The Holiday season is upon us and it’s time to give a gift to your closest gaming friends, or send some not so subtle hints about what you’re after this year. But where to begin in a year that had so many great releases? Don’t worry, Checkpoint has you covered and I’ve assembled a crack team to bring you our picks for the year. So sit back and let Edie, Nat, Kolby, Tom, Omi and I do the heavy lifting this Christmas with our Christmas Gift Guide.
Not just for kids but also the grown ups who still love the bright and colourful fun that childhood brought with it. These titles will bring the joy and whimsy that you remember from the first time you loaded up your favourite game many moons ago.
— Cameron
Adventure Pals
Available on PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch & Xbox One
Your dad has been kidnapped. It’s up to you, your pet rock, and your interesting giraffe friend to journey the bizarre lands and overcome all sorts of peculiar foes. A quirky yet simple story fits the amazingly fun party gameplay perfectly. This whimsical game is fantastic for families, younger gamers, and any couch co-op party!
— Omi
Slime Rancher
Available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One & PC
Finally making its way to the PS4 this year, Slime Rancher is perfect for the whole family. Capture and care for adorable slimes as you explore the alien wilderness, and make your slime ranch the most amazing slime ranch in the galaxy!
— Tom
Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu & Let’s Go, Eevee
Available on Nintendo Switch
Do you often find yourself wishing that Pokémon were real? Boy, same here. While it continues to be a genuine tragedy that they aren’t, playing Pokémon Let’s Go: Pikachu and Let’s Go: Eevee makes me feel like that dream has finally come true. The world of Kanto comes to life in this fun and beautiful reimagining of Pokémon Yellow.
— Edie
Sometimes games are ahead of their times, that means that sometimes they released on hardware that maybe couldn’t do them justice. Perhaps you’re not old and grizzled like myself and there are some older titles that you want to try that you missed out on. Thankfully we can now rely on the modern trend of remastered titles to give these gems get a second chance at life.
— Cameron
Dark Souls Remastered
Available on PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch & Xbox One
Whether you have already completed Dark Souls or have never played it before, Dark Souls Remastered is worth your time. With improved lighting and gameplay tweaks, exploring the world of Lordran again is a blast. Not for the faint of heart, but if you can persevere through the high level of challenge, it is an immensely satisfying experience.
— Tom
The World Ends With You: Final Remix
Available on Nintendo Switch
Originally for the Nintendo DS, the punk-ish RPG The World Ends With You has been remade for the Switch in full HD. It’s a must-have for anyone looking for something different. Not only does it have a totally unique battle system, but it also has one of the coolest art styles ever.
— Edie
Shadow of the Colossus
Available on PlayStation 4
Critically acclaimed upon its original release, Shadow of the Colossus is now considered one of the most influential games and even one of the greatest games of all time. This remake follows in its footsteps earning widespread critical acclaim. If you missed it the first time, take some time this Christmas to give it a chance.
— Kolby
What’s better than smoking enemies or salmon with your closest buddies? Co-operative gaming has become a staple of the modern gaming world and whether you do it online or on the couch, it’s way more fun to do things with friends. What better excuse do you have to buy yourself a game then having to play it with the friend you bought it for? Aye?
— Cameron
State of Decay 2
Available on Xbox One & PC
Grab up to 3 friends and face the zombie apocalypse in this co-op survival title from Undead Labs. Build a base, grow your characters’ abilities, and manage resources to survive as a group in a post-apocalyptic world where choices matter and every decision has lasting consequences.
— Nat
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Available on PC, Xbox One & PlayStation 4
It’s gory, it’s challenging, it’s addicting, and – oh my – slicing pathetic rat plague foes is satisfying. Picture-perfect gift for the person wanting a multiplayer game for their crew to get sucked into for months, or a simple pick-up and play every now and then.
— Omi
Overcooked 2
Available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch & PC
If you’re looking for something to bring the family together after Christmas dinner, Overcooked 2 is a great gift idea. Assemble a massive array of crazy dishes in several varied kitchen types. It expands on the first Overcooked in just about every way, so if you’re looking for a game to bring out when friends are around, Overcooked 2 will serve you well.
— Tom
It’s almost $20 a ticket to go to the movies in this day and age and that’s just 2 hours, while games with strong narratives can go up to 30 hours or more and you can sometimes even change the entire direction of the story! It’s crazy! These games push the boundaries of mind bending narrative and heart stopping action that will put Hollywood to shame.
— Cameron
Red Dead Redemption 2
Available on PlayStation 4 & Xbox One
One of this console generation’s greatest achievements is Red Dead Redemption 2. Play as Arthur Morgan, and learn the fate of the Van Der Linde clan in this prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption. A sensational cinematic, open-world experience awaits those who jump into Red Dead’s wild west, as well as Red Dead Online, which pits cowboy against cowboy in the ultimate western sandbox.
— Nat
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Available on PlayStation 4
This is a super hero videogame done right. Despite the hype and puddlegate, Marvels Spider-Man turned out to be a delight and a contender for game of the year. If you have even a passing interest in Spidey, definitely add this one to your shopping list.
— Kolby
Detroit Become Human
Available on PlayStation 4
An emotional story that pitts androids against their creators, Detroit: Become Human has an engaging plot, amazing graphics and a stunning score. This one might make you forget you’re not in a cinema – until it comes time to decide the fate of its characters. How will your story end?
— Edie
Sometimes the smaller experiences can have the most heart and the freshest ideas. Independent developers are given the chance to stretch their wings and create something unique that comes from a place of passion for what they’ve always wanted to make. Support Indie developers, they come up with some of the coolest stuff.
— Cameron
The Gardens Between
Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & PC
Get your indie time manipulating puzzle on with this delightful adventure from local developers The Voxel Agents. Join Arina and Frendt as they explore their friendship over 20 magical abstract levels where you play as the passage of time.
— Kolby
Moonlighter
Available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One & Nintendo Switch
Play as Will, a shopkeeper who moonlights as a dungeon-crawling adventurer. Explore the procedurally generated dungeons, and then sell the loot you acquire to the townsfolk. If you are looking for a dungeon-crawler with a fun twist, Moonlighter could be perfect for you.
— Tom
Into the Breach
Available on PC & Nintendo Switch
The best gift for someone who wants to test their mind and enjoy unique indie-dev work these holidays. Into the Breach is one of the best turn-based strategy games to release this year. I mean, it won The Game Award’s Strategy Game of the Year and it’s developed by the same folk who made FTL: Faster Than Light.
— Omi
What’s better then some friendly competition, followed by some friendly apology after you spiked your friends Wii Motes into their hard wood floor after pummelling them into digital dust? No one can deny the little rush we get when winning and there is nothing wrong with being a little competitive, right?
— Cameron
Battlefield V
Available on PC, Xbox One & PlayStation 4
Battlefield continues to cement itself as one of the premier competitive shooters on the market in the most visually striking depiction of World War 2 ever made. Featuring 8 different multiplayer modes to squad up in, and a single-player mode for those moments when the party isn’t online. With a large-scale Battle Royale mode coming in early 2019, gamers with a taste for competition need look no further.
— Nat
Forza Horizon 4
Available on Xbox One & PC
The premier open world racing series returns for another stunning outing. This time it’s set in the UK and features a new seasonal weather system. Forza Horizon 4 is easily one of the best racing games of the year.
— Kolby
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Available on Nintendo Switch
The latest Nintendo brawler has finally hit the shelves, just in time for Christmas! If you have a Switch, I probably don’t need to tell you that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate should be in your library. Select your favourite character and beat your friends into dust across a huge range of stages and game modes!
— Edie
Full Review Coming Soon
If you were like me growing up you devoured every myth and folklore. C’mon, Greek Mythology was a very gay and very sexy time for the gods. There is a reason the stories of ancient cultures around the world have continued to effect modern literature, movies and definitely video games. With so many great options out there which pantheon are you going to beat into the ground?
— Cameron
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 & PC
Explore the rich history of ancient Greece in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the latest in Ubisoft’s premier open-world franchise. Play as Alexios or Kassandra in an epic story of war & betrayal, myth & monsters, and the complicated nature of family. Assassin’s Creed has never looked better, and Odyssey is a perfect entry for newcomers and long-time fans to get their historical fill.
— Nat
God of War
Available on PlayStation 4
The God of War series has always been set in the ancient era, but only really as a backdrop for its hack-and-slash action. Now, 2018’s God of War has crafted a world not only steeped in Norse mythology but also the culture and ideologies of the time. It’s easy to spend hours of playtime just immersing yourself in the lore!
— Edie
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Available on Xbox One, PC & PlayStation 4
Rounding out the rebooted Tomb Raider trilogy, Shadow of the Tomb Raider takes Lara Croft on her most dangerous adventure yet. Set in the treacherous South American jungle, the player must use all of Lara’s puzzle-solving and survival skills to stay alive and save the world.
— Tom
Halloween might be far behind us but we can’t help but continue to love the ookey spookey world of monsters. From the big lumbering Kaiju’s of Japanese cinema to the pulpy villains of the Universal Classic Monsters. Sharpened claws and gnashing fangs are always in style and this group are here to remind you why we’re still scared of the monsters under the bed.
— Cameron
Vampyr
Available on PlayStation 4, PC & Xbox One
Vampyr has a singularly unique and chilling premise. You play as Jonathan E. Reid, a doctor who is also a vampire with a taste for human blood. Will you succumb to you monstrous vampire temptations, or try to leave your patients alive as you make your way in Victorian London?
— Nat
Strange Brigade
Available on PlayStation 4, PC & Xbox One
For the fan of the mythological foes in Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey or Indiana Jones antics. Set in the roaring 1930’s, this third-person co-op shooter pits a crew of ragtag heroes against a range of supernatural enemies. Gather the crew and prepare yourself to defeat the evil amidst
— Omi
Monster Hunter: World
Available on PlayStation 4, PC & Xbox One
The Monster Hunter series is big in Japan, 45 million copies big. Monster Hunter : World is the series push for a western audience and it delivered. It was a game of the year contender and definitely one of the best RPGs of the year. See what all of the fuss is about this Christmas.
— Kolby
We hope this Christmas Gift Guide helped!
From all of us at Checkpoint have a great Christmas filled with plenty of games!
About the Author
Cameron Honey-Swain
Cameron knows what he loves. Witches, animated ducks and a strong burly female protagonist. When he isn't effortlessly defending Dragon Age II he is bothering either his husband or one of his many fur children.
