Last month we had a much calmer month for game releases. Now that we move on to December with another list of our top picks, it appears this trend continues. Speaking of last month, we had some fun new additions to our game libraries. We got to play as classic 80s action hero Robocop in his very own original adventure, Call of Duty celebrated its 20th anniversary with the release of the remake of Modern Warfare 3, and the return of Kazuma Kiryu in the stylish action brawler, Like a Dragon: Gaiden.
Now entering the festive period, December brings mostly indie hits and ports to other platforms. Though we do have some bigger releases related to fantastic franchises. This month brings us some trips into virtual reality, some horror titles, and a AAA game based on one of the highest-grossing movies ever. Let’s not delay any further, here are our picks for the ten games releasing in December to look out for.
Batman: Arkham Trilogy
First on our list is one of gaming’s most infamous superhero trilogies. Rocksteady’s Arkham games have reached numerous platforms, allowing players to become the Dark Knight and protector of Gotham City. Finally, players can take Batman on the go when the Batman: Arkham Trilogy releases on December 1st for Nintendo Switch.
Become Gotham City’s ultimate protector across the iconic Batman: Arkham Trilogy
What We Know About Batman: Arkham Trilogy
Face off against notorious DC Super-Villains in three action-packed adventures. Infiltrate the renowned Arkham Asylum where The Joker has taken over and unleashed some of the prison’s deadliest criminals. Go toe to toe with Bane, outwit the murderous Killer Croc, and escape from Scarecrow’s nightmare, Then battle Hugo Strange in Arkham City where even more of Batman’s rogues gallery are causing trouble. Thwart the Riddler’s death game, take down Two-Face and team up with Catwoman. Then in the final entry, return to the streets of Gotham and face Scarecrow and his league of villains. Alongside battling a city of villains, investigate The Arkham Knight, who is out for revenge on Batman and his allies.
As the caped crusader, use an arsenal different gadgets from Batman’s iconic Batarangs, explosive gel aerosol and the Batclaw. Use enhanced investigation tools to solve intricate puzzles with the help of detective mode. Utilize Batman’s many methods of combat with the help of the freeflow combat system, allowing you to chain together unlimited combos seamlessly. As you go through the series, more opportunities become available for taking down crime. Like being able to drive the Batmobile across all of Gotham City. All three games include every piece of DLC, from new story missions, characters, costumes, challenge maps, and more. Alongside the release, Rocksteady has also put in a new free costume for Batman: Arkham Knight. The costume is based on last year’s epic, The Batman, and will have the caped crusader be able to dress in the movie’s costume.
SteamWorld Build
Next on our list is the next entry into the SteamWorld series, SteamWorld Build, developed by Thunderful Group and The Station. Take control of a civilization of robots in a steampunk-inspired city builder set in a post-apocalyptic world. Build the perfect steam-powered city starting December 1st when SteamWorld Build releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Build a thriving community while trying to escape a post-apocalyptic world on the verge of collapse.
What We Know About SteamWorld Build
In Steamworld Build, be in charge of the last-ditch effort to save the town and escape this dying planet. Take on the role of an overseer, in charge of organising the steam-powered citizens in building a bustling community. SteamWorld Build is a city builder at heart involving a combination of plotting, researching, and developing new technologies. As you build, new steamfolk will arrive with their own problems for you to solve. Barter to boost efficiency, keep goods flowing to and from the mines making everyone happy to work their darndest and hardest.
However, alongside the city-building mechanics, delve into the mines and launch a digging expedition that stretches deep into the core of the dying planet. Down there players can find new technology and take part in combat encounters while exploring. Not every member of your robotic community is up to the task of fending off the creatures in the mines. Expand your army so they’re fit to tackle the monstrosities down below. Explore and build on five distinct maps littered with secrets to find in four different difficulty levels. This includes a sandbox mode for anyone who simply wants to build a wild-western-themed steampunk town.
Born of Bread
Our next pick is for fans of games like Paper Mario, with the 2.5D platformer RPG, Born of Bread. Developed by Wild Art Studio Inc., they’ve taken the obvious inspiration of games like Paper Mario, and put their spin on the concept. Follow the story of a flour golem who possesses a never-ending childlike wonder and a set of odd abilities. Born of Bread releases on December 5th for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.
Travel through beautiful regions meeting colourful characters
What We Know About Born of Bread
Follow the adventures of Loaf, a young flour golem boy with a wonderous set of odd abilities. Venture into his world and meet all sorts of colourful characters, team up with them whilst travelling through the numerous regions. Team up with new friends and tackle with creatures from another age who are causing havoc across the land. Discover zany characters who have their own quests and mysteries for you to solve.
Born of Bread has a gorgeous paper art style and takes full advantage of its exploration and platforming in the 2.5D perspective. Players will be able to take part in quirky turn-based combat scenarios. These scenarios incorporate quick-time events, where you can turn the tides of battle with well-timed button prompts. Each of your allies that Loaf will meet on their journey has their own abilities that can help overcome threats and obstacles in both combat scenarios and exploration. Alongside the battles, there are plenty of puzzles to solve and platforming sections to get through.
Arizona Sunshine 2
Looking for a new zombie-slaying fix? Then prepare your machete and load up your shotgun for Arizona Sunshine 2. Developed by Vertigo Games, Arizona Sunshine 2 is the sequel to the highly adored VR Zombie action game. Packing even more gore-geous zombie action, Arizona Sunshine 2 releases on December 7th for Meta Quest, PC, PS5, and PSVR2.
Explore the bright zombie state of Arizona with your pal Buddy the dog
What We Know About Arizona Sunshine 2
Return to the sun-drenched, zombie-infested Arizona in a brand new adventure. Experience a new cinematic story where you search for answers while hearing the dark-humoured narration of the protagonist. However, you won’t be alone in this adventure, meet Buddy, your new helpful canine companion. Buddy can assist in taking down zombies, discovering essential items, and carrying your gear. Not only will you have a very pettable friend to fight zombies with, but you can also invite up to three friends for co-op carnage in horde mode. You can also enjoy the full campaign from a new perspective in two player co-op.
Arizona Sunshine 2‘s cutting-edge mutilation and gore system brings the most realistic and jaw-dropping zombie takedowns in VR. Plus, with the help of PlayStation’s eye-tracking and flexible scaled rasterization features, it’ll make sure you won’t miss any of the gory details. The combat for Arizona Sunshine 2 has been enhanced with full manual reloading and new ranged weapons added. Alongside gunplay, Arizona Sunshine 2 has made combat more personal with the all-new melee combat system. Now you can arm yourself with machetes, crowbars, and pickaxes, you’ll feel the intensity of each swing, slash, and crush.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Unsurprisingly one of our picks for December is the highly anticipated Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, developed by Massive Entertainment. Take control of a Na’vi and experience the epic wonders only Pandora can provide. Explore the never-before-seen Western Frontier when Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora releases on December 7th for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
Reconnect with your lost heritage, discover what it truly means to be Na’vi, and join other clans to protect Pandora from the RDA.
What We Know About Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Return to the luscious world of Pandora in this first-person, action-adventure game. You play as a Na’vi who was abducted by the Resources Development Administration (RDA). Raised and trained as a soldier to serve their purpose, you awake fifteen years later in an abandoned facility. Feeling like a stranger in your birthplace you set forth towards the Western Frontier for answers to your origins. While on your journey, interact with local Na’vi tribes and help them fend off the RDA from exploiting resources. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora‘s story is said to be partially tied to the films but also remains as a standalone adventure.
Fight off the dangers of Pandora as you embrace the precision of traditional Na’vi weapons, including your bow and spear-thrower, or leverage your human training with more destructive weapons, such as an assault rifle or a shotgun. As a Na’vi, use abilities that help you highlight interactable objects in the environment and weak points on RDA enemies. Bond with your own personal banshee that will give you an edge in aerial combat and can be used for travelling across the vast Western Frontier. Journey through beautiful yet unpredictable open-world regions, where lowering your guard can lead to deadly mistakes.
The Day Before
Next, we have another game filled with zombies, The Day Before, developed by Fntastic. The Day Before is an open-world MMO survival game set in a deadly zombie apocalypse. Explore a large-scale map that allows players to team up against the infected or fight each other for loot. The Day Before is releasing in early access for PC on December 7th.
Team up with your fellow survivors and explore a large open world filled with loot to uncover
What We Know About The Day Before
In a post-pandemic America overrun by flesh-hungry infected and survivors killing each other for supplies. Waking up alone you set out in a world you no longer realise to find answers alongside resources to survive. In the open world, explore the beautiful and richly detailed New Fortune City alongside the forest outskirts. From what has been shown, many buildings will be explorable which include tall skyscrapers, business centers, massive malls, grand stadiums, and more. The gameplay consists of similar first/third-person games such as Ghost Recon and The Division. Much like many FPS titles, weapons can be customized with attachments that are found during scavenging.
When it comes to the social aspects of The Day Before, this will be down to you. Similar to games like DayZ and Rust, you can be the hero of your story or the villain. Help your fellow player, or shoot on sight. To help with the role-playing aspects of the game is the in-game voice communication, allowing players to reason with survivors and possibly make some new friends. Another interesting social roleplaying aspect is Colonies. These are safe-zone hubs, where players can meet up, interact with each other and create groups. You are also able to trade and sell your loot to NPCs and other players. Alongside this, NPCs are said to be able to give players missions for in-game loot.
Bear and Breakfast
Next, we have a charming and laid-back management adventure game called Bear and Breakfast. Developed by Gummy Cat Studios, Bear and Breakfast has you running a Bed and Breakfast in the forest, also you are a bear. Originally released for PC and Nintendo Switch, Bear and Breakfast releases for PS4 and PS5 on December 12th.
Are you bear enough to run the best bed and breakfast this side of the forest?
What We Know About Bear and Breakfast
Join Hank and friends in turning an abandoned shack in the forest into a money-making B+B. In this hybrid management sim adventure, players can build and personalize their inn with dozens of guest rooms, bathrooms, parlours, and entertainment. Each room can be fully customized from the furniture to fixtures. After building the perfect inn, you’ll have to greet tourists and cater to their needs to keep them happy. As you run your business and watch it expand, the mysteries of the forest begin to unfold. Hank will soon be finding himself uncovering a plot deeper than the wilderness itself. Bear and Breakfast is filled with entertaining quests and storylines with quirky characters. Unlock new items and perks for your Inn alongside learning rich lore and secrets.
Five Nights at Freddy’s Help Wanted 2
Returning to the world of virtual reality, our next pick is Five Nights at Freddy’s Help Wanted 2. Developed by Steel Wool Games, the sequel to the smash hit VR game comes with all-new minigames featuring characters from Sister Location. Prepare to survive another night when Five Nights at Freddy’s Help Wanted 2 releases on December 14th for PS5 and PSVR2.
Can you brave through the horrors to figure out the truth?
What We Know About Five Nights at Freddy’s Help Wanted 2
Help Wanted 2 has you return to work as the only human employee at Fazbear Entertainment. Introducing a fresh batch of minigames, from taking customer orders, doing arts and crafts, or helping the maintenance staff. The Backstage minigames will have you working the Pizzaplex Salon with Roxanne Wolf. Change her style for her next show but be quick about it since she’s not too patient and making a mistake could lead to deadly consequences. Next is the Fazcade, containing classic games like Bonk-a-Bon and Fazerblast. Precision and quick reflexes are key to getting high scores. Staff the safety and security team, and perform basic first aid for guests, whether it’s a small patch-up or curing rabies. Remember to be delicate, there are no sedatives so patient screams may bring unwanted attention.
Hop on over to EL Chips and prepare food for the entire Pizzaplex. Keep up with the demand of the nearly endless combinations of possible orders during the dinner rush. Afterwards, head on over to the Ticket Booth where you can catch a ride on Captain Foxy’s Cowboy Adventure. On this lighthearted log ride, you’ll float through the old West as a gunslinger in search of booty. There may be a chance of the ride breaking so don’t panic if you drift off course. Finally, dive into the world of Sister Location where you’ll have to switch between keeping Funtime Freddy busy, repairing electrical breakers and surviving a classic security office game until 6 AM. The PSVR2 provides Help Wanted 2 with a more engaging horror experience through controller haptics, 3D audio, and so much more.
House Flipper 2
Another sequel for our picks this month is the popular renovation sim, House Flipper 2. Developed by Frozen District and Empyrean, House Flipper is back in a brand-new fashion. Return to renovating houses though this time with the option to build it from scratch. Begin your renovations on December 14th when House Flipper 2 releases for PC.
It’s time to dust off your hammer in a brand new renovating adventure
What We Know About House Flipper 2
In the sequel to the first-person building and property management sim, return to renovating houses to flip them for profit. Like before, builders will have access to an enormous range of tools and palettes. Using your trusted hammer, paint roller, and a sturdy mop, become a foreman in the mountainside locale of Pinnacove. Build homes from the grassy roots up and carve out dream-like condos and apartments with an infinite selection of tools, paints, and components. Befriend the locals when renovating their homes and discover their stories. House Flipper 2 has two modes, Story and Sandbox. Delve into long and engaging renovation projects while performing quick jobs in Story Mode. Sandbox mode lets you construct houses from scratch with no limits meaning less clutter to deal with and more creative control.
Paranoid
For our final pick, we chose something spooky with Paranoid, developed by Madmind Studio. This first-person tale of horror, tells the story of Patrick who has been living in isolation from the outside world for many years. One day his sister visits out of the blue after she disappeared years ago. Find out what horrors await when Paranoid releases December 15th for PC.
Be a witness to the brutal scenes of murder and unravel the truth about your traumatic past and future.
What We Know About Paranoid
Telling the story of Patrick Calman, a man who lost his entire family in mysterious circumstances. With his parents brutally killed and his sister disappearing without a trace. Shattering Patrick’s psyche, he turned his own apartment into a prison where he’s developed Paranoid Schizophrenia. One day, Patrick receives a phone call from his sister announcing her arrival several years after disappearing. The protagonist will have to make difficult decisions over the course of the game. Whether to stay at home without medication and uncover the dark secret of his neighbour? Or should he go out and buy his medication and meet his missing sister?
Paranoid can be completed in two different ways, showing how the simple decisions to stay and leave the apartment profoundly affect the protagonist’s fate. Depending on the choices made, the player will either lock themselves in their apartment with their own demons or venture into the city. Can he figure out what’s true and what’s his own delusions? Investigate your neighbour and determine if they’re hiding a dark secret. Paranoid is said to combine psychological horror with pieces of action and survival. Use melee weapons and guns to fend off disturbing enemies while trying to discover the truth.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VUb53LVzzQI
Have any other games you’ve got your eye on during December? Let us know in the comments below!
