Top 5 Great Games to enjoy on this Christmas

By Mark Valdes, Staff Writer

GIFT:  Games are arguably one of the best gifts for Christmas, so why not read up on some games that’ll put a smile on a loved one’s face?

It is no secret that 2020 has been a very rough year and saying there were plenty of stumbles would be an understatement. With this in mind, it seems like being negative would be an appropriate response but that’s very difficult,  especially with all of the great games 2020 has to offer. This year single-handedly upped the standards for the games that will be released in 2021 and that says a ton! Going over all of the games would be quite a hassle, but there are  5 main games in different genres that will more than suffice to show how big 2020 was for gaming.

To start off the list Animal Crossing: New Horizons makes a three pointer shot by breaking the expectations of everyone who bought the game on March 20, 2020. Animal Crossing is a series of life simulator games that focuses on the main character (who is customizable) gaining money, placing buildings, and hosting events all for the town they live in. Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ about your character along with other town folks going to an island in the hopes of colonizing it and making it a welcoming place for more visitors. If you’re into simulators this game is 100% for you! 

The second game that got dropped off in March 20th of 2020 is definitely not for the less mature audiences because it’s Doom Eternal baby! This game involves the protagonist, who is referred to as the “Doom Slayer” and his duty to stop the demons from taking over earth. This is a First-Person shooter game with lots and lots of blood and gore so if that upsets you then it is suggested you look past this game. The Doom series has multiple games with this concept but  the story of how the demons came into the world have been redone a few times so it’s recommended if you want to see the whole picture of the franchise to start at Doom 2016 but there is no doubt that you’ll have a blast playing this amazing game! 

Another game which was released in Japan on January 16th of 2020 that came out of the rubble of this troublesome year is Yakuza: Like A Dragon which is the 7th game in its respective  series. This game follows the Character Ichiban Kasuga and his life as a Yakuza, a Japanese crime syndicate group similar to its Western equivalent, the mafia. Ichiban Kasuga may seem intimidating but he takes great inspiration from heroic video games like dragon quest and other rpgs. The game itself is a turn based rpg which is a significant change from the other Yakuza games in the series which were Beat ‘Em Ups. Beat ‘Em Ups are a style of games where hand to hand combat and street brawling is the main focus of the game which many consider to fit  perfectly with Yakuza’s theme.Although Beat ‘Em Ups were what fans were used to, the Rpg change did not hold this game back and in actuality it made the game different and more strategy based. Yakuza: Like A Dragon is certainly  a great game, commedically and storywise so if you’re interested in that genre then pick the bad boy up!

A hit game that should be mentioned is the Final Fantasy VII remake that came out on April 10th, 2020. This game is a complete remake of 1997’s Final Fantasy VII which is not only a critically acclaimed game in its franchise but also in all of video game history. The remake of Final Fantasy VII has an intriguing story where you play as an ex-soldier named Cloud that gets hired to do a seemingly unimportant job, but in reality it changes him and his friends forever, whether for the better will be up to the buyer to find out. The remake changes the soundtrack to a remixed soundtrack,and instead of being a turn based rpg as it was in its original, it is an action rpg. The difference is that a turn based rpg has a slower playstyle with the player needing to take turns with the enemy they are fighting. An action rpg is more fast paced,  and you gain full control over the characters in battle. The game also features an incredible graphics update, with some of the best graphics the Final Fantasy series has ever had. Characters are also given far more time to develop, and by the end of the game, you really grow attached to them, something that was impossible in the old game where character models were…less than perfect. If you love classical revisits of games this one’s for you and it’s packed full of references to its original counterpart. 

The last recommendation is admittedly not out yet as of the writing of this article, but it will be released December 10th this year, and it looks like it’s going to be very promising. That’s right, Cyberpunk 2077 is coming out soon and judging by all of the generous teasers posted by the official Cyberpunk 2077 Youtube Channel, it’s going to be very fulfilling. Cyberpunk’s story follows a mercenary named V and how the job that he was hired to do changes the course of his life in Night City, a futuristic metropolis with a dirty underground crime problem. Cyberpunk 2077 is a First-Person Action Rpg that allows you to change the course of your gameplay with many different choices and paths to explore. It also features an upgradable skill tree that allows the player to change the way they play through different branches of upgradability. The graphics are also fantastic, and the game promises to be a very immersive experience. There isn’t much more to the story of this game but that’s all the more reason to check it out on release day.

These 5 games aren’t the only awesome content that came out of this scary year so might as well do some more exploring if you want to experience this year’s games fully. Santa Claus won’t think twice about these games being present on your Christmas list though so why not check these games out?