December Games Roundup: 2022 ends with a couple of bangers

Keeping our fingers crossed that these upcoming games will be gems and not pieces of coal.

by Jeremy Cheong

December began with a bang with the releases of The Callisto Protocol, Marvel’s Midnight Suns and Need for Speed Unbound.

If you want more games to play that will last you up until mid-2023, then you are in for a treat. Here are some of the other titles that will be released later this month.

Dragon Quest Treasures

Who’s that Poké… Digi… Wait! What kind of ‘mon are you?

Release Date: December 9
Platform: Nintendo Switch

As one of the longest-running video game franchises (with 11 mainline games and numerous spin-offs), the Dragon Quest series will be getting another new spin-off in the form of Dragon Quest Treasures for the Nintendo Switch. This upcoming title sees Erik from 2017’s Dragon Quest XI and his sister Mia take centre stage in a spirited treasure-hunting romp.

After an encounter with a pair of otherworldly creatures and coming across a pair of magical daggers, the siblings are transported to the floating continent of Draconia which is home to monsters and precious loot, including seven highly sought-after legendary Dragonstones.

That’s the same thing I say when I stop the wife from stealing my chocolates.

To help them collect and protect their treasure from rival gangs, Erik and Mia will have to learn how to tame and fight alongside a team of monster pals and use their unique abilities to find hidden treasures in seemingly inaccessible areas. Treasures will increase their vault’s value, allowing them to expand their home base and further build up their brigade of friendly monsters.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion

Big monster ain’t no match for my big sword and pew pew magic.

Release Date: December 13
Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch

The original Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII was released in 2007 only for the PlayStation Portable and was easily one of the best games for the console. So if you never had the chance to play this prequel to Final Fantasy VII, then you definitely should put this high-definition remaster on your wishlist.

The story of this remaster remains largely the same as the 2007 edition and tells the story of a young Shinra SOLDIER operative named Zack Fair, who discovers the dark secrets of Shinra’s experiments and the monsters they create. Along the way, Zack will meet fan-favourite characters such as Cloud Strife, Aerith, and Sephiroth and how he factors into their stories will clear up many gaps and lead into the next major chapter in the Final Fantasy VII Remake saga.

This looks like the start of a beautiful boyband.

With the remaster, the game will now support crisp 4K resolution, 120fps, gameplay changes, fully-voiced dialogues and new soundtrack arrangements.

High On Life

We had Skippy in Cyberpunk 2077, and now meet his alien cousin.

Release Date: December 13
Platform: PC, Xbox Series X|S

High on Life is a brand new title by brand new publisher-developer Squanch Games. If the word Squanch sounds familiar to you, it is probably because you watched a few episodes of Rick and Morty as this new studio was founded by series co-creator Justin Roiland.

So with that said, gamers can expect a first-person shooter with cartoonish graphics, slapstick humour and a whole lot of inexplicably weird things happening throughout the game. One of these weird things includes a talking gun that always has something to say, especially when you use it to shoot at mean and strange extraterrestrial enemies.

Is it just me or does that entrance look a bit “manly?”

Not much has been revealed about the plot of High on Life except the fact that in this space exploration game, you play as a bounty hunter on a mission to save Earth from an alien invasion. So just expect the unexpected when you start your High on Life adventure.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

Release Date: December 14
Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has always been praised as one of the best role-playing games and I personally have to agree as I lost many months to that game. Geralt’s adventure in the expansive and realistic world of the Continent just draws you in and tightens its grip on you the more time you spend in it.

Fans of the third game or those who have never played it will soon be able to experience this award-winning RPG with dozens of visual, performance and technical enhancements with the free next-gen update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition. Some of these new enhancements include Ray Tracing, Screen Space Reflections, camera, controls and UI changes, photo mode, integrated mods, quest fixes and DLC based on the Netflix series which includes new quests and equipment for Geralt based on the show.

For gamers who don’t have a next-gen console, the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions of the game will also receive an update that features the new additions, improvements and Netflix Witcher-themed DLCs.

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