Admin December 10, 2024
16-year-old gamer becomes first person to defeat highest level on Tetris
A 16-year-old gamer has just made history by doing something never seen before in the history of video games.
Straight Arrow News
Too many games, so little time.
If you can relate, there are console or computer games you’ve had your eye on — but it’s been tough to find the bandwidth to play them.
We can make it easier for you by highlighting the best of the year.
Whether you’re buying a game to cozy up with over a winter “staycation,” or if you’re looking to gift something great to family or friends over the holidays, the following are some thumb-numbing recommendations, mostly ranging in price from $50 to $70.
Divided into various age groups, note this roundup does not include smartphone games, nor does this list highlight “expansion” packs — such as the awesome Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree or World of Warcraft: The War Within — where the original game is required.
Kids
Astro Bot (PlayStation 5)
Great for kids and kids at heart, Astro Bot is a 3D platformer starring a small robot, Astro, on a mission to rescue his missing “Bot” crewmates and rebuild his damaged spaceship. This PS5 exclusive challenges players to control Astro throughout precarious situations, take advantage of power-ups and upgrades and fight through challenging stages and boss fighters. As a special treat for PlayStation gamers, find and enlist help from familiar PlayStation characters and items, but in robotic form. Controls are tight and responsive, and with fun haptic (vibration) feedback and sounds emanating from the DualSense controller to add to the immersion.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo; for Nintendo Switch)
Link, sit this one out. Nintendo’s latest installment in The Legend of Zelda series stars Princess Zelda in the leading role. The heroine learns of rifts that have opened throughout the kingdom of Hyrule, with citizens being taken through these portals — and Link, who is missing, may be one of them. This Nintendo Switch title has Zelda team up with the mysterious fairylike sidekick, Tri, who together must defeat enemies, solve puzzles and leverage the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” replications of things you find in the world, to advance through the single-player and dungeon-filled story. And yes, she may wield Link’s legendary sword from time to time, too.
Just Dance 2025 Edition (Ubisoft; for PS5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch)
Dance with — or against — your friends or family in front of the same TV. Move your body to many of today’s top hits from the likes of Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga. Your goal is to follow along with the on-screen dancers to rack up as many points as possible. It’s super fun, plus you can dance off the extra calories you may ingest over the holidays. If virtual reality is more your thing, Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity is playable on Meta Quest 2/3/Pro, where you can create your very own avatar and play online with others.
Honorable mentions: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Lego Horizon Adventures and Palworld.
Teens
Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science; for PS5, PC)
Seemingly out of nowhere, this ambitious action role-playing game (RPG) became one of the most talked about games of 2024. Rooted in Chinese mythology, you set out as the “Destined One” – an anthropomorphic “Monkey King” – based on the Sun Wukong character from the classic 16th Chinese novel Journey to the West. This dark and dangerous single-player tale challenges you to master your weapon, a staff, that can extend or retract during combat, as you make your way through iconic locations, such as Black Wind Mountain, Yellow Wind Ridge, Flaming Mountains and Mount Huaguo. Developed and published by Game Science, this PS5 and Windows PC game will come to Xbox Series S/X at a later date.
NBA 2K25 (2K Sports; for PS5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, PC)
For players of all skill levels, the celebrated NBA basketball sim returns with thousands of new player animations, a fresh “dribble engine,” updated solo and multiplayer game modes and an improved (and more interactive) city in which to roam around in. Variety is the name of the game as you can play as or against your favorite NBA (or WNBA) team, manage or coach a team or create your own players or dream team in modes like MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA and The W. Make the game your own with new customization options.
Star Wars Outlaws (Ubisoft; for PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC)
Star Wars fans, rejoice! “Outlaws” is an open-world adventure game that lets you hop around planets (in a galaxy far, far away), embark on dangerous stealth missions and unravel an epic story. Played from a cinematic third-person perspective, you step into the boots of Kay Vess, a young thief who, along with her alien pet Nix (a “Merquaal”) will take on enemies with high-tech weapons, handy gadgets (like a grappling hook), engage in interstellar dogfights and partake in minigames. Your decisions shape the story, and so consider there may be more than one way out of a situation.
Honorable mentions: Balatro, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes.
Adults
Helldivers II (Sony Interactive Entertainment; for PS5, PC)
This third-person military shooter for PS5 and Windows PC, with cross-platform multiplayer support, has you face off against several intergalactic threats — whether you choose to do so by yourself or with a squad of up to four Helldivers online. Missions range from taking out the eggs of giant bug-like Terminids to finding and using new armor-piercing artillery on a hoard of Beserkers. Along with the weapons you’ll have access to — assault rifles, grenades, flamethrowers, turrets and rocket launchers — Helldivers II can call up Stratagems from the skies, which are devices or weapons to assist in your fight. This fun (and funny) action game is a great buy — especially as it was spotted for under $30 leading up to the holidays.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 (Capcom; for PS5, Xbox Series S/X, PC)
A successor to Capcom’s 2012 cult classic, Dragon’s Dogma, this sequel challenges you to set out on an epic journey as a chosen class (Warrior, Spear-mage, Thief, Archer or Wizard), to stop a malevolent dragon from destroying the world. You are referred to as an Arisen, who comes back to life after the dragon has already taken your heart. While it’s a single-player game, your traveling party is accompanied by up to three AI-controlled “pawns” who assist you in battle, to compliment your skillset. Focused heavily on combat, you’ll unlock new missions and environments in this Medieval-like (and often quirky) adventure. The flashback sequences help unravel more of a story and why you’re doing what you’re doing and why.
Honorable mentions: Silent Hill 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Stellar Blade.
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Follow Marc Saltzman on X: @marc_saltzman. Email him or subscribe to his Tech It Out podcast. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.
