Legend of Zelda, Party Animals and Spider-Man: WRAL Holiday video game guide
As soon as you finish stuffing your mouths with Thanksgiving dinner and tossing the pigskin around, it’ll be time to start thinking about what you’ll get your friends and family for Christmas and other winter holidays.
It was a big year for gaming between multiple big-name titles and indie hits, but we have your guide for our top picks for gamers this holiday season.
Here are some of our top game picks for the holiday season:
Critically-acclaimed sequels
Two major sequels came out this year that will provide hours of entertainment for kids and adults alike
Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2:
The highly anticipated sequel to both Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, this sequel sees you return as the famous web-heads Peter Parker and Morales.
Between the two Spider-Men, you will battle Kraven the Hunter and his army as they attempt to fight the strongest people in New York City. You will also unravel the mystery behind the return of Peter Parker’s best friend, Harry Osborn, who has miraculously healed from a disease that put him out of commission in the first game.
The game is available with new PlayStation 5 consoles for $499.99, but if you only want the game, you can find it at retailers for $69.99.
Beyond an expansive story that lets you swing through the streets of many of New York City’s boroughs, you will have plenty of ways to customize your character and play your way.
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Breath of the Wild," "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" sees you return to the land of Hyrule. Set immediately after the events of Breath of the Wild, you will follow Link and his quest to stop an ancient evil that has awoken under Hyrule Castle that will take you on a journey across the past and present.
WRAL News reviewed the game earlier this year, and you may not even finish the game because you will spend hours making gadgets and completing challenges before you finish the game’s main story.
"Tears of the Kingdom" is on sale for $49.99 at most retailers. If you want to brush up on things before you continue your adventure, Best Buy is selling "Breath of the Wild" for $39.99 as part of their Black Friday deals.
If you want something extra special for a Legend of Zelda fan, you can also buy Nintendo’s limited edition Tears of the Kingdom Switch OLED console for $359.99.
A wonderful side-scrolling adventure
Returning to the franchise’s side-scrolling roots, "Super Mario Bros.: Wonder" has been one of the most popular Mario games over the last five years.
IGN rated the game a 9 out of 10 and you can play the game with four people through local internet or four friends online through Nintendo’s online service: Nintendo Switch Online.
The game is currently available at most retailers for $59.99.
A return to a galaxy far, far away
For those who like challenging combat and engaging storytelling, make your return to the Star Wars universe with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
In the sequel to one of 2019’s best games, you follow Jedi survivor Cal Kestus as he tries to escape the forces of the Empire and reunite with the Mantis crew as you discover a chance to save the Jedi order and fight an evil hidden from the galaxy.
The game has difficulty on par with the first game of the Jedi series, but the combat challenges you to keep trying and pushing your limits.
Jedi: Survivor is one of the best holiday deals this season. The game, usually available for at least $69.99, will be on sale for PlayStation for $34.99 at Best Buy and on Xbox for $29.99 at Target.
The game can get a bit dark at some points, so while it might not be great for a child, it will be the perfect game for a teen looking for a video game that’s fun and can stimulate them mentally.
A video game about fatherhood
While it may not seem like it, Sony’s 2022 hit God of War: Ragnarok is another big Black Friday deal available. Ragnarok follows the series protagonist, Kratos, and his son, Atreus, as they look to stop Ragnarok, the Norse end-of-the-world prophecy.
They run into a friend-turned-for Freya and the god who is looking to control fate, Odin, and his hammer-wielding son and god of Thunder, Thor.
While Kratos engages in another battle with the gods, Atreus sets out to find his place in the world and to find Tyr, the Norse god of war, to stop Odin and Thor.
The game is a great story of growing up and the relationship between father and son. While it might be too violent for children, it’s a must-play for teens and young adults.
The game will be on sale for Black Friday for $34.99 at Best Buy and various retailers.
A new, chaotic party game
Party Animals was released on PC and Xbox this year and is one of the funniest games we’ve seen.
In a series of battle royale games, you will take control of stuffed animals to see who among you and your friends is the top party animal.
Party Animals is available on Microsoft and Steam for $19.99 and is fun for all ages.
