With Black Friday in throwing distance and the holidays just around the corner, the video game industry has begun its biggest battle of the year. Right now is when the world’s biggest game makers are putting out their most anticipated offerings in an all-out struggle to get a share of gamer’s wallets.
The offering this year is filled with incredible, ground breaking titles and we have compiled them right here to help you narrow down the options of which ones to buy this holiday season. Fortunately, you can’t really go wrong with any of the titles on this list.
They are all bound to be wildly enjoyable games. It all comes down to personal preference and which platforms you are able to play on. Just get the skinny here, and you will have a much clearer idea of how to get what you want out of the games being released this season.
US Release Date: November 10 Platforms: PC, PS4, XOne Genre(s): Action, FPS, RPG
It has been 7 years since the last full-fledged Fallout game (not counting Fallout: New Vegas), and post-apocalyptic open-world first person role playing game fans couldn’t be more excited for publisher Bethesda’s next entry into the series.
The game takes place in a war ravaged Boston, Ma. According to the developer, this game is both bigger in size and more detailed (containing over 400 hours of content).
For those who love to explore, discover new things and survive attacks from radioactive mutants, this game will have you glued to the television for months.
US Release Date: October 27 Platforms: XOne Genre(s): FPS
As the first new Halo game to release on Microsoft’s latest console and a console exclusive, Halo 5 Guardians had big expectations to justify the purchase of the Xbox One to a lot of people. Judging by the reviews it has received, it has not disappointed.
Critics are especially hailing the multiplayer, which is said to maintain all of the things that made the original Halo multiplayer mode great, while building and expanding to create a wonderfully rewarding experience.
US Release Date: September 1 Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, XOne Genre(s): Open World, Third Person Shooter
Metal Gear Solid V is, to date, among the very highest rated retail games of the year. It is a prime contender for game of the year among many video game publications, which is saying something in a year packed with great games.
It is a third person, stealth based, open world action game, in which the player uses all manner of futuristic (and sometimes absurd) gadgets and weapons to infiltrate bases, and complete missions.
The significance of this game is punctuated by the fact that it will be the last one acclaimed series director, Hideo Kojima, ever creates. To the delight of fans, his final game is a glorious achievement, enjoyable to those who are fans of the series and newcomers alike.
US Release Date: September 15 Platforms: XOne Genre(s): Racing
The latest instalment in Forza set out to blow everyone away with the sheer amount of content in this game, and they certainly succeeded. Forza Motorsport 6 boasts over 450 vehicles, 25 tracks, and a 70 hour single player campaign.
That’s a lot of racing. And with the XOne’s hardware at its disposal, the beauty of the cars and the sound of the engines have never been more real or vivid.
For anyone who has ever dreamed about speeding Ferraris and Lamborghinis through the world’s most beautiful race tracks and locales, it is time to stop dreaming and start playing, Forza that is.
US Release Date: October 20 Platforms: PS4, PS3, XOne, Xbox 360, Wii U Genre(s): Rhythm
Remember Guitar Hero? It was the game that filled our houses with little plastic guitars near the end of the last decade. After a multitude of sequels and expansions, people moved on, and the plastic guitars gathered dust. But now it is back to take over your living room once again, and it has been significantly changed from previous games.
A redesigned guitar controller houses 6 fret buttons (2 rows of 3), and a new mode streams additional new song content for you to play to keep things fresh. If you have been missing those old Guitar Hero sessions you used to have, and would like to relive the glory of being a faux rock god, your prayers have been answered.
US Release Date: November 6 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, XOne, Xbox 360 Genre(s): FPS
The follow-up to 2012’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II is coming this fall and it is set to bring even more over-the-top, futuristic, shoot-em-up action to gamers televisions. Set in 2065, players will be able to use the most cutting edge imaginary high-tech weaponry to mow down countless enemies (and zombies).
Four player online coop is a new addition for this iteration, and new gameplay mechanics like infinite sprinting and wall running are expected to put a new spin on the action. Did we mention it is packed with celebrities like Jeff Goldblum, Ron Perlman, and NFL star Marshawn Lynch? It should be a wild ride.
US Release Date: November 17 Platforms: PC, PS4, XOne Genre(s): First/Third Person Shooter, Multiplayer Only
It has been 10 years since the last Star Wars Battlefront game, and considering how beloved that game was, we have high hopes for this long awaited reboot. This game is all about joining a team and engaging in some of the most famous battles in the most iconic locations in the Star Wars universe.
This game exists to give players the opportunity to play out the most exciting scenes in the Star Wars Series. Players can assume the rolls of legendary characters like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Darth Vader, and fight for the Rebel Alliance or the Dark Side in this multiplayer-only fan service extravaganza.
US Release Date: December 1 Platforms: PC, PS4, XOne Genre(s): Third Person Shooter, Open World
Have you ever wanted to single handedly overthrow a power mad dictatorship? Of course you have. And now you can do it all while jumping out of helicopters onto moving cars and blowing up everything in sight.
Just Cause 3 is set to give you a playground of destruction to live out your wildest destructive impulses. Remember, it’s just a game.
US Release Date: September 29 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, XOne, Xbox 360 Genre(s): Sports
Critics are putting it among some of the best sports simulations available. This game has been made with basketball lovers in mind and puts them in complete control of the action. Players can design a team from the ground up, right down to the name and logo.
This game has been especially praised for the realistic portrayal of its featured NBA stars and the high caliber presentation of the games you can play. The game even brought on famous film director Spike Lee to contribute content to the story mode portion of the game.
US Release Date: November 3 Platforms: PC, PS4, XOne Genre(s): Racing
Need for Speed has been one of the longest running racing game franchises in history with a whopping 20 games released in the series so far. A new Need for Speed game is typically released every year, but this time the developers took two years to release this one since their last outing. We’re hoping this means more time spent making refinements and greater attention to detail.
Racers will be able to explore an open world with the backdrop of the west coast of the United States. If you’re feeling fast and furious, we recommend letting it all out here, and not on actual streets, preferably.
US Release Date: September 11 Platforms: Wii U Genre(s): Platformer, Game Creator
This year, Nintendo gives Super Mario fans what they have dreamed of since they played Super Mario Bros, the power to create their own Mario game. With this game, players have the tools to create the 2D side scrolling Mario levels they have always wanted.
Since the game’s release, it has been praised for the ease with which players are able to create great levels, and countless numbers of unique and imaginative levels have been created for people to play. This game is a celebration of all things Super Mario, and perfect for fans, young and old.