Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Games

It would be hard for any year to top 2017 in the games department. Not only did new and improved versions of consoles launch, but a brand new one from Nintendo, the Switch, hit store shelves. Couple that with some incredible games, and you've got a year for the books. 2018 has been no slouch, though, with a ton of amazing games all vying for your attention. We've narrowed it down to 20(-ish) that we think are worth your hard-earned dollars. Not only that, but a year with no brand new hardware means a year that should hopefully be easier on your wallet. Whether you're picking up gifts for a loved one, or showering yourself with a few holiday gifts of your own, you're sure to find something perfect in the list below. Keep in mind, despite all the different versions of consoles out there (PlayStation 4 Slim vs. PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One vs. Xbox One X), any game designed for a system will work on any variant of that system. So, feel free to buy games with reckless abandon this holiday season.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

There are a plethora of Dragon Ball Z games to choose from, but Dragon Ball FighterZ is something special. Few games have truly captured the feeling of watching the anime quite like this one. From over-the-top power-ups to screen-filling attacks, this game oozes Dragon Ball from every pore. The cast of characters is large and varied, and the fighting mechanics are tight and responsive. There's a reason Dragon Ball FighterZ has made its way into the pro-gaming circuit. This is the definitive Dragon Ball Z fighting game on the market today.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Combining the magic of a Studio Ghibli world with a fast-paced action RPG is a winner on paper, and it works even better in practice. Sequel to 2013's Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Revenant Kingdom abandons its predecessor's methodical turn-based combat for more action-heavy fare. As the child king of a nation in peril, you must bring together a cast of colorful characters (literally and figuratively) to beat back evil and build your kingdom. The plot and localization are top notch, and you'll fall in love with every quirky personality in your group as you strive to save the world.

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

The Godfather plus karaoke. Goodfellas plus mahjong. Scarface plus cat cafes. How can a Japan-loving gamer ask for anything more? The long-running Yakuza series reaches its final(?) chapter, and there's more to do than ever. As Kazuma Kiryu, former yakuza and surrogate father to an orphanage full of kids, you must take once again to the streets to uncover the mystery of what happened to Haruka, a former pop idol who wound up in a coma due to a hit-and-run. With all the action and crazy side activities fans of the series have come to expect, Yakuza 6 is a fantastic swan song for series star Kiryu, and a blast to play even if this is your first trip to the mean streets of Japan.

Platform: PlayStation 4
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory

Sick of playing second fiddle to Pokemon, Digimon has seen a bit of a revival lately, at least in the U.S. The sequel to the well-reviewed Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, Hacker's Memory acts as a parallel story to its predecessor. Fans of the original will be psyched to see some of their favorite characters cross over, giving them another perspective on their stories. Besides that, there are 341 Digimon to collect, almost a hundred more than the previous game. RPG fans with nostalgia for the world of Digimon can't go wrong with this one.

Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Retail Price: $29.95
Shopping Link: Amazon

My Hero: One's Justice

For frantic, high-intensity battles, there are few anime that deliver quite as well as My Hero Academia. Likewise, if you're itching for a gameplay experience that echoes the show and provides a fun challenge all its own, check out My Hero: One's Justice. Brawls are fast and fluid, and the cel-shaded graphics capture the MHA feel almost perfectly. You'll want to be familiar with the show in order to get the most enjoyment from the story mode (it's essentially a retelling of the latter half of season 2 and the first half of season 3), but there are also other modes to enjoy, like Mission Mode that sees you undertaking challenges in a variety of stages, as well as Online Mode and a standard Arcade Mode. Fans of the series will definitely want to give this a play.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Despite its overwhelming popularity in Japan, the Dragon Quest series hasn't quite caught on in the West -- which is a real shame, because they are some of the best JRPGs on the market today. The newest entry, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, is a masterpiece of RPG design. An epic quest filled with lovable characters and charming dialogue and exciting combat, DQXI is a new high watermark for roleplaying game design. The Akira Toriyama-styled characters are a real standout, looking fantastic in HD. More people need to experience Dragon Quest in the West. Put it on your wishlist ASAP.

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Valkyria Chronicles 4

The Valkyria Chronicles series got off to a great start ten years ago, but it fizzled out quickly, with the third entry never even arriving on our shores. Now, Valkyria Chronicles 4 hopes to reestablish the franchise as a powerhouse in the tactical JRPG genre. You take on the role of squad leader for a military force embroiled in an alternate-reality World War II. Battles are planned strategically, but individual character turns play out like a third-person shooter, with semi-real-time combat and all. The melodrama takes place in comic- or visual novel-esque sequences, and every second highlights the game's gorgeous anime watercolor art style. Encourage Sega to keep these games coming, and pick it up this holiday season.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

The Alliance Alive

Those who love a deep, dense JRPG with interesting characters and a compelling plot have had a lot to choose from in recent years, and a surprisingly large number of those titles have appeared on the Nintendo 3DS. The Alliance Alive continues the trend. With its complex battle and leveling systems, and its punishing difficulty, this isn't for RPG newcomers. But longtime fans of JRPGs, especially systems-heavy titles like the SaGa games, will find a lot to love here. Recruit characters from a variety of backgrounds and take on an oppressive regime that has cordoned the world off into disconnected zones separated by massive walls, and enjoy the charming art design and beautiful musical score along the way.

Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Retail Price: $39.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Attack on Titan 2

Join the cast of the anime as you zip around battlefields, taking down giants, in Attack on Titan 2. A retelling of the first season of the show (as well as part of the second), you'll create your own character and enter the fray, taking on a variety of different missions. From straightforward, kill-every-titan levels to escorts or base protection, each new mission takes you deeper into the story. While fans of the original game might be bummed to have to wait to get into the new, Season 2 material, this makes it a great starting point for newcomers to the series. Throw in some online cooperative play and competitive modes, and you've got the best Attack on Titan game yet.

Platform: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition

The idea of taking a game as massive as Final Fantasy XV and cramming it into a mobile title sounds ludicrous. However, that's just what Square Enix did with Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition. A lot of the extraneous features of the original have been cut, leaving only the main storyline, and a modified combat system makes playing on the go much more palatable. Still, this is Final Fantasy XV; a condensed version of it, but Final Fantasy XV all the same. You'll follow the same grand plot, meet the same characters, and have the same overall adventure, just in a chibi art style that breaks hard from the original game's realism.

Platform: Mobile Devices, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Retail Price: $29.99
Shopping Link: PlayStation Store | Xbox Store | Nintendo Store | iOS App Store | Google Play

Monster Hunter World / Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Few series are as beloved by their hardcore fans as Monster Hunter. Capcom released Monster Hunter: World at the beginning of this year, and it proved an excellent entrypoint for series newcomers. These games are known as much for their complicated gameplay systems as their colossal beasts, so World’s simplified gameplay was a real boon. Plus, being on current-gen hardware, teaming up with your friends to take down massive monsters has never looked so stunning. But if you're more of a hardcore monster hunter, Generations Ultimate, on Nintendo Switch, will serve you nicely. It's classic Monster Hunter at its finest, with a collection of areas, monsters, and more from across the series's lifespan. Whichever you choose, you'll have a blast managing your loadout, choosing the best weapon, and tag-teaming a Great Jagras with your friends.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC - Monster Hunter: World | Nintendo Switch - Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon - Monster Hunter: World | Amazon - Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time

At the start of her summer vacation, clumsy witch-in-training Akko accidentally unleashes a curse that dooms her to repeat the same day over and over. In this original story, voiced by the Japanese cast of the hit anime, you'll take control of Akko and her friends as they fight to uncover the truth behind the curse and set things right again. Combat takes place from a side perspective, similar to classic beat-em-up games of the 16-bit era, but with lots of flashy spell effects. Your chosen character is joined by two A.I. partners, and with all that magic on the screen, things get frantic fast. For fans of the anime, Chamber of Time is a no-brainer. Its authentic style and fast-paced gameplay are sure to be a hit.

Platform: PlayStation 4, PC
Retail Price: $49.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far

Maybe you've heard about Kingdom Hearts from your JRPG-obsessed friends. Maybe you're intrigued by the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III but, knowing how story-heavy these games are, you're not so sure you want to jump in without any context. Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far is for you. It collects every major Kingdom Hearts release from the very beginning, and gives them all a nice, HD shine to boot. We're talking about six classic games, along with three games’ worth of additional content in movie form. It's the entire KH saga in one easily digestible package. Whether you're just getting into the series or reacquainting yourself, The Story So Far will get you hyped for Kingdom Hearts III in 2019.

Platform: PlayStation 4
Retail Price: $39.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Nintendo Labo

The lone piece of hardware on this list, Nintendo Labo is a bit of an odd duck. Comprised of a series of cardboard build-it-yourself models, Labo opens up new and exciting ways to experience video games. Construct a piano and compose catchy tunes, or build a robo suit and take on the role of giant rampaging robot. Seemingly complex series of strings and cardboard pieces control your Switch's Joy-Cons, giving you a sense of interacting with real objects as you play. Punch while equipped with the Toy-Con Robo Kit and watch as your in-game robot does the same. While this may be aimed primarily at younger players, it's a ton of fun for grown-ups, too.

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Retail Price: $59.99 to $69.99
Shopping Link: Amazon - Robot Kit | Amazon - Vehicle Kit | Amazon - Variety Kit

The World Ends With You: Final Remix

Nowadays, the Persona series gets all the credit for creating super-stylish JRPGs, but The World Ends With You is a strong contender, as well. Originally released on the Nintendo DS, this remaster/remake for the Switch includes a revamped control system and a brand new bonus scenario to play through once you've completed the main game. For a stylish RPG with a great soundtrack and a compelling story, you can't do much better than The World Ends With You: Final Remix.

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Retail Price: $49.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology

Another formerly Nintendo DS game given new life, this time on the 3DS, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is like the perfect second-coming of the PlayStation 1-era JRPG. It's fully voice-acted story is full of twists and turns, and the time travel focus means a lot of backtracking -- but the fun kind. Couple that together with a battle system that requires you to strategically knock monsters around the battlefield, and you've got a game worthy of being in every JRPG fan's collection. Grab this, especially if you missed the original the first time around.

Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Retail Price: $39.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

SEGA Genesis Classics

The console wars are over, and if you were Team Super Nintendo, you owe it to yourself to check out the best the Sega Genesis had to offer. Fortunately, it's easier than ever to do that today. The SEGA Genesis Classics collects more than 50 games together in one package. And these aren't lightweight shovelware. We're talking classics from series like Streets of Rage, Shining Force, and Phantasy Star. And, of course, the requisite Sonic the Hedgehog.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Retail Price: $29.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Based on the much-loved comics series from the 90s, Battle Chasers: Nightwar mixes JRPG-style combat with elements of Western RPGs such as Diablo. You'll get sucked in by the art style, with its anime-inspired characters and darkly oppressive environments. Battles revolve around the strategic use of Overcharge, a mechanic that rewards players for using weaker attacks in order to charge up for powerful mana-based abilities. As far as Western-developed RPGs inspired by the Japanese greats go, Battle Chasers: Nightwar stands toe-to-toe with the best. And now that it's on Switch, you can take it anywhere. Fully fledged RPGs on the go are the best.

Platform: Nintendo Switch (also available previously on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
Retail Price: $29.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise

Famed developer of the Yakuza series takes a stab at Fist of the North Star, and the results are brutal. Set in an alternate timeline, Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise follows series hero Kenshiro as he seeks to right the wrongs of the world with vicious punches. Combat is as fast and frenetic as you would expect from the series. Aside from that, there are plenty of side activities that show off a uniquely absurdist sense of humor (fans of the Yakuza series will probably know what I'm talking about).

Platform: PlayStation 4
Retail Price: $59.99
Shopping Link: Amazon

Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight / Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight

While they're not hitting store shelves until December, it's never too early to plan your Persona dance party. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight are the latest in the series of Persona dance spinoffs, featuring your favorite characters busting a move to remixed Persona tracks. If you're familiar with the main games, you know the music is fantastic, and these games put the focus squarely on that, with an emphasis on rhythm-based inputs. If you preorder the dual pack, Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection, you even get an exclusive PS4 digital download of the original Persona dancing game, Persona 4: Dancing All Night.

Platform: PlayStation 4
Retail Price: $59.99 (P3 & P5 Dancing, individually) | $99.99 (Endless Night Collection)
Shopping Link: Amazon - P3: Dancing in Moonlight | Amazon - P5: Dancing in Starlight | Amazon - Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection