Call of Duty goes back to WWII.
Whether you’re after galactic battles, high-octane racing or sensational football, there’s something for every gamer this year.
And what better time to treat yourself than the Christmas holidays. Here’s our pick of the best games to stuff your stocking with.
Assassin’s Creed: Origins
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
After taking a break following a lukewarm reception to Unity and Syndicate, Ubisoft knew they needed to deliver with Origins.
And thankfully, they’ve delivered — creating the best Assassin’s Creed game for years.
Set in Egypt during the Ptolemaic period, you play Bayek, a young, agile assassin who becomes Caesar’s blade for hire.
Assassin’s Creed: Origins is one of the franchise’s best.
As expected in an AC game, the world is stunning to look at. Townspeople wade through rivers, vultures circle in the skies — it’s easily the most convincing open world in the series.
Combat has been overhauled, too. It’s far more active, with the onus on the player to chain together attacks rather than defend and parry.
Clubs, swords and knives all come in handy, while the bow allows you to take down enemies from afar.
There’s even a trusty eagle you can use to scout ahead and plan attacks — extraordinary.
Call of Duty: WWII
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
Call of Duty: WWII returns to the harrowing battles tackled in the original 2007 game.
You play as private Ronald “Red” Daniels of the 1st Infantry Division, who is fighting on the Western Front.
Sledgehammer Games were behind the brilliant Advanced Warfare — which boasted some seriously impressive visuals.
This time, though, they’ve cranked it up a few notches.
Perhaps the most impressive use of the graphics engine comes in the opening sequence, a stunning Normandy beach assault reminiscent of Steven Spielberg’s epic, Saving Private Ryan.
Bodies get cut down by machine gun fire, the sea turns red with blood — it’s all disturbingly impressive stuff, which has been tackled with care and accuracy.
Single-player gameplay is as expected — fast, frantic and with an emphasis on picking up and scavenging weapons and ammo.
However, for many people, it’s multiplayer that holds the greatest appeal — and thankfully COD WWII really delivers.
To round things off, zombies return with a stand-alone cooperative campaign that has you embarking on a chilling journey through a snowy Bavarian village in Germany.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Super Mario Odyssey may have had most of the attention, but don’t let this Mario game go under the radar.
Mario and Rabbits Kingdom Battle takes the plumber and co. in a completely new, and welcome, direction.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is plenty of fun.
Rather than platforming elements, gameplay is far more strategic and requires you to guide teams of three through combat areas. Think a child-friendly XCOM and you’ll get the idea.
You can play as eight characters — including Yoshi, Princess Peach and four different Rabbids.
It features two-player co-operative play and a host of up-gradable weapons — from laser beams and shotguns to yo-yo blasters.
If you’ve collected all of Odyssey’s Power Moons, this could hold some serious appeal.
PES 2018
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Addictive, responsive and most importantly of all, fun, PES 2018 is everything you’ve ever wanted from a football game.
FIFA 18 may be the big one, but don’t write off PES when it comes to visuals.
Animation and player models have been overhauled — making everything look and feel more realistic than ever.
Improved lighting effects, motion blur and depth of field help add a TV-style gloss to the game.
Improved lighting effects, motion blur and depth of field help add a TV-style gloss to replays, while realistic crowds generate a real sense of occasion to every match.
Passing is crisp and responsive, while through balls and crosses are easy to pull off but hard to master.
Thankfully, there’s a decent skills training section where you can hone everything from lofted through balls to free kicks and penalties.
PES has only a handful of licensed teams — but they do have the Champions and Europa League licenses.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
Without doubt, Wolfenstein is the most violent game of the year.
Whether you’re smashing someone’s face into a wall, or unloading a magazine of bullets into their chest — developers Machine Games have captured death in a frighteningly-realistic way.
Bodies convulse and shake when bullets rip through them — leaving blood-soaked stains on their uniforms. Explosions send limbs flying. You get the idea.
You reprise the role of William ‘B.J.’ Blazkowicz who’s on a mission to liberate America from the Nazis. To make matters worse, they’ve spent their time building an army of robotic super soldiers.
It’s powered the iD Tech 6 engine, the same powerhouse behind Bethesda’s ultra-violent Doom remake.
The result is a stunning-looking game that, if you can handle the blood, makes for utterly-compelling gaming.
Oh, and you can try it for free right now — just search for it in the Xbox / PS4 stores.
Need for Speed: Payback
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox One, PC
If you’re looking for incredible car chases and Hollywood production values, Need for Speed: Payback races ahead of the pack.
Payback uses the Frostbite engine, the same powerhouse behind FIFA 18. And, boy, does it look spectacular.
The main plot sees a team of young drivers try and take down The House, a criminal organisation with an obsession for fast cars.
Need For Speed Payback.
The acting is nothing to write home about (it’s horrendous), and there is a fair bit of grinding, but Payback is worth picking up for the car chases alone.
One of the most memorable missions sees you being harried across the desert by sinister-looking SUVs as you chase down a huge truck.
Add to the mix a spectacular slow-motion crash camera and you won’t want to get out of the driving seat.
Doom
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
With enough blood to re-float the Titanic — Doom has finally made its way on to the Switch.
It’s incredible just how well Nintendo’s console handles the game — with stunning HD visuals and decent framerates.
Combat is fast and furious, seeing you locked in areas wiping out baddies in the most brutal ways possible.
Weapons vary from shotguns to chainsaws and rocket launchers, so there’s plenty to get stuck into.
If you’re yet to give Doom a go, now’s your chance.
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