Every guy deserves to take a break in front of the TV. But why just watch it when you can live it? Thanks to juiced-up graphics, massive doses of realism, and (finally!) legit virtual reality, video games are the ultimate playground for any and every guy, letting you do everything from dunk on Michael Jordan to save the world from a zombie apocalypse.
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The gamer in your life will want in on the action this holiday. So pick up these red-hot video games and gaming accessories (across all platforms and consoles) for somebody special—or just grab them for yourself.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Amazon
There may not be a bigger must-play this year than Rockstar Games’ latest title, an open-world western that feels more like a cinematic experience than a video game. The story of outlaw Arthur Morgan is told with depth, but you still have the freedom to shoot up a town or hijack a train if you so choose. Saddle up!
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Amazon
Fighting games don’t get more fun than this Nintendo Switch exclusive, which crams the likes of Solid Snake, Super Mario, and Ken from Street Fighter into a robust title that can be played just like an old-school one-on-one fighting game — or like a wild showdown full of Friday night party mayhem. Add in slew of online options, a Stage Morph mode that mixes in two stages in one match, and Spirit system that channels all the fun of taking care of and leveling up Pokemon, and you’ll play this game for hours upon hours.
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Marvel’s Spider-Man
Amazon
If you’ve ever wanted to live life as everyone’s favorite wall-crawler, now’s your chance. For years, we’ve wanted a perfect Spider-man game, and title after title let us down. But this PlayStation 4 exclusive by Insomniac Games gets Peter Parker just right, making combat and web-slinging a joy and building a version of New York City that’s filled with real landmarks and plenty of places to battle the Kingpin and his cronies.
The PlayStation Classic
Amazon
There’s no Nintendo retro this year, but Sony ably steps in, delivering a throwback console to the games you grew up with. Think Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy VII here. The ultra-blocky action looks dated, but trust us: Final Fantasy VII and Gran Turismo, in particular, are still plenty of fun.
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
Amazon
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The Assassin’s Creed franchise lands in ancient Greece, and for the first time, it lets you choose the gender of the lead character. Then it drops you into its most open-ended world yet, a world that lets you do everything from hunt and craft to the trademark stealthing about that’s long defined the franchise. Improved combat mechanics round out the best Assassin’s Creed title yet.
Diablo III: Eternal Collection Switch
Amazon
Diablo III has been around for awhile, but Blizzard’s revamp of the game on the Nintendo Switch console just may be the finest version, loaded with all the DLC and expansion packs of the last few years. The hack-and-slash game plays perfectly on your big screen, but shines when you play it on the road on the portable Switch, too.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Amazon
Get ready to deathmatch! Black Ops 4 loads up on Call of Duty’s best multiplayer modes, delivering a beefed-up Zombies experience that’ll have your heart racing, and Blackout, a massive battle royale mode that’s good for hours upon hours of fun.
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Forza Horizon 4
Amazon
Racing games don’t get much better than Forza Horizon 4, a Microsoft Xbox one exclusive that takes you to the United Kingdom, then lets you roam around its vast countrysides and hilly roads. Pinpoint controls make the experience addictive and a dynamic weather engine keeps every race interesting and every experience distinct.
Just Cause 4
Amazon
Remember your favorite 80s action movie, where everything blew up at the beginning, then a hero showed up to save the day and blew everything else up? That’s Just Cause 4, and just like a good 80s action movie, it’s story is so zany and over-acted that it doesn’t make much sense. But the game’s high-flying, hang-gliding action still grabs and holds your attention, especially once you explore the fun that comes with the game’s balloon gun.
Hitman 2
Amazon
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Agent 47 is back in one of the year’s finest stealth games, with a host of new levels to tackle, from a Miami race track to a fictional Colombian drug cartel base. Each area is chock full of disguises and fun, and super-smart enemy artificial intelligence that makes stealth challenging but still plenty of fun. And this time around, there’s multiplayer in the form of a fun (but limited) versus mode and a team-up sniper mode.
NBA 2k19
Amazon
The best basketball video game in the business is back, and despite some microtransaction annoyances, boy is this edition packed with goodness. Start with the addition of all-time greats draft classes, and then add in Player DNA, a hit-or-miss idea that makes player creation much deeper when it’s all clicking. Then add in the most nuanced franchise mode in all of sports gaming. Get ready to hoop!
Valkyria Chronicles 4
The quintessential turn-based strategy role-playing game returns for a fourth go-round, and this time, Valkyria goes back to its roots, focusing on taut turn-based gameplay and introducing a new class, the Grenadier. Battles are intense but exciting, and the lush anime-style art draws you into the action and story and never lets you go. This one’s available on all current-gen consoles, but it’s best on the Nintendo Switch if you can swing that.
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Fallout 76
Amazon
Bethesda’s latest edition of post-apocalyptic open-world exploration trips and stumbles here and there, but it’s also . . . more Fallout! That means a world full of things to explore, and plenty of zombie-like creatures to beat down. If you’re going to game with friends consider adding this to your Christmas list.
Destiny 2: Forsaken
Amazon
Year 2 of Activision and Bungie’s online shooter epic brings even more action and fun in the form of the Forsaken expansion pack. Fueled by Cayde’s death, you strike out on a revenge story in this one — and this expansion has a ton of story overall. It’s a refreshing take for the franchise, and the shooting remains intact, too. Translation: You can still just boot up the game and kick the crap out of alien bad guys.
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Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee
Amazon
Get ready for a slick reimagining of the Pokemon franchise that brings it into the modern era and still loads it up with the fun and addictiveness that you’ve just “gotta catch em all.” Let’s go Pikachu is the perfect travel game for the Nintendo Switch, and gives you plenty of replay value as you assemble your collection of Pokemon.
$ 59 – BUY IT HERE
Soul Calibur 7
Amazon
The most nuanced fighting game franchise out there returns for a seventh go-round, and this time, it gets a loaded character customizer, two story modes, and one of the best fighting game tutorials out there. Add in a fantastic, adventuring feel, oh, and the Witcher’s Geralt, too? That’s one loaded fighting game.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
Amazon
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Ubisoft takes the Disney Infinity/Skylanders idea to galactically-cool levels with Starlink, a massive open-world space exploration game. Expect to spend plenty of time building your perfect customizable starship — and the rest of the time traipsing about the galaxy in it. This one’s best on the Switch, but available on all consoles.
God of War
Amazon
Kratos is back — and sadder than ever. The God of War’s lost his wife in this game, and that creates a vastly different vibe than any previous Kratos game. This PlayStation 4-exclusive wants to tell you a story, and it has a good one to tell. That you get to slay plenty of enemies with a Thor-like battle axe only adds to the fun.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Amazon
Lara Croft returns for a third go-round, and in this adventure, she’s more guerilla stealthy than she’s ever been. A feisty Croft skulks about in camo taking out her enemies in a story that’s gripping and, as usual, full of terrifically atmospheric adventure.
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Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Amazon
Everyone needs a little Japanese gangster tale in their life, and those tales don’t come any better than Yakuza 6, which focuses heavily on protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and tells a deep story. Electric combat keeps you interested throughout, as do some of the best minigames in the business.
Injustice 2
Amazon
Flash vs. Brainiac? Superman vs. Green Lantern? Can Batman hang with an all-powerful being like Darkseid? Find out for yourself in a fighting game that lets you channel your inner superhero.
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Switch
Amazon
What’s old is new again. Skyrim came out years ago, but a half-decade later it’s back and better than ever in this revamped version that’ll have you taking on dragons everywhere, from your office to your commute home.
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South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Amazon
What happens when you mix signature South Park humor with a video game? You get The Fractured But Whole, an addictive turn-based game that will have you rolling all over the floor in laughter.
Tekken 7
Amazon
An electrically fast fighting game that will deliver you action and tough online battling for months upon months. Bonus: Since every fighter is ripped, it’s perfect workout inspiration.
Prey
Amazon
Trapped alone on an alien spaceship and not sure what’ll happen next? Prey lets you solve that mystery, if it doesn’t scare you out of your wits, first.