These are the game highlights in December
1.12.2023
Translation: Eva Francis
A golem made of flour, a first-person shooter with a Cypress Hill soundtrack, humanoids riding dragons and more – here’s what December games have in store for you.
The year’s ending soon and it’s time to choose the best games of the year. Might a few candidates be released in December? Maybe – the Advent month has quite a few exciting games in store for us.
SteamWorld Build
The SteamWorld series is one of the most creative ever. While the steampunk universe with its mechanical inhabitants always stays the same, the gameplay changes from game to game. The last release, SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, is a tactical card game with fantasy elements. SteamWorld Build is a city building simulator. Planet Astrid is dying. Salvation may come in the form of ancient space technology located deep underground. Your task is to build a mine and defend it from nasty villains. While on the surface, you need to collect resources and look after the well-being of your bots.
Release date: 1 December
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch
Multiplayer: no
Born of Bread
You play flour golem Loaf, who goes on a journey of discovery through a magical world along with a colourful cast of buddies. The trailers promise a wacky world and quirky humour as well as typical role-playing elements. The combat is turn-based.
Release date: 5 December
Where: PC, Switch
Multiplayer: no
A Highland Song
This game is sure to create a cosy and warm atmosphere. As Moira McKinnon, you run and jump across the Scottish Highlands on your way to the sea. To survive in the harsh wilderness, Moira has to seek shelter and find pieces from maps to discover faster routes. The game’s produced by Inkle Studios, who delivered two fantastic adventure titles with 80 Days and Overboard.
Release date: 5 December
Where: PC, Mac, Switch
Multiplayer: no
Kingpin Reloaded
Kingpin Reloaded is a brushed-up version of a 1999 first-person shooter. The soundtrack was provided by hip hop group Cypress Hill, which is why it topped the wish list for me and my friends. That and because it tells a tough gangster story in which you can knock over henchmen by the dozen. Based on the Quake 2 engine, the game has an edgy look. New features include improved graphics, ultrawide support and a new quest system. No, Kingpin isn’t just about shooting.
Release date: 5 December
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch
Multiplayer: no
Arizona Sunshine 2
If you’re thirsting for a bloody and explosive zombie shooter in VR, you’ve come to the right place. As in the first part, you shoot and slash your way through hordes of the undead with a colourful arsenal of weapons. You’re accompanied by your four-legged friend Buddy – and lots of flippant remarks. Just like the zombies, you don’t really need your brain while playing this game.
Release date: 7 December
Where: PC VR, PSVR 2
Multiplayer: online co-op for up to 4 people
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Like Far Cry in an Avatar design – that’s what many previews of Ubisoft’s upcoming open-world action game wrote. In the world of James Cameron’s long-legged smurfs, you fight human invaders just like in the original movies. You play a Na’vi who was abducted as a child by the military organisation RDA and managed to get free after 15 years. In the colourful world of Pandora, you fly and climb around, all while destroying enemy outposts and doing what you’d expect in a Far Cry, I mean Avatar game.
Release date: 7 December
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series
Multiplayer: online co-op for two people
The Day Before
Huge hype was followed by disappointment and now new-found optimism. Expectations for the online open-world zombie game are high. And the first trailer was very promising – maybe too promising for a small, unknown studio such as Fntastic. The second, more detailed video, was less impressive. After being postponed several times, The Day Before is set to launch in Early Access in December.
Release date: 7 December
Where: PC
Multiplayer: MMO
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance
Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is a dark real-time strategy game set in the universe of the sixth Terminator film. You control the military fighting to save the surviving human race from the intelligent machine threat. Instead of huge battles, you join the fray with a small force. In multiplayer mode, you can choose from two human factions and the machines. Can only be better than the movie, right? Whether Arnie will make an appearance remains to be seen.
Release date: 7 December
Where: PC
Multiplayer: online for up to three people
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
In my last game preview, I made a joke by saying a new Warhammer game’s released every month. But even in December, the monsters and heroes of Games Workshop’s ever-expanding universe continue to rage. Rogue Trader is set in the grimdark sci-fi setting of the 41st millennium. Aboard your spaceship, you explore the systems of the Koronus Expanse, a virtually undiscovered and dangerous part of space. In typical role-playing style, you control a small group of privateers. There’s dialogue, an upgrade system, new equipment and turn-based combat – both on the ground and from the ship. Owlcat studio already has some experience with such CRPGs from the Pathfinder series.
Release date: 7 December
Where: PC
Multiplayer: online co-op for up to six people
Pioneers of Pagonia
Volker Wertich, creator of the Settlers series, is working on a new bustling building game. Before that, he was responsible for The Settlers: New Allies until Ubisoft demanded a radical reorientation and he left the project. A good decision, if you look at the scathing reviews for the latest Settlers. Pioneers of Pagonia goes back to the roots of Settlers, with more than 70 goods and branched production chains promising a lot of game depth. The whole thing comes in an enchanting graphic style.
Release date: 13 December
Where: PC
Multiplayer: no
House Flipper 2
Here, Flipper isn’t the friendly TV dolphin from the 1960s. In House Flipper 2, your goal is to renovate and sell houses. You do all the things you’d rather pay a professional to do in real life yourself. First of all, you clean the house from top to bottom. Then you scrape off old wallpaper, paint walls and put up new ones until the house looks sparkling new again. It’s a bit like Powerwash Simulator and can be very meditative.
Release date: 14 December
Where: PC
Multiplayer: no
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2
Six mini-games are designed to provide entertainment in the latest edition of the Jumpscare series. You prepare snacks, test amusement rides and, of course, repair various things under time pressure while murderous animatronics are sneaking up on you. Should give you a good few scares in VR.
Release date: 14 December
Where: PSVR 2
Multiplayer: no
Pokémon Crimson and Purple: The Indigo Blue Disc
The second DLC for the latest Pokémon game will be released in mid-December. It’s about oranges, blueberries and an indigo-blue disc. I don’t understand a thing. But you have to complete the first DLC The Teal Mask before you can play this game, so you’ll certainly know what to expect from this fruit bowl.
Release date: 14 December
Where: Switch
Multiplayer: no
Bahnsen Knights
This combination of pixelated visual novel and adventure game is called Pixel Pulp. I’ve played the predecessor Mothmen 1966 and was very impressed by the atmosphere and the unique style. Bahnsen Knights is made by the same studio and promises more of what I liked about Mothmen 1966. As an undercover agent, you’re on a mission to infiltrate a religious sect of the Bahnsen Knights. The leisurely pace of the game is more than compensated for by the great retro vibe.
Release date: 14 December
Where: PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch
Multiplayer: no
River Tails: Stronger Together
In this colourful platformer, you and a friend make your way past numerous obstacles, finally arriving at a boss who’ll challenge your teamwork skills. You can only reach your goal by working together. Having said that, you can play the game alone. It’s currently in Early Access.
Release date: 14 December
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch
Multiplayer: local and online co-op for two people
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
