Following up on November’s packed roster of new and exciting video game releases, December is coming in hot with its own host of titles to keep up the end-of-the-year momentum. This month is sure to satisfy fans of both long-running franchises and smaller indie titles alike. From IP debuts to fresh entries in already beloved series, December is shaping up to be a good month for gaming.
Anyone looking to either treat themselves or their loved ones with a new game for the holiday gift-giving season needs to look no further than this month’s releases. December’s games all vary greatly in content, gameplay, and style, offering a little something for every type of gamer. Whether players prefer sci-fi adventures, spine-tingling horror escapades, or folklore-inspired worlds, this month’s games have it all and more.
The Callisto Protocol Is a Love Letter to Dead Space
Releasing December 2 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, and PC
The spiritual successor to Dead Space, The Callisto Protocol is a third-person survival horror game that sends players to Jupiter in the year 2320. Players control Jacob Lee, an inmate at Black Iron Prison who must survive the horrors that lie in his path as he attempts to escape. A tense and disturbing atmosphere serves as the backdrop for the gruesome combat that’s at the core of The Callisto Protocol‘s gameplay. This story-driven sci-fi game comes from none other than Glen Schofield, known for his work on the original Dead Space.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns Brings Beloved Heroes to a New Format
Releasing December 2 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, and PC
For fans of strategy games and Marvel’s superheroes, Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a tactical RPG from Firaxis, the team behind XCOM. As a departure from XCOM, however, Midnight Suns has a heavy focus on card-based mechanics. Playing as the Hunter, Marvel’s first ever fully customizable character, players are tasked with leading a team of superheroes and supernatural warriors to fight a catastrophic force of evil. On top of fan-favorite Marvel heroes such as Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, and Doctor Strange, Midnight Suns will also offer a season pass that introduces even more characters.
Need for Speed Unbound Takes the Racing Franchise in a Fresh Direction
After a few missteps in recent years, the racing game franchise Need for Speed is stepping in a new direction with its latest entry, Unbound. The game features both single and multiplayer campaigns, an anime-inspired art style, and of course, high-speed illegal racing. Notably, A$AP Rocky’s music will be part of the soundtrack, and the artist himself will appear as a character in the game. While Need for Speed Unbound officially launches on Dec. 2, those who purchased the Palace Edition get to play the game a little early.
Hello Neighbor 2 Is the Follow-Up to a Stealth-Focused Success
Releasing December 6 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S, and PC
Following in the footsteps of its 2017 predecessor, Hello Neighbor 2 is a horror game with an emphasis on stealth. Players return to the town of Raven Brooks as a journalist investigating a series of missing children reports. Not only must players find out the truth about Mr. Peterson (The Neighbor), but they can also uncover the secrets and scandals of the various residents of Raven Brooks. To make the game even more challenging, every character is powered by AI and adapts their behavior as they learn the player’s patterns.
Dragon Quest Treasures Follows Two Fan-Favorite Characters’ Childhoods
Releasing December 9 for Nintendo Switch
A spin-off of the beloved Dragon Quest JRPG series, Dragon Quest Treasures follows siblings Erik and Mia, who first appeared in Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. Living on a Viking ship, the two are transported to the fantastical world of Draconia, full of treasure for the taking. As they search for treasure, players also recruit monsters and fight off opponents, all while being accompanied by cute animal sidekicks. Unlike the main series games, Dragon Quest Treasures plays entirely in real-time.
Choo-Choo Charles Is a One-of-a-Kind Nightmare
Releasing December 9 for PC, console release planned for 2023
Choo-Choo Charles is one of the more unique games to launch this month. Gavin Eisenbeisz, the sole indie developer behind the game, came up with the concept for his terrifying train-based villain while lamenting the lack of horror games that parody children’s TV show characters. Choo-Choo Charles takes place on an island plagued by a bloodthirsty train that runs around on spider legs. Players must survive this evil locomotive’s rampaging while fixing up and upgrading their own train to fight and stop Charles once and for all.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion Is a Long-Awaited Remaster
Releasing December 13 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is the HD remaster of the 2007 prequel to the original Final Fantasy VII. The game follows the warrior Zack Fair, expanding upon his story and providing more context for Cloud’s character and history. In addition to a newly arranged soundtrack and updated graphics, the remaster boasts fully voiced dialogue and an improved battle system that makes its combat more approachable to Final Fantasy 7 Remake fans. Announced during the Final Fantasy VII 25th Anniversary Celebration Broadcast, this remaster brings a beloved classic into the modern age.
High on Life Is an Offbeat FPS From the Creator of Rick & Morty
Releasing December 13 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
From the strange mind of Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick & Morty, comes the first-person shooter High on Life. Players step into the role of a recent high school graduate who finds his calling as an intergalactic bounty hunter when an alien cartel invades Earth. Players travel across space to various unique and dynamic worlds, meeting loads of quirky characters along the way. With talking guns and plenty of crude humor, High on Life is Squanch Games’ (the team behind Trover Saves the Universe) biggest and wackiest venture yet.
Blacktail Is a Dark Fairytale Where Your Choices Matter
Releasing December 15 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Combining Slavic folklore with first-person archery action, indie game Blacktail follows the story of Yaga, a girl who’s kicked out of her medieval settlement after being accused of witchcraft. She is left with no choice but to hunt down the memories of her past, which take on the form of living spirits. Based on the myth of Baba Yaga, Blacktail is a dark fairytale where choice is everything, with the game’s morality system letting players decide whether they want to become a good witch or an evil witch.
