Welcome to our Gaming Holiday Gift Guide for 2024, where we recommend the best new games (digital and board!) for gamers of all ages.
After an explosive year in 2023, the gaming industry has taken a step back in 2024. Rumors and leaks of Nintendo’s next console, which press and gamers have dubbed “Switch 2,” have been building to an expected announcement sometime in early 2025. For that reason, this is the first holiday guide in a long time that we don’t recommend getting a Nintendo Switch.
This year also saw the embarrassing failure of a high-profile online shooter, and record layoffs throughout the industry.
But things are far from doom and gloom. The gaming industry continues to dominate culturally with big releases and fantastic indie titles, and live service games such as Fortnite, Genshin Impact, and Disney Dreamlight Valley continue to keep gamers hooked with big updates. And with WoW Classic 20th Anniversary Edition, it may be a great time to introduce your family to the beloved MMO.
Plus, we finally got the first Legend of Zelda game to actually star Princess Zelda!
Read on for our digital and board game recommendations in our Holiday Gift Guide for gaming families.
Board Games
Chronicles of Light: Darkness Falls (Disney Edition)
Chronicles of Light is a co-op action-strategy game starring Disney and Pixar heroines. Players work together on a modular map to complete their personal objectives, whether finding pieces of a torn scroll, rescuing citizens, or defeating a powerful enemy. Players use dice to defeat shadowy villains that populate the map, and each heroine has special skills that help players defeat the shadow vortex once and for all.
For fans of: cooperative games, strategy games, Disney
Command of Nature
An easier (and cuter) version of Summoner Wars, Command of Nature pits two or four players in a competitive battle. Each player chooses a faction, starts with an army in a grid-like formation, and uses cards to execute attacks and reactions. Between bouts, players build their decks with new creatures and action cards, making it the perfect introduction to deckbuilders and card battlers. The base game includes four factions, and an expansion adds another two.
For fans of: Dueling games, deckbuilders, card battlers
Disney Lorcana
Lorcana technically released last year, but Disney’s answer to Magic: The Gathering is still going strong, with the sixth wave, Azurite Sea, out this month. Lorcana is a collectible trading card game, with players purchasing starter decks and randomized booster packs to create competitive decks. Players take turns questing and building lore, while defeating their opponents’ summoned Disney and Pixar characters, items, and locations. The fourth set, Ursula’s Return, also introduced a solo and cooperative gameplay mode.
For fans of: Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon Trading Card Game, Disney
Garden Variety
This cute card game from the designers and artist of Unstable Unicorns has been a big winner with my kids. Garden Variety is a simple trick-taking game that even the youngest gamers can play. The dice adds a nice element of chaos, and the gnomes add the right amount of strategy to keep things interesting. Plus, absolutely adorable card art! The small box is perfect for a stocking stuffer.
For fans of: Simple card games, cute animals
Wyrmspan
It’s basically Wingspan with dragons, and that’s great, because Wingspan is one of our favorite games of the last decade. Wyrmspan tweaks the tableau-builder in some interesting ways, de-emphasizing eggs while adding manageable actions each round. Players will carve out their caverns, play dragons, and synergize new combos as they explore their caves. Highly recommend for fans of Wingspan, though we would probably recommend Wingspan first for newer and younger gamers.
For fans of: Wingspan, dragons, tableau builders
Consoles
Steam Deck
For handheld gaming, the Steam Deck continues to build steam (sorry), with fancy OLED screens and huge hard drives that can fit PC gamers’ expansive Steam library. Or grab the older LCD models for a reduced price. The Steam Deck costs as much as a new console, but if you’ve ever wanted to play PC games without having to be at your desktop, it’s a dream come true.
PlayStation 5 Pro
For the true gaming aficionado, Sony has released the PlayStation 5 Pro. With this half-step upgrade from the PlayStation 5, players no longer need to choose between graphics or framerate — everything is cranked to the max. The PS5 Pro features 4K resolution, advanced ray tracing, and 60-120 fps. Over 50 games take advantage of the Pro features, including Marvel Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Hogwarts Legacy.
Games for Younger Kids (Under 10)
Astro Bot
One of the biggest surprises of the year is Astro Bot, starring the closest thing Sony has to a cute little mascot. Astro Bot is one of the best reviewed games of the year, and up there with the best 3D platformers of all time, including Super Mario Odyssey. After an attack that scatters all his friends, Astro embarks on an intergalactic quest to recover over 300 bots across cleverly-designed levels. Long-time PlayStation fans will also get a kick out of the many references to other gaming heroes, such as Aloy and Kratos.
For fans of: 3D platforming, PlayStation characters
Available on: PlayStation 5
Crossy Road Castle
The former Apple Arcade co-op platformer released on consoles this year, and it’s quickly become a family favorite in my household. Up to four players in local or online co-op can journey through dozens of bite-size but super fun platforming challenges and boss battles. Secret paths, unlockable characters, tons of challenges, and a huge variety of towers and levels will keep you coming back.
For fans of: 2D platforming, cooperative games, party games
Available on: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Apple Arcade
Little Kitty, Big City
Little Kitty, Big City isn’t the first game to star a playable cat, but it’s certainly the most adorable. When the titular cat (safely) falls from their window, they become lost in a city. They must make their way back home by exploring their newly expanded space, and completing quests by the friendly local wildlife. Little Kitty, Big City is great for younger kids as it completely lacks danger or stressful action, focusing purely on chill exploration and cute cat-antics.
For fans of: Casual gameplay, 3D exploration, cats
Available on: PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Super Mario Party Jamboree
The 14th game in the party game series, Super Mario Party Jamboree is packed full of game modes, including a single player campaign, multiple online and co-op minigame suites, as well as the classic board game-like Mario Party. Whether this is your first time or you’re a longtime veteran, Jamboree is a fantastic entry, and the Mario Party series remains a hilariously fun local multiplayer experience.
For fans of: Party games, minigames, Mario characters
Available on: Switch
Games for Older Kids and Teen (10-16)
Disney Epic Mickey Rebrushed
Rebrushed is a modern, HD remake of the 2010 Wii adventure, Disney Epic Mickey. Disney Epic Mickey is a darker Disney game that explores the forgotten sides of Disney lore, including Oswald the Rabbit, in a gloomy, run down Disneyland. Even if not well-versed in Disney history or classic Mickey Mouse cartoons, players can enjoy a cult classic with modern improvements to graphics, gameplay, and storytelling.
For fans of: Disney, dark fantasy
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake
For classic RPG gaming, it doesn’t get much more classic than the Dragon Quest series. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a triumphant update to one of gaming’s earliest JRPGs. In Dragon Quest 3, players set off on a fantasy adventure, acquiring allies, exploring towns, and delving into dungeons to defeat monsters. The HD-2D style remains a fantastic art style for retro RPGs, and new voice acting, expanded storytelling, and streamlined combat improvements set the gold standard for a modern remake.
For fans of: Classic games, JRPGs, turn-based combat
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
The sequel to 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake continues the story of the original seminal RPG. Cloud and company have left the city of Midgar to explore the wider world as they race to prevent Sephiroth and Shinra from draining the planet’s energy. Players can enjoy an expanded story and overworld exploration, with an equally expanded real-time combat with character-switching. Rebirth is the second of a planned trilogy of games that will remake one of the greatest, most beloved RPGs of all time.
For fans of: Modern remakes, classic RPGs, Final Fantasy
Available on: PlayStation 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Though it looks like another anime-infused JRPG, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is closer to Monster Hunter than Final Fantasy. The action-RPG features a breezy story that introduces several fun characters and introduces the fun, action-packed combat. Players form a party and tackle waves of monsters or big boss battle missions to earn rewards and build out their favorite characters and playstyles.
For fans of: Monster Hunter, action-RPGs, anime
Available on: PC, PlayStation
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
If you somehow missed one of the best games on PlayStation 4, now’s your chance to catch up with Aloy’s post-apocalyptic, robot-dinosaur adventures with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. The remaster doesn’t try to change any of the amazing open world gameplay, focusing instead on providing an absolutely stellar visual upgrade for PS5 and modern PCs.
For fans of: Open world adventures, robot dinosaurs, female protagonist
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
It was a relatively quiet year for Nintendo, but they still managed to make history with Echoes of Wisdom, the first Legend of Zelda game to star Princess Zelda as the playable protagonist. That wouldn’t mean much if Echoes of Wisdom wasn’t also a great game. It combines classic, top-down, open-world Legend of Zelda wold design, with Zelda’s all-new unique ability to copy objects and creatures, deploying them to complete puzzles and defeat enemies. Plus, a fun story with high stakes that serves as a prequel to Link and Zelda’s earliest adventures.
For fans of: Zelda games, top-down adventure games, female protagonist
Available on: Switch
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor: ReFantazio is from many of the key designers from the beloved Persona JRPG series. Metaphor certainly plays out very similarly, with turn-based combat, stylish menus, memorable allies, social links, and grotesque monstrosities. But unlike the teen-Urban storytelling, Metaphor takes place in a high fantasy world fraught with war and prejudice. Yet the tone and storytelling is rated T versus the M-rating of the Persona series.
For fans of: Persona series, Atlus RPGs, fantasy RPGs
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a 2-in-1 game pack that includes a remaster of Sonic Generations, and the all-new Shadow Generations, starring Sonic’s brooding clone. The games combine the best of both Sonic gameplay styles: fast-paced side-scrolling levels with exhilarating 3D racing and platforming. Long-time fans will get a kick out of revisiting classic levels, from the 2D 90s era through Sonic Adventures and Sonic (2006).
For fans of: Sonic games, 3D and 2D platforming
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
Star Wars Outlaws
One of our favorite surprises of the year is Ubisoft’s open world heist-a-thon, which plays like a Star Wars-y version of Red Dead Redemption. Set smack dab in the middle of the original trilogy, Star Wars Outlaws stars new outlaw character Kay Vess as she works with, or against several criminal factions while building a team for the ultimate heist mission. Free roam around several different planets, including frequent Star Wars location Tatooine while taking down enemies, stealthing through bases, acquiring sweet new gear, and unlocking new abilities.
For fans of: Stealth games, open world adventures, Star Wars!
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Xbox
Unicorn Overlord
This year’s must-have tactical strategy RPG is Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord. The militant fantasy world is reminiscent of the the Fire Emblem series, but Unicorn Overlord blends real-time tactics with auto-battling armies. Players must recruit, outfit, and synergize units into well-balanced fighting forces through a lenghty, world-spanning campaign over multiple continents, with tons of side quests and secrets along the way.
For fans of: Fire Emblem, tactical-strategy games, strategy-RPGs
Available on: PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
Games for Older Teens and Adults (17+)
Black Myth: Wukong
While not quite as universally beloved as a FromSoftware Souls game, Black Myth: Wukong is the go-to choice for hardcore Soulslike fans who love serious stories, challenging battles, and grim worlds. Chinese studio GameScience created the world based on one of China’s biggest classical stories, Journey to the West, starring the titular anthropomorphic ape-warrior on a quest to prove himself.
For fans of: Soulslike, action-RPG, Chinese mythology
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Dragon’s Dogma 2
A very long awaited sequel to a cult classic action-RPG, Dragon’s Dogma 2 places players into a high fantasy world of big monsters and customziable sidekicks called Pawns. Once again, the player character becomes Arisen after having their heart stolen by a dragon. Players can choose among several classes, and together with their pawns, explore the world, deal with factions, complete quests, and engage in epic battles.
For fans of: Open worlds, action-RPGs, giant monsters
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 is a masterclass in streamlined multiplayer. No battle passes or live service, just a great co-op sci-fi shooter as players drop down onto planets to complete randomized missions, while surviving against waves of enemies. Helldivers 2 features two main enemy factions, the bugs and the robots, and both play completely differently. Players unlock more varied weaponry and deployable strategems to stay alive. The huge amount of difficulty levels and tense gameplay will keep divers coming back for more.
For fans of: Starship Troopers, sci-fi military, co-op shooters
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance
In case you missed 2021’s Shin Megami Tensei 5 (or down own a Switch), Atlus released the improved and expanded version, Vengeance, this year on multiple platforms. The hardcore creature-collecting RPG series deals with serious themes and morals (often religious in nature, and SMT5 is no exception). Unlike previous games in the series, SMT5 features a 3D open world full of demons to battle and recruit. Gameplay demands players learn their foes and exploit their elemental weaknesses during turn-based combat.
For fans of: Atlus RPGs, hardcore RPGs, JRPGs
Available on: PC, PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
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