I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that there isn’t much in the way of top-shelf AAA game releases in December. The good news is that this leaves us with more time to clear the backlogs we’ve accumulated throughout the year. While December is decidedly lackluster in the games department, there are a number of notable remasters and releases for those who missed out on them the first time around. If nothing else, this lull in gaming lets us prepare for the flood of titles arriving early next year.
Arise: A Simple Story
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release date: December 3
Arise: A Simple Story is one of the most poignant games of 2019, especially for those of us who have become more reflective with age. Each level focuses on a specific emotion and contains gameplay elements to convey such feelings. A level called “Joy” has bright, vibrant colors, while another called “Alone” evokes feelings of isolation. You can check out my preview to find out more.
You can buy Arise: A Simple Story on PSN and XBL.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Platform: PC
Release date: December 3
Microsoft has been releasing its biggest Xbox games on PC for the past several years as part of its Play Anywhere initiative. Interestingly enough, its the biggest franchise, Halo, is only now coming to PC with Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Like its console counterpart, this collection has the first four numbered Halo games alongside ODST and Reach. When it launches, players will have access to all of those games plus 6.2 million player-made maps. For $40, this is one hell of a deal.
You can buy Halo: The Master Chief Collection on Steam.
Alien: Isolation
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release date: December 5
Alien: Isolation stands as one of the very best survival horror games of this generation. Now, Nintendo Switch owners get to experience it on the go. What’s impressive about this port is how intact it is, even with the graphical downgrade. The isolated halls and rooms of the abandoned space station evoke the same sense of terror and dread even on the small screen. The titular alien is also every bit as frightening. I can sing this game’s praises all day. It’s really that good.
You can pre-order Alien: Isolation on the Nintendo Game Store.
Darksiders: Genesis
Platforms: PC, Google Stadia
Release date: December 5
The fourth installment of the Darksiders series changes things up by taking inspiration from Diablo. Like Blizzard’s famous series, Darksiders: Genesis is a top-down dungeon crawler where players kill endless enemy waves while searching for loot. Despite the different perspective, this is still very much a Darksiders experience, especially in the control department. It’ll be interesting to see how longtime fans will react to this entry given how different it is from previous releases.
You can pre-order Darksiders Genesis on Amazon.
Star Ocean First Departure R
Platforms: PS4, Switch
Release date: December 5
If you’re looking for a nice throwback JRPG, Star Ocean First Departure R has you covered. This updated edition features rebalanced gameplay, new artwork, and multiple language options. There’s also a new speed mode that’ll help folks level grind more efficiently. I’ve only ever played Star Ocean: The Last Hope (which I loved) so it should be fun to go back to the series’ roots.
You can pre-order Star Ocean First Departure R from Square-Enix.
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Release date: December 6
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is one of the most interesting games I played on PC this year. Now, PS4 and Xbox One owners get the chance to try it out. At a glance, this is a wildly different type of game from former Assassin’s Creed creator, Patrice Desilets. However, it’s still within his wheelhouse. Like Assassin’s Creed, Ancestors has a solid historical base as its foundation. At the same time, it’s also a lot of fun to play. A quirky but cool title, that’s for sure.
You can pre-order Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey on PSN and XBL.
Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection
Platform: Switch
Release date: December 6
One of the biggest ports coming to Nintendo’s handheld/console hybrid this month is Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection. This contains the two AC games which focused heavily on naval exploration and combat: Black Flag and Rogue. Aside from similar gameplay elements, both games have intertwined narratives; though you can play them in whichever order you wish. I’m sure many of you have already played these before, but can you really pass up the chance to play out your pirate fantasies on the go?
You can pre-order Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection on Amazon.
Detroit: Become Human
Platform: PC
Release date: December 12
Detroit: Become Human finally comes to PC this month. As I stated in my review, it’s the best game released from Quantic Dream so far. A visual powerhouse on PS4, the PC version takes things up several notches by having true 4K graphics and higher frame rates. If you missed out on this one and own a PC, you should definitely consider buying it. It’s a wild ride.
You can pre-order Detroit: Become Human on the Epic Game Store.
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