Time’s a tickin’, and hours are closing in, so if you haven’t picked up something for the gamer in your life, you’d best get a move on. Our own Wade Stokan recently shared his picks for some of his favourite games of the year. I will also throw in some suggestions, which you can buy physically or via online stores (PS5, Xbox, Steam) and gift to the ones you love.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Ubisoft
Let me say right up front, I am not a fan of the Avatar film franchise. Believe it or not, I even skipped Avatar: The Way of Water last year. While I can absolutely appreciate the stunning visuals James Cameron and his collaborators have created for Pandora, the story from the first film has always left me cold (and that’s after multiple viewings.) So, it’s with great relief that I can highly recommend playing Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. While I’m sure it helps to know the stories from both films, it is not necessary to enjoy this first-person, Far Cry-esque experience, in which you play as a Na’vi exploring a previously unseen area of Pandora. The visuals are gorgeous, the voice-acting excellent, and the gameplay, while difficult at times, left me feeling immensely satisfied when I accomplished my tasks. For fans of the films or the work of publisher Ubisoft, there’s lots of fun to be had with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
WWE 2K23
2K
If you’re a pro wrestling fan, you know that it’s been a big year for both WWE and AEW when it comes to video games. First up is WWE 2K23, yet another solid instalment in the long-running franchise that just a few years ago seemed to be on its last legs. You can read our review from the time of release here. It’s worth noting that I recently had the chance to play WWE 2K23 on the Steam Deck, and I was impressed with what that experience delivered. While you’re not getting PS5 graphics, the game still looks excellent and is easy to pick up and play on the handheld device. Anyone looking to take their favourite WWE superstars on the road with them can safely pick up WWE 2K23 for your deck.
AEW Fight Forever
THQ Nordic
Wrestling fans were also gifted the first video game from AEW, the world’s second-largest wrestling promotion. AEW Fight Forever harkens back to the golden age of wrestling video games like WWE No Mercy, and what it lacks in mindblowing graphics, it arguably makes up for in gameplay. Though the roster is thin, constant updates are being made via patches and season-based DLC content (though the latter is at a price.) AEW Fight Forever excels in the pick-up-and-play experience and is absolutely worth purchasing for fans of the upstart organization.
WrestleQuest
Skybound Games
And now for something completely different. WrestleQuest may feature some of pro wrestling’s familiar faces, but this is no one-on-one, enter-the-ring experience. Instead, developers Mega Cat Studios and publisher Skybound Games have taken wrestling into the pixel/RPG world. Whether the concept works is entirely up to you, but longtime fans of names like “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Diamond Dallas Page, Andre the Giant, and Jeff Jarrett will get a kick out of the sports entertainment meets The Legend of Zelda game.
Borderlands Pandora’s Box
2K
The Borderlands games are one of the most enduring franchises, and now you can get all the base games in one Pandora’s Box of a collection (see what I did there?) The graphics and gameplay for the games included are solid, and for newcomers who are interested in getting everything in one fell swoop, the Borderlands Pandora’s Box is the absolute way to go. Here’s what the set includes:
For the first time ever, get all six Borderlands adventures together in one mayhem-fueled package, all at an incredible value! Includes all six acclaimed base games from the Borderlands franchise: Borderlands, Borderlands 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Tales from the Borderlands, Borderlands 3, and New Tales from the Borderlands, as well as all of their add-on content*, in one giant bundle. Experience the iconic franchise that defined the looter-shooter genre with its over-the-top firefights, absurdly varied arsenals, and thrilling interplanetary adventures perfect for solo and co-op play. If you own any Borderlands game within the Borderlands Collection: Pandora’s Box, you’ll only pay for the content you don’t already own.
