It’s holiday gift guide time! We’re in the last stretch of 2016, and we’ve been racking our brains for Video Games related gifts for friends and family for the holidays. Everyone loves that warm and fuzzy feeling you get as you see the smile on someone’s face when you’ve given them a gift that means something to them. In this gift guide we’ll go over some of the gifts we’re looking to get for our loved ones (and maybe a few special treats for ourselves), and through this hopefully help you narrow down the list of potential gifts for the fellow fans and collectors in your life.
This Video Games Holiday Gift Guide consists entirely of ideas voted in by ToonZone’s crew. Participants created a gift suggestions list. From there, a master list was created. Each of us selected our top ten gifts and assigned them a point value from 1-10. The gift ideas with the highest point value made this list.
Is there a gift on here that you’re thinking of getting for someone? Is there one you would have included that isn’t in the guide? Let us know in the comments!
NES Classic Edition
The NES Classic is a plug and play replica of the original Nintendo Entertainment System, preloaded with 30 classic NES titles that hooks right into your television set through an HDMI port. The included replica NES controller is interchangable with the Wii U Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro, so you can use any combination of the three to play these titles here or even your own on the Wii U Virtual Console.
This is surely the hot video game item of the holiday season, and due to Nintendo’s supply issues, the console sold out immediately after its November release. It’s no surprise, given that its $60 price point is quite the deal for all five Marios, both Zeldas, Kirby, Metroid, Pac Man, Ice Climbers, Castlevania 1 & 2, Final Fantasy, you get the idea. Save states and graphical enhancements make these games look even better on your HDTV, so if you can find one, definitely snap it up.
-Contributed by Defunctzombie
Check out the NES Classic Edition on Amazon.com
Pokemon Sun and Moon for 3DS
Pokemon Sun and Moon is the latest incarnation of the popular Pokemon games, now available in time for its twentieth anniversary. You explore the region of Alola, a Hawaii-inspired set of islands to capture, train, and battle over hundreds of monsters to become the next reigning champion. New features include Alola region variants of older Pokemon, Z-Moves that power up your Pokemon, and new trials to complete your journey as Pokemon Champion.
The game is fantastic for all ages and types of gamers. The simple gameplay, colorful graphics, and straightforward plot will be a shoe-in for kids and casual gamers alike. Hardcore players will appreciate the deeper mechanics that go into training your Pokemon as you can breed, battle, and work out the mechanics of each Mon for peak competition. With four major islands to visit and dozens upon dozens of Pokemon to catch, this game will keep you plenty busy during the holiday.
-Contributed by Neo Yi
Check out Pokemon Sun and Moon for the 3DS on Amazon.com
The Last Guardian
Exclusive to the PS4, The Last Guardian is a third-person action-adventure game that focuses on puzzle elements. This is the third game from the team behind Ico and Shadow of Colossus. It follows a young boy who, after finding himself kidnapped and left in an unknown location, must find a way to harness the abilities of the griffin-like Trico to escape his dangerous surroundings.
You, as the boy, cannot control Trico. Instead, you must gain his trust and nudge him along in helping you solve the puzzles. This creates the illusion of Trico being an independent and intelligent creature. Some reviewers of the game have found themselves forgetting that Trico was not a living, breathing creature. That’s some impressive A.I. right there.
The character animation is also amazing. The detail animated on the birddogcat creature, Trico, is impressive. To truly appreciate the beauty of this game you need to see it in motion. By the end of this trailer, you’ll see why The Last Guardian is a great addition to anyone’s PS4 collection.
-Contributed by Eileen “Harley” Cruz
Check out The Last Guardian on Amazon.com
PS4 Pro
The PS4 Pro is a mid-generation update to the Sony Playstation 4 console. At $399 USD, the updated system is outside of impulse buy range and one must weigh whether or not it will deliver enough to make the purchase worth your hard-earned cash. The RAM and CPU run faster on the PS4 Pro. There’s an additional 1GB of RAM available for applications. The additional cost also gains you a 1TB hard drive, an extra USB plug, an optical audio out and 802.11ac Wi-Fi (which is a definite upgrade from the original PS4’s 2.4GHz, 802.11n Wi-Fi).
Being able to get all the performance possible out of your games without having to deal with the frustration of a custom PC config is important to many of us gamers. The PS4 Pro is the most powerful console available in 2016. If you don’t yet have a PS4, graphics are important to you and you’ve got the budget for it, the PS4 Pro is for you.
-Contributed by Eileen “Harley” Cruz
Check out the PS4 Pro on Amazon.com
Final Fantasy XV
Development on Final Fantasy XV began in 2006 as a spin-off of FFXIII. It suffered the kind of troubled and prolonged development that convinced fans of the series that the project would either never see release or, if it did see the light of day, they should be concerned with the end result. Imagine everyone’s delight when FFXV saw release a decade later and, not only was it not terrible, it was a solid entry into the Final Fantasy series.
Some of us on the Toonzone crew were at one point or another (or still are) huge Final Fantasy dorks. Those of us who do not yet have this game want it. The graphics for FFXV are gorgeous and the camaraderie between the main characters makes it worth jumping back into the fray. Final Fantasy XV is a worthy gift for the RPG or Final Fantasy fan amongst your family or friends.
-Contributed by Eileen “Harley” Cruz
Check out Final Fantasy XV on Amazon.com
Hyrule Warriors Legends – 3DS
This hack-n-slash spin-off game features characters and locations from The Legend of Zelda series. Hyrule Warriors Legends is filled to the brim with content including nearly all the Wii U version’s content as well as brand-new characters, weapons, and story campaigns.
The core gameplay is fast and intense with multiple fan-favorite characters like Link, Zelda, and Sheik offering a variety of different moves to defend the land of Hyrule from a mysterious sorceress and her army. With new features and on-the-go gameplay, Hyrule Warriors Legends is an excellent gift for fans of hack-n-slash games and The Legend of Zelda series.
-Contributed by Greg91
Check out Hyrule Warriors Legends on Amazon.com
Uncharted 4
Uncharted 4 is the latest entry in the popular video game series, only on Playstation 4. Treasure Hunter Nathan Drake is trying to lead an honest life away from his thieving past, but when long lost brother, Sam, pops up with a lead on the legendary treasure of pirate captain, Henry Avery, Nathan must choose between his greed or his loved ones.
Styled after pulp adventure novels, Uncharted 4 is a modern day Indiana Jones, cleverly integrating the best of its kind through gameplay mechanics. Temples and ruins serve as death-defying obstacles for your platforming needs. Enemies transform the game into a third person shooter, and for those who can’t shoot worth a lick, you can fight them face-to-face or sneak up from behind and go for the kill. Occasional puzzles and optional dialogue choices provide downtime to balance the intense moments and also define the protagonists. Uncharted 4 is a versatile game that plays like a Triple A action movie and ultimately serves as a satisfying hurrah to Nathan’s final journey.
-Contributed by Neo Yi
Check out Uncharted 4 on Amazon.com
Nintendo 2DS
The Nintendo 2DS is a 3D free handheld system in the popular 3DS family of gaming systems. Pre-installed with Mario Kart 7, one of the best-selling games for the 3DS family and a great installment of the Mario Kart series, the 2DS bundle is a great option at a high value.
The system is sturdy and more suitable for children that might accidentally drop the system. At $80, this is the perfect gift for anyone interested in discovering the vast library of 3DS games and the 2DS system at a stellar price!
-Contributed by Greg91
Check out the Nintendo 2DS on Amazon.com
Overwatch
Overwatch is a team-based multi-player shooter created by Blizzard Entertainment, the developer behind such long-lived entries as Starcraft, Warcraft and Diablo. The game has no campaign is purely fixated on the team-based multiplayer experience, which centers around two teams vying to control key points on a map for for a set amount of time until victory is achieved. Depending on the situation you’re escorting cargo from point A to point B, or tasked with defending or taking over a key location. With this setup teamwork and smart play are important factors, not just racking up your personal kill count.
In a year full of high-profile shooters, Blizzard’s Overwatch stands apart for its hero-driven gameplay. Rather than some nondescript soldier with a gun you’re stepping into the role of a unique character with his or her own distinct set of abilities, and learning and mastering personal favorites is at least half the fun beyond the competition itself. Blizzard has also committed to supporting Overwatch with free updates throughout its lifespan, players will find no “season pass” nonsense going on here for the latest heroes and arenas. Blizzard has a history of bringing games to market that are easy to learn and hard to master, and it’s no different with Overwatch.
-Contributed by GWOtaku
Check out Overwatch on Amazon.com
Fire Emblem Fates – 3DS
Fire Emblem Fates is the latest iteration of Nintendo’s tactical RPG franchise, which sees players managing an army of individual characters and leading them to victory while developing relationships with its expansive and eclectic cast. Fates represents a shift for franchise by casting the player as a prince or princess with family ties and divided loyalties toward two sides, forcing a choice between two sets of characters appealing in their own way. Do you side with the knights of Nohr and help your adopted family reform an aggressor nation from within, or side with the ninja and samurai of Hoshido to defend your birthplace?
Nintendo’s Fire Emblem Awakening was a creative renaissance for its Strategy RPG franchise, trading out aging and punishing gameplay mechanics for an intuitive and welcoming experience that let players of all types enjoy its story and colorful characters. Fates further refines things but also serves two types of fans, in its way. Self-styled gaming experts and long-time fans of Fire Emblem will find Conquest’s missions to be far more challenging and unforgiving, while Birthright is likely the storyline of choice for casual and younger players. Whichever one you choose the other storyline is up for the taking at a significant discount through Nintendo eShop, in addition to third campaign where the player character refuses to take sides. Any one part of Fire Emblem Fates represents a full-fledged game in its own right, making this arguably the biggest and most replayable title released for the Nintendo 3DS.
-Contributed by GWOtaku
Check out Fire Emblem Fates Conquest and Birthright on Amazon.com
Take a look at our other Holiday Gift Guides!
2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Digital, Blu-ray & DVD | 2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Comics & Collectibles
The Video Games 2016 Holiday Gift Guide would not have happened without defunctzombie, Eileen “Harley” Cruz, Greg91, GWOtaku, James Harvey, Jave, Light Lucario, Neo Yi, slai and Yojimbo.
