The Holiday season is fast approaching! Games are coming out so fast that it can be very difficult to keep track. We take time every year to list the very best family games of the year that came out on every console.
Take a look below for our list of the best video game gifts for PlayStation 4 owners!
(Full disclosure: These Amazon links are affiliate links. Purchases made using these links will help us earn revenue.)
Spider Man – PlayStation 4
[amazon_link asins=’B01GW8YDLK’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’82df404c-d30b-11e8-ac53-717e213d8697′]
Spider-Man may well be our game of the year this year. It is a fantastic game that features a character that kids love. It is rated T for teen and earns that rating thanks to frequent combat with gun toting enemies, but it is a great story that features interesting takes on long time villains and heroes. I can’t understate how wonderful the movement feels though. Web swinging through Insomniac Games’ s interpretation of Manhattan is invigorating. This is a must own for PS4 owners this year.
Dragon Ball FighterZ – Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B0793GS8NL’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a0d98166-d30b-11e8-abbe-f7fae2d39d7c’]
Dragon Ball FighterZ is one of the best fighting games and the bestDragon Ball of the year. It is a three on three tag team brawl with a character roster than pulls from the deepest corners ofDragon Ball lore. It was developed by Arc System Works, a company known for high quality animation and flashy combat.Dragon Ball FighterZ is a beautiful game to watch thanks to its tag and assist system, but the real fun starts when you take the controls yourself. This is a very accessible fighting game that is great for tweens.
Ni No Kuni 2 Revenant Kingdom – PlayStation 4, PC
[amazon_link asins=’B01N7VUOPH’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b8878484-d30b-11e8-959f-0f57b79b7289′]
Ni No Kuni 2 is an adventure role playing games set in a world with both anime and western fantasy appeal. The art style and thematic soul of this epic comes from Level 5 studios working with the same studio headed by Hiyo Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle). The story of a fallen leader’s return to power after a sudden betrayal features a supporting cast that would be just as home in Redwall or [The board game about mouse soliders?] The story and game play is more approachable to younger adult gamer than its original title, replacing an in game strategy guide and Pokémon style monster collection with a more organic tutorial and explanations centered around a steady cast of playable characters. This game was loads of fun to play and has themes and stories for both parents and children alike, if you can get through all of the puns that show up in the supporting cast and side missions. Definite Recommend for this holiday season.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 and 2 – Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Purchase these games on the PSN here!
Mega Man is a well loved character and Mega Man 1 through 10 are the reason why. These two collections include 10 devilishly challenging platformers that have inspired a generation of gamers. This is a must own for families that have an interest in gaming history.
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 and 2 -Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B07BZ3L76B’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d5dbc1d5-d30b-11e8-a1c1-71c4cc7f53fe’]
You can also purchase just the first collection digitally here!
Mega Man X is one of the best platformers on the Super Nintendo and it spawned a series of sequels that kept ramping up the action. Capcom released two Mega Man X collections this year. The second collection falls flat, but collection 1 included Mega Man X through X4 and is a great value.
Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion – Xbox One, PlayStation 4
[amazon_link asins=’B07GH67TGY’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’16ee63a6-d30c-11e8-a511-bd028ccecdf8′]
Adventure Time may have come to an end on September 3rd, but there are still adventures to be had. Pirates of the Enchiridion is a great way to keep the fun going. It is an open world RPG where you explore the land of Ooo one last time with a party of classic Adventure Time characters. The animation is of particular note here as it captures the irreverent nature of the show perfectly.
Sonic Mania Plus – Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B07GBYLQCM’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6710c2f2-d30c-11e8-b524-d70b10fd73e3′]
Sonic Mania was a big deal when it came out initially. Many critics lauded it as the best Sonic the Hedgehog game in decades. (Some went so far as to say it was the best Sonic game of all time). Sonic Mania Plus is a re-release that also includes two new characters: Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. They both move differently from Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles and have different powers.
Dragon Quest 11 -PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B07BP3J6RG’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’cdedebd7-d30c-11e8-8f31-a3496c7e476b’]
Sometimes you just want to play an epic-length, gorgeous, JRPG. Dragon Quest XI is just that. DQXI is a simple game that rewards exploration and experimentation. The cast of characters is interesting and different enough that everyone will have their favorites. This will be a great game to help spend some of the cold winter days that will come after the Holidays.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 -Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B07BCFVDX5′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’004668a5-d30d-11e8-9f4f-69ec52a898c6′]
Valkyria Chronicles 4 is the spiritual successor to the popular PS3 title after two offshoot titles launched for the PS Vita. The game is a tactical strategy game set in an alternate, and more fantastical, version of Europe during the Second World War. The game unfolds in a series of journal entries placing the battles in context of a series of well told cut scenes and storyboards. Game play alternates between battles where you control each character in a unit as you advance and fight your way to an objective, and coordinating and upgrading your ever increasing squad in an offstage headquarters. This is a family friendly title that bridges the gap between the popular title XCOM 2 and Mario + Rabbid’s Kingdom Battle. It also has a playable demo with a save that can be rolled over to the full title. A strong title for strategy or warfare fans.
Mega Man 11 -Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B07DCLW2F3′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’197232b5-d30d-11e8-9970-2dc117421a42′]
It’s been eight years since the release of a new official Mega Man game and we have been long overdue. Mega Man is one of the essential franchises that gave birth to the platforming genre, and this newcomer to the Mega Man family is a most welcome addition. It promises new mechanics and challenges that will push the series to new heights. If you are a fan of the series or a fan of retro platforming games, then Mega Man 11 is a no brainer.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas -Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B07DF35Y2B’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’381389b4-d30d-11e8-8bb8-23941e36487b’]
Starlink: Battle for Atlas was my game of the show at E3 this year. I was stunned to see a toys to life game (not called Skylanders) in 2018 and I loved it.
This is releasing this holiday season on all three major consoles and on PC, but the best place to play Starlink is going to be on Switch where it will feature exclusive content based on the legendary Star Fox franchise.
Just Dance 2019 -Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
[amazon_link asins=’B07DD7T1CS’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’551b2d7a-d30d-11e8-83e9-e90f53b1bd56′]
What is there to say about Just Dance that hasn’t been said before? This is becoming one of the most venerable franchises in gaming. Just Dance is released every year with new dance routines and new songs to very little coverage from gaming sites. Just Dance 2019 has a large audience and you’ll know if your family falls into it. Do you love music? Do you love dancing? If the answer to either of those questions is yes, then this should be on your radar.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy – Xbox One, PlayStation 4
[amazon_link asins=’B07BX4CVXG’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’engafamigami-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’91a3642c-d30d-11e8-bc19-d103d8ca5d37′]
Spyro is more than just a Skylander. He was the mascot for a whole bunch of 3d platformers. His games where some of the first in the genre though so they are both well loved and in need of a fresh coat of paint. Vicarious Visions has rebuild the first three Spyro games with loving detail. I went hands on with the Spyro collection while I was at E3 and I loved what I saw so far. This is going to be a great gift for your family. This is especially true if you are a parent who loved the Spyro games in the past and want to share them with your kids.
What do you think? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts!
Make sure to keep your eyes on Engaged Family Gaming for all of the latest news and reviews you need to Get Your Family Game On!
Follow us on Facebook!
Like us on Twitter!
Follow us on Instagram!
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
Subscribe to our Podcast!