. Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.99
The Forza Motorsport series has become the highest-quality choice for fans of realistic driving games. With its tons of real-life vehicles to choose from and special features only usable with Kinect, hardcore and casual gamers will love it equally.
10. Dark Souls
10. Dark Souls (Xbox 360 / PS3)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $59.95
Dark Souls is a unique action-role playing game from one of the best Japanese developers around today. Its punishing difficulty may turn some people off, but for fans of fantasy games and those up for a challenge, it's one of the best choices on this list.
9. Super Mario 3D Land
9. Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.99
Super Mario 3D Land stands as the number one reason to own a 3DS. Its mix of 2.5D and 3D gameplay will please any Mario fan in existence (and there are a lot of them), so any 3DS gamers on your list will be thrilled to receive it in their stockings.
8. The Old Republic
8. Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $59.95
Star Wars: The Old Republic is like World of Warcraft for Star Wars fans. It's a massive multiplayer online game, and as such, it's perfect for PC gamers on your list.
7. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
7. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (Xbox 360 / PS3)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $39.96
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is (you may have guessed) the ultimate version of Marvel vs. Capcom: Fate of Two Worlds, released early this year. It's also the ultimate choice for fans of comic books and fighting games on your shopping list.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
6. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.95
The Legend of Zelda has always been one of the best series in video games, and Nintendo's latest entry doesn't disappoint. Its uniquely accurate motion controls should appeal to any Wii gamers aching for some swordplay, and its painterly visuals will cry out to fans of artsy games as well.
5. Batman: Arkham City
5. Batman: Arkham City (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.99
Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum, a game that defied the near-constant rule that video games adapted from other mediums are awful. Arkham City expands the scope beyond that of the original and builds on all the first game's strengths. It's perfect for Batman fans, as well as gamers who enjoy cinematic action games.
4. Uncharted 3
4. Uncharted 3 (PS3)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.99
Uncharted 3 is one of the biggest releases of the year. It continues the saga of Nathan Drake, explorer extraordinaire and descendant of Sir Francis Drake. Its mixture of shooting and climbing gameplay appeals to a huge chunk of gamers, and its movie-quality production values leave fans salivating. It's also a PS3 exclusive.
3. Assassin's Creed: Revelations
3. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $49.99
The ancient war between the Templars and Assassins continues in Assassin's Creed: Revelations. This entry in the Assassin's Creed series ties together the plots of the last three games, and its mixture of conspiracy theories and historical accuracy, combined with the series' crisp gameplay, will leave most gamers with a smile on their faces.
2. Modern Warfare 3
2. Modern Warfare 3 (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $51.99
Modern Warfare is the investment bank of the gaming world—too big to fail. The third entry is no exception, and for fans of the modern war series, there can be nothing better under the tree.
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC)
Click Here To Buy It Now At Amazon, $59.99
As the long-awaited fifth entry in the Elder Scrolls series of fantasy role-playing games, Skyrim had a lot to live up to—and thankfully, it delivered. With hundreds of hours of gameplay and miles of unique terrain, it's the best choice for any gamers on your list—that is, as long as you're okay with not seeing them for the next six months.
That's it for our wishlist! Check out the honorable mentions below and let us know in the comments if we forgot any good ones.
Honorable Mentions:
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (PS3): A collection of three classic stealth games redone in HD
Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii): An epic Japanese RPG
Bit.Trip Saga (3DS): A collection of six Bit.Trip games, unique in gameplay and visual flair
A Game of Thrones: Genesis (PC): A strategic war game set in the world of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire
Catherine (Xbox 360 / PS3): A distinctive blend of Japanese role-playing and puzzle gameplay for mature gamers
Sonic Generations (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC / 3DS): Another revival of classic Sonic gameplay for those still hoping he'll make a comeback