It’s that time of year again, ladies and gentlemen. The holiday season is here already (!) and shopping madness officially kicks off this week with Black Friday.
And so allow me to welcome you to the Geeks of Doom Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2018: Video Games edition! Below you’ll find a collection of goodies the gamers in your life might be excited to discover buried in one of the festively wrapped packages lovingly positioned under your tree. This includes some of the biggest games that were released this year, the current top consoles and bundles, VR headsets, and more.
Note: The games listed below include links to physical copies of the game. Many of these games are also available on PC, which are usually acquired digitally. If you don’t see something listed among the games, there will also be links to gift cards included below which would be great for anyone who prefers getting those digital copies of games.
GAMES
MISCELLANEOUS:
Red Dead Redemption II — One of the most recent game releases is also sure to be one of the hottest wishlist items for gamers. At least those who don’t already have it—many simply could not wait and already have spent many hours with it. From GTA V developer Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption II is a prequel to their 2010 hit which offers players a chance to get lost in a massive open-world old west adventure. A must-have for wannabe cowboys (and probably a few real ones, too!) and fans of westerns in general. Available on Xbox One and PS4. Click right here for trailers and gameplay videos.
Monster Hunter: World — The latest in the long-running Capcom series, the title pretty much says it all. Be vewwy, vewwy quiet…you’re huntin’ monsters in this one. The game is an action-RPG, which also offers a multiplayer component. Available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. You can check out a trailer for the game right here if you wish.
Sea of Thieves — For anyone in your life who’s into pirates, this is a game they’re likely going to want to play if they haven’t already. Sea of Thieves is an online shared pirate world, with players, sometimes with a crew and sometimes all alone, sailing the open seas seeking treasures and adventures while also being careful of other players who might want to plunder their goods. Though there wasn’t a whole lot to do when it first launched, developer Rare has been adding new content since then. And, for me anyway, just sailing around made the game worth giving a shot. It’s available on Xbox One. You can read my review of the game and find trailers and gameplay videos as well.
A Way Out — If you’re buying for someone who usually plays online games with other humans, there’s a few options included here. This is one of the smaller options. A co-op game in which you and one other person, either online or in person, play as two strangers who decide to work together to break out of prison and end up going on quite the journey together. You don’t even need to worry about whether who you’re buying for’s gaming buddies also have the game; only one copy is required to play. The game is available for Xbox One and PS4. You can click right here to find a pair of trailers.
God of War — A game that couldn’t have arrived at a better time. The latest entry in the hit series was released when more and more games are focusing more on online multiplayer than single player content, with some choosing to ignore single player altogether. This proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that gamers still want good single-player campaigns. And that sometimes, we simply want to get lost in one of these worlds alone instead of having other players running around. The game is available exclusively to PS4 players in a Standard Edition, a Collector’s Edition, and a Stone Mason’s Edition. Click right here for trailers and gameplay.
Little Nightmares: Complete Edition — One of my favorite games of last year was released on a new platform this year, hopefully leading many others to discover this dark little gem. If you’re looking for a game to buy for someone who plays on Nintendo Switch, do give this one a look. You can read my review of the game and check out some trailers and gameplay as well.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance — Many folks waited a long time for this one to be released. And in 2018, it finally arrived. This is a game for fans of sword and shield type games, and history fans alike. It’s a medieval RPG. No dragons. No magic. Just you and whatever weapons and layers of clothing and armor you’re able to acquire. The game is available on Xbox One and PS4. Click right here for trailers, gameplay videos, and more.
Dark Souls Remastered — The perfect gift for anyone you want to buy a game for but don’t actually like very much, Dark Souls is both a classic and a major challenge which has led many who have attempted to dance with it to quit in a fiery inferno of rage. Available on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Click right here for a trailer for the remastered version. Also released this years is a Dark Souls Trilogy collection, which includes the remastered original plus Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III plus all of the DLC for the two sequels.
Shadow of the Colossus — A faithful remake of one of the greatest games ever made, this one is a no-brainer for any PlayStation user who has never experienced it before. You can grab a copy on PS4 now. And while it’s worth every penny at the retail price of $39.99, it’s a steal at just under $20 as of the writing of this guide. Click right here for more on the game, including trailers and gameplay.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 — A game for those who are more into games which involve more strategy. It offers a hand-drawn visual style, and gameplay that’s described as “part overhead turn-based strategy, part RPG, and part real-time 3rd person shooter.” Available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in both a Launch Edition and a Memoirs From Battle Edition. Click right here for a trailer.
Overcooked 2 — If you’re looking for something a little more family friendly, this is one of a few options you’ll find in this guide. In it you’ll attempt to prepare various recipes in the hectic kitchens of everything from a sushi restaurant to a magic school. It also includes the option to play with friends online or locally. Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4. Click right here to check out a trailer.
Vampyr — An RPG in which you play as a doctor who also happens to have just been turned into a vampire. You’ll navigate an early 1900s London which is still recovering from World War I and is in the midst of a Spanish Flu epidemic. As a vampire you’ll need to feed. The more you do, the stronger you become. But you’re also dealing the morality and the consequences of feeding on other humans, and it’s up to the player to decide who they wish to sacrifice. Available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Click right here for trailers and gameplay videos.
Far Cry 5 — One of those games perfect for those who like to be set free into a game world to do pretty much whatever the hell they wanna do. In it you’re able to explore a place called Hope County, Montana. You can do so on foot or in a car, truck, plane. Just be careful of the various wildlife that roams the area. Oh, and the angry cultists who have taken control of the region. They’re pretty important too. The game is available in a Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, or Gold Edition for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. Click right here for trailers and gameplay videos.
Jurassic World Evolution — I’ve never personally been a big fan of park builder games. I get why others dig them, they just haven’t been my cup of tea. But this game…this one I may just have to pick up someday. It lets you build up and manage your very own Jurassic Park. And, if you feel like it, you can do lots of damage to all the work you’ve done by, for example, releasing a T-Rex or two to keep your paying customers on their toes. You can pick it up on PS4 or Xbox One. Click right here to watch a trailer.
Call of Cthulhu — Inspired by Chaosium’s classic pen-and-paper RPG, this is a first-person game set in the 1920s in which you play as a man sent to an island off the coast of Boston to investigate the mysterious deaths of a family. The game is available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and you can click right here for trailers and a gameplay video.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus — Another favorite from last year is now available to Nintendo Switch owners. It’s not often one can brutally lay waste to a bunch of Nazis on a Nintendo console, so enjoy! You can pick up a copy for the Switch now, and you can also check out my review and some trailers and more if interested.
Battlefield V — The latest installment of the hit first-person shooter franchise brings things back to the series’ World War II roots. It offers the expected single player and multiplayer game modes. It’s available on multiple platforms in a Standard Edition and a Deluxe Edition. Click right here for trailers.
Detroit: Become Human — One of the best in the business at delivering story-driven, choice-based cinematic gaming experiences, Indigo Prophecy, Heavy Rain, and Beyond: Two Souls developer Quantic Dream released this latest title in 2018. The game deals with highly sophisticated androids which are servants, tools, and toys to humans. And some of them have grown tired of it. You play through the story as multiple characters, and the decisions you make while playing can drastically alter how things play out. Including who actually lives to see the end. This one is available exclusively to PlayStation 4 users. Click right here for trailers and gameplay videos.
Octopath Traveler — I’m not at all a fan of turn-based combat, unless of course it’s in a South Park game (keep reading for more on those), but for those who are this turn-based RPG might be something they’re interested in playing if they haven’t already. Unfortunately, this is only for those who possess a Nintendo Switch. Click right here for a trailer with much more info on the game.
We Happy Few — Set in an alternative 1960s England the game takes place on an island off the coast called Wellington Wells, where the people did some very bad things, leading to their being basically cut off from the rest of the world. Two kinds of people live here: those who accept the reality and live in miserable conditions, and those who take their happy pills called Joy and go about their days in blissful ignorance. You play as a trio of characters who are dealing with this world. The game is available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. You can find my review and some trailers and gameplay videos here as well.
Strange Brigade — A third-person shooter, this game is an action-adventure title set in the 1930s in which the player will face enemies like mummies and minotaurs and also solve the occasional puzzle. It comes from the developer of the Sniper Elite games, Rebellion Developments, and can be played alone or with up to three other people. It’s available on PS4 and Xbox One. Click right here to check out a trailer.
Marvel’s Spider-Man — The ultimate game for any fan of Spider-Man, you’ll get to swing around a massive reproduction of New York City taking on crime as the Webslinger and dealing with plenty of familiar foes. This is another one which reaffirms that gamers still want good single-player games. Sadly, like God of War above, it too is exclusive to PlayStation 4 owners. There’s also a pricey Collector’s Edition available if you have lots of coin to spend on gifts this year. Click right here to find trailers and gameplay action.
No Man’s Sky — When this game was first released on PlayStation 4 a couple of years ago, it let down many of the fans who had been eagerly anticipating it. Before its release we saw many trailers and gameplay demos which promised a game that seemed too good to be true. And sadly, that’s exactly what it ended up being. But since then Hello Games has been working away at trying to improve the game, and it sounds like it’s much better now than it was before. This year the game made its way to Xbox One, making it a good gift possibility for those who dream about exploring outer space. Keep in mind, however, the game is all about hopping in a ship and exploring the universe. There’s no story or anything like that. Think of it more as a simulator than a game before you decided to buy.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider — The third entry in the rebooted game series sees Lara Croft becoming the tomb raider she was destined to become as she makes her way through South American jungles while trying to prevent a Mayan apocalypse from happening. Available on Xbox One and PS4. Also available is a Limited Steelbook Edition and a Croft Steelbook Edition. Click right here for trailers and more.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole — And here we have yet another favorite from last year making its way to the Nintendo Switch. If you’re buying for a South Park fan who has yet to play it (or its predecessor, South Park: The Stick of Truth, which is also available on the console digitally), it’s a must-play. Just remember that these most definitely should not be given to children or anyone who’s offended by…well, pretty much anything. You can grab a copy on Switch now, and find plenty of trailers and gameplay videos as well.
Fallout 76 — Bethesda’s massively popular first-person RPG makes its way online, offering fans of the Fallout series the chance to explore a brand new wasteland inhabited by lots of other players. They can set off on this adventure with friends for the first time or, if they prefer, they can take it on all alone like with previous games in the series. The game is available on multiple platforms in a Standard Edition and a Tricentennial Edition. You can click right here for trailers and more, and stay tuned to Geeks of Doom for a review coming soon.
Hitman 2 — The latest installment in developer IO Interactive’s hit assassin series, players once again become Agent 47 as they visit different locations to take out their various targets. Available on multiple platforms in a Standard Edition or a Gold Edition. Click right here for trailers and gameplay videos.
Super Mario Party — For the less serious gamers in your life, it’s hard to beat a good party game. This is the latest in the Mario Party series, offering a bunch of new games to be played with up to four people. The game is available now for Nintendo Switch. If interested in learning more about the game, click right here for a trailer.
Call of Duty: Black Ops IV — The other big first-person military shooter series also has a new installment. But be cautious before you buy it for someone. Unlike Battlefield V, this game doesn’t have the single player campaign found in previous Call of Duty games. It was cut to focus strictly on multiplayer. So if you’re buying for someone who’s only interested in online multiplayer action, this may be a good option. Available on multiple platforms in a Standard Edition, a Mystery Box Edition, and a Standard Edition/A10 Gaming Headset bundle. Click right here for a trailer for the game.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey — Most years bring with them a brand new Assassin’s Creed title, and this year is no different. The latest entry takes players to ancient Greece, where they can become a Spartan hero. The game is available on multiple platforms in a bunch of different editions. Available now is a Standard Edition, a Deluxe Edition, and a Gold Steelbook Edition. Click right here for trailers and gameplay videos.
SPORTS, RACING & FIGHTING
Below is just a quick list of some of the year’s top sports, racing, and fighting games.
- NHL 19 Available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
- UFC 3 — Available for Xbox One and PS4 in a Standard Edition and a Champions Edition.
- Madden NFL 19 — Available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in either a Standard Edition or a Hall of Fame Edition.
- Dragon Ball FighterZ — Available for Xbox One and PS4 in a Standard Edition or a Collectorz Edition, and also available on Nintendo Switch.
- Mario Tennis Aces — Available on Nintendo Switch.
- NBA 2K19 — Available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in a Standard Edition and a 20th Anniversary Edition.
- Soul Calibur VI — Available on Xbox One and PS4 in a Standard Edition, a Deluxe Edition, and a Collector’s Edition.
- Forza Horizon 4 — Available for Xbox One in a Standard Edition and an Ultimate Edition.
- FIFA 19 — Available on PS4, Xbox One, Switch in a Standard Edition and a Champions Edition.
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Available for Nintendo Switch.
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 — Available for PS4 and Xbox One in a Standard Edition and a David Beckham Edition.
- The Crew 2 — Available for Xbox One and PS4 in a Standard Edition, a Deluxe Edition, and a Gold Edition.
- WWE 2K19 — Available on PS4 and Xbox One in a Standard Edition, a Deluxe Edition.
If you didn’t find anything in the games above, you can also check our video game gift guides from previous years, where you should be able to find some older titles on the cheap.
CONSOLES
Here you’ll find the various consoles that are currently available, plus some bundles which include one or more games.
PLAYSTATION
On the PlayStation side of the things there’s the PlayStation 4 Pro 1TB Console. Bundles include a PlayStation 4 Pro Red Dead Redemption 2 Bundle and a PlayStation 4 Pro Red Dead COD Bundle, which includes Red Dead Redemption 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops IV.
The cheaper option is the PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB Console, which is also available in a PlayStation 4 Slim Call of Duty: Black Ops IV Bundle.
One more PlayStation console available this holiday season is the PlayStation Classic Console, which offers a mini version of the original PlayStation pre-loaded with a bunch of games. It was announced back in September with the full list of games revealed last month. Unfortunately this one’s likely going to be tough to get your hands on when it’s released in early December. Pre-orders are not currently available at the Amazon link above, but hopefully some will be up for grabs at some point if you’re quick.
Another great gift is an extra (or replacement) controller. For the PS4, there’s the DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 (Available in many colors—just click the drop down button to the right to see the others).
XBOX
The top Xbox console currently available is the Xbox One X 1TB Console. It’s currently $100 cheaper, but still pretty pricey. There’s also bundles available including an Xbox One X Fallout 76 Bundle, an Xbox One X PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Bundle, an Xbox One X NBA 2K19 Bundle, an Xbox One X Forza Horizon 4 Bundle, an Xbox One X Red Dead Redemption 2 Bundle, which also comes with a cooling fan and charging station, and a monster Xbox One X Forza COD 2K19 Bundle, which comes with Forza Horizon 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops IV, and NBA 2K19.
If those are a little too much coin, there’s also the regular Xbox One S console. The cheapest option appears to be the Xbox One S Minecraft Creators Bundle. There’s also an Xbox One S Battlefield V Bundle, an Xbox One S Fortnite Bundle, an Xbox One S Forza Horizon 4 Bundle, and an Xbox One S NBA 2K19 Bundle.
Controllers: Xbox Wireless Controller (Available in a number of different colors and styles—just click the drop down button to the right to see the others).
NINTENDO
For Nintendo fans, there’s the Nintendo Switch – Gray Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch – Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con console options.
There’s also the old school option here if you want to try to secure Nintendo’s NES Classic or SNES Classic mini consoles.
For Switch controllers, there’s the Nintendo Joy-Con controllers the console comes with (multiple colors available), and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (available in a couple of styles).
VIRTUAL REALITY
If you’re looking to give someone the gift of virtual reality, here are some of the VR headsets, bundles, and games available.
PLAYSTATION
For someone who already happens to own a PS4, the PlayStation VR option is the most affordable path to take. It too has bundles available, including the PlayStation VR Creed: Rise to Glory + Superhot Bundle and the PlayStation VR – Astro Bot: Rescue Mission + Moss Bundle.
Also available is the PlayStation Camera, the PlayStation Move Motion Controllers, the Collective Minds PSVR Charge & Display Stand, and if you really wanna go all out, the PlayStation VR Starter Bundle which comes with a PS4 Pro console, the VR headset, camera, controllers, and more.
Newer games include:
HTC VIVE
Another VR option is the HTC Vive Virtual Reality System. Pricier models include the ASUS GeForce 6GB Dual-Fan VR Ready Dual HDMI DP 1.4 Gaming Graphics Card DUAL-GTX1060-O6G & HTC Vive Virtual Reality System Bundle, the HTC Vive Pro Virtual Reality Headset, and the HTC Vive Pro Virtual Reality Headset.
Also available is the HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap, an HTC Vive Controller, the HTC Vive Base Station, and the HTC Vive Pelican Travel & Storage Case.
OCULUS RIFT
Oculus Rift VR headset options include the Oculus Rift + Touch Virtual Reality System, the Oculus Go Standalone Virtual Reality Headset 32GB and 64GB, the Oculus Roomscale Bundle, and the Oculus Rift + Touch Virtual Reality System and Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop Bundle.
Also available is the Oculus Rift VR Cover, the Oculus Touch controllers, the Oculus Sensor, and the Oculus Rift Pelican Travel & Storage Case.
GIFT CARDS & SUBSCRIPTION CARDS
Xbox:
PlayStation:
Nintendo:
Don’t forget to check out some of our other Holiday Geek Gift Guides as well, which include Blu-ray/DVDs, Books, Music, and Specialty Items.
Remember, if all else fails, there’s also the Amazon.com Gift Card. You can have an eGift Card emailed to the recipient (arrives immediately) or you can print out the gift card at home and give it to the intended that way. If you order in enough time, you can get the physical gift card sent to you.
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