As the Christmas season looms closer, Santa’s mailbox fills and Black Friday veterans strap on their protective armor. And since stores are hell-bent on opening in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner, it’s probably a good idea to have an early handle on your wish list. For those who revel in the world of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and multiplayer modes, this holiday season has you set. For your shopping convenience, Release has compiled a list of the best new video games out in time for the holidays.
“Halo: The Master Chief Collection”
Price: $60
Platform: Xbox One
Available now
The first-person shooter space epic is being remastered in a collection well worth the price. The disc includes “Halo: Combat Evolved,” “Halo 2,” “Halo 3” and “Halo 4,” complete with all the original multiplayer maps with upgraded graphics. It’s a perfect game for any Halo fan wanting to stroll down memory lane since the first game’s release in 2001. The set also includes the live-action series “Halo: Nightfall,” produced by Ridley Scott and access to the “Halo 5: Guardians” beta.
“Assassin’s Creed: Unity”
Price: $60
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Available now
The Assassin’s Creed series takes its players through history as members of an elite assassin brotherhood. Using stealth and combat, they achieve peace through violence. This installment in the series brings players to Paris during the French Revolution. Along with the open-world single player mode, the game includes a cooperative multiplayer narrative.
“Grand Theft Auto V”
Price: $60
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release Date: Nov. 18
While the game was released over a year ago, it’s now being re-released for the next generation of consoles with new additions and gameplay upgrades. One of the biggest additions to the game is a first-person mode which up until now has never been a part of the GTA experience. As an incentive for those who have already purchased the game, exclusive content like weapons, vehicles and activities will be included with the new purchase.
“Pokémon Alpha Sapphire” and “Omega Ruby”
Price: $40
Platforms: 3DS, 2DS
Release Date: Nov. 21
As players return to the Hoenn region introduced in the 2002 games “Pokémon Ruby” and “Sapphire,” they’ll be accompanied by some of the changes brought to the newer generations of games, like the mega evolutions from “X” and “Y,” along with discontinued features like secret bases. This remake will also include a new evolution system called Primal Reversion, which will be very similar to the mega evolutions.
“Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix”
Price: $40
Platform: PlayStation 3
Release Date: Dec. 2
Other collections being remastered in HD are “Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix” and “Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix.” Both games, which were exclusive to Japan in their original releases, will now be available in North America in their entirety. Also included on the disc is an HD theater mode for “Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.” This will probably be the last Kingdom Hearts release until the highly anticipated “Kingdom Hearts III.”
“The Crew”
Price: $60
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Release Date: Dec. 2
“The Crew” is an open-world online racing game set throughout the United States, relying heavily on both exploration and customization. It’s estimated that it would take a player 45 minutes to drive from coast to coast in the game. The overall game consists of a single player campaign, cooperative multiplayer missions and an online racing mode with a maximum of eight players.