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Which Game Should You Buy On Black Friday?
The biggest shopping days of the year – Black Friday and Cyber Monday – are coming up. This year has given us a variety of great games to choose from, and we’ve created this helpful list to help you decide which game is right for you.
This is by no means a complete list of every good game that came out in 2014, but it’s a general overview of some of the year’s highlights.
Read on to see what games should be in your cart, starting with some of the year's best shooters.
A Shooter For Everyone
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Developer: MachineGames
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
MachineGames, founded by several members of Starbreeze’s Riddick team, revitalize the very first FPS franchise with The New Order, one of the year’s nice surprises. This game doesn’t skimp on the fast, furious action that Wolfenstein was founded on, but its alternate history Nazi-killing also encompasses some interesting stealth mechanics and some surprisingly deep storytelling.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Developer: Sledgehammer Games, High Moon Studios, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Sledgehammer Games succeeded in revitalizing the series’ successful (but aging) formula with unique near-future military technology, including exo suits that radically change the way you traverse the excellently designed maps. A new, more flexible load-out and perk system also gives multiplayer fans more options, and the single-player campaign offers some nice dramatics thanks in part to a starring turn from Kevin Spacey.
Far Cry 4
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Far Cry is one of the most varied shooter franchises – each iteration has been very different in vibe and design. Far Cry 4 doesn’t change things up as much; it’s essentially the open-world, side-activity heavy FPS that Far Cry 3 was plunked down in the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat. The setting (and the interesting personal and political intrigue that goes along with it) is a real triumph. It doesn’t hurt that it features some drop dead gorgeous vistas. Aside from that, there’s an endless amount of things to do and explore – even tangling with the dreaded honey badger.
Destiny
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Activision
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Destiny’s fundamental gameplay is that of a first-person shooter. Everything else about the game has more in common with online RPGs like World of Warcraft and Diablo. By connecting single-player, co-op, and multiplayer into a persistent online universe, Bungie has mapped out the future of the genre. It’s an ambitious game – and one that has some hiccups along the way – but with Bungie’s commitment to both fixing current issues and adding content over the long haul, Destiny has some seriously long legs.
Titanfall
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Systems: Xbox One, PC, Xbox 360
Titanfall slipped out of the Xbox One launch and landed in March of this year, making it one of those games that seems older than it really is. Just because it’s not new, don’t forget that Titanfall is a singular shooter experience. Balancing on-foot and giant robot combat is on small feat, and Respawn accomplishes this difficult balancing act with aplomb. If you’re solely into shooters for fast-paced, smaller arena combat, this is one to get. Oh, and the giant mechs are awesome.
A Wide Range of RPGs
Dragon Age: Inquisition
Developer: BioWare
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
A definite game of the year contender, BioWare silenced critics of Dragon Age II with Inquisition, perhaps the most complete, expansive RPG experience since Skyrim. It has everything; a great plot, indelible characters, an open world scattered with compelling side content, and a flexible and deep combat system. If you like RPGs in any way, this is one that’s hard to pass up.
Dark Souls II
Developer: From Software
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Systems: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Dark Souls’ trademark brand of punishing action/RPG gameplay is off-putting to some, but its devotees are among gaming’s most rabid cults. The game offers the depth of character progression and exploration of an RPG and combines it with tense melee action combat. Despite the series’ reputation, it’s also the most accessible Souls game to date, making this an excellent place to see what all the fuss is about. There’s a chance this might be your new addiction.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
Systems: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
While the RPG is closely tied with Dungeons & Dragons and high fantasy settings reminiscent of Tolkein, it’s a very flexible genre. Just as Mass Effect and others have shown us it thrives in sci-fi, South Park: The Stick of Truth demonstrates that an RPG about four potty-mouthed *** can work as well. The heavy involvement of the South Park creators – practically the only people working in television today who can do game humor right – means that it delivers on the obnoxious gags we expect from the show, and the graphics make it near-indistinguishable visually. However, Obsidian Entertainment deserves the credit for creating a very solid, old-school 2D RPG as a backbone for the project.
Divinity: Original Sin
Developer: Larian Studios
Publisher: InXile Entertainment
Systems: PC
Divinity is another Kickstarter triumph. Larian Studios’ takes the old-school, turn-based RPG formula and mines it for gold with some modern twists. Character development is very free-form, allowing you make your heroes exactly as you see them. The huge world rewards exploration and talking to NPCs, and you must also experiment with different ways of using your powers and the environment around you to tackle the game’s fierce boss battles. For the dyed-in-the-wool PC RPG crowd, Divinity is like manna from heaven.
Great Games Made Better
Grand Theft Auto V
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
One of the best just got better on new-gen systems. Rockstar North spent a lot of effort in creating this enhanced port of GTA V to PS4 and Xbox One. Obviously, the already amazing-looking game looks even better with new HD textures and enhanced lighting effects, but it’s the brand-new first-person mode that will attract the most attention. It’s amazing how well GTA works in first-person, and the game somehow feels even more immersive in that view. There’s also a bevy of new side content and hidden mysteries to unravel, as well as new content for Grand Theft Auto Online.
Grand Theft Auto V Test Chamber
Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition
Developer: Blizzard
Publisher Activision/Blizzard
Systems: Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Diablo III is an example of how to do a console conversion of a PC game right. It’s got a control scheme that’s been crafted specifically for console, balancing tweaks that make it easier for expert and novice players to team up, and a bunch of post-release content including the Reaper of Souls expansion. An excellent game and an excellent value all the way around.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Developer: Bungie/343 Industries
Publisher: Microsoft
Systems: Xbox One
As a historical record of a great franchise, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is excellent. All for the price of one retail game you get HD remasters of Halo, Halo 2, Halo 3. You also get Halo 4, as well as each game’s attendant multiplayer maps and modes. These entries hold up especially well, and it will be the first time many get to play the iconic Halo 2 multiplayer since the servers were taken down. The game is having some connectivity and match-making issues, but those should go away with time.
All The Action You Can Take
Sunset Overdrive
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Systems: Xbox One
Insomniac Games takes us back to the late ‘90s, when gameplay ruled and game plots were more nonsensical. After the Resistance series and the misstep Fuse, this is the studio getting back to what it does best – comedic, over-the-top, and excellently crafted gameplay. The plot is there for little more than laughs, but the mechanics are wonderful – imagine Ratchet & Clank melded with Tony Hawk set in a gonzo open-world game like Crackdown and you’re getting close.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Developer: Monolith Productions
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is one of the year’s best new franchises, taking elements of Skyrim and Assassin’s Creed into the Lord of the Rings franchise to great effect. Its brutal, addictive combat is the core of the game, alongside platforming and climbing that will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s played Assassin’s Creed. However, the really brilliant move is the game’s ability for enemies to remember (and form vendettas against) you, lending import to each action and encounter. It’s a heck of an action game, and hopefully a new beginning for LotR in video games.
Infamous: Second Son
Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Systems: PlayStation 4
Sony’s big first-year PlayStation 4 exclusive delivered the superhero goods with a new-gen take on the open-world action that Infamous is known for. The game took to the real-world locale of Seattle and told the story of Delsin Rowe, a rebellious graffiti artist who spends the game clashing with DUP police forces and gaining a cool array of powers. The game is also a showcase for the power of PlayStation 4; its extraordinary depiction of Seattle and the surrounding landscape is striking.
The Evil Within
Developer: Tango Gameworks
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
The first game from Tango Gameworks, the new studio headed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, sticks close to its survival heritage. It’s a horror game all the way, and not the for the faint of heart; if you’re looking for something that combines the creepy, psychological scares of Japanese films like Ju-On with the ultra-gore of Saw, this is your game. If not, it might be too much. Given Mikami’s experience, it’s expertly designed and more close to the spirit of the original Resident Evil games than the more recent entries in that franchise.
Bayonetta 2
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Wii U
Wii U has had its struggles in terms of sales, but 2014 has actually been excellent in terms of software for the system. One of the standout games is not only one of the best Wii U games this year, but one of the best action games, period. Platinum Games’ Bayonetta 2 is a new high for the “stylish” action genre. Its encounters and wild combat moves are so gonzo they make games like Devil May Cry seem positively sedate. There has been some controversy about the hyper-sexualized nature of the game’s titular hero, but you can’t deny the quality gameplay on display here.
Big Hits For The Nintendo Faithful
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Wii U
It’s been a long time coming, but the new home console Super Smash Brothers is here. Super Smash Brothers for Wii U is a restatement of the series’ strengths, along with some very cool features. The big selling point for couch multiplayer fanatics is the crazy new eight-player matches. It’s incredibly chaotic, and more fun for it. Of course, you’ve got 15 new combatants, including Mega Man and Pac-Man. This is also the first game compatible with Nintendo’s new Skylanders-style Amiibo figurines, which let you train and grow your very own version of Mario and other Nintendo characters.
Mario Kart 8
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Wii U
Mario Kart doesn’t evolve much, but it doesn’t have to. It’s really the last kart-racer standing, and still offers a level of quality that the other pretenders to the throne could never match. This latest version offers the usual mix of old and new tracks and racers from the company’s roster of heroes. Some of the new tracks defy the laws of gravity in interesting ways, and the old ones stay fresh thanks to some new tweaks. Mostly though, it’s just the rock-solid feel of the controls that keeps people hooked on the game – and the “Luigi Death Stare” videos made with the game’s new highlight reel function.
Hyrule Warriors
Developer: Omega Force/Team Ninja
Publisher: Koei Tecmo/Nintendo
System: Wii U
When it was announced that Nintendo was merging the Zelda universe with the moribund Dynasty Warriors franchise, let’s just say we were less than excited. Thankfully, Hyrule Warriors mixes the best of both worlds, using Zelda to add interest and depth to Dynasty Warriors familiar hack n’ slash formula. With memorable boss battles and an array of interesting characters from past Zelda games who each have unique special moves, it’s a game that succeeds on simple, finely honed combat mechanics.
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