The December 2023 games lineup involves us turning into blue aliens and harnessing the powers of a flour golem. We’ll also be helping our favorite Disney characters with farming and other tasks.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora– PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Amazon Luna
Publisher:UbisoftDeveloper:Massive EntertainmentPrice:$69.99Release Date:December 7Trailer
The Divisiondeveloper Massive Entertainment is behind the open world ofAvatar: Frontiers of Pandora.You’ll be exploring the beautiful Western Frontier, a new area inspired by James Cameron’s box office breaking movie series.Available on December 7,this FPS has us playing as a Na’vi raised to be a warrior for the RDA but freed after 15 years. We’ll be fighting back as we “reconnect with [our] lost heritage,” according to the game’s official website.
“It’s clear this is an open-world Ubisoft game, but there’s enough different there to make it feel like a fresh experience as well,” writes our own Steven Mills ina preview of the new Ubisoft title.
This game seems similar to theFar Cryseries as you craft your own gear, gain access to a variety of weapons like shotguns and assault rifles, and take over outposts. Hopefully the game will be more interesting than the first movie’s Unobtanium storyline.
Publisher:Dear VillagersDeveloper:WildArts Studio Inc.Price:$24.99Release Date:December 5Trailer
Getting anxious for thePaper Mario: The Thousand Doorremake? You’ll want to check outBorn of Breadwhile you wait. It has a vibrant art style, a similar turn-based combat system, and a story that seems just as silly. “Born of Bread puts a twist on turn-based combat tropes with a fun interaction system that will test your reflexes,” says thegame’s Steam page. “This interactive system also features a weaknesss and resistance system that makes battles more strategic.”
The RPG seems memorable, as evidenced byour preview from PAX East earlier this year.
The combat system reacts to the timing of your button presses like thePaper Mariogames that many enjoy. You’ll also be solving puzzles with each character’s abilities as you explore this world.It releases on December 5.
Disney Dreamlight Valley(1.0 release) – PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
Publisher:GameloftDeveloper:GameloftPrice:$39.99 and higherRelease Date:December 5Trailer
The 1.0 release ofDisney Dreamlight Valleyand the expansionA Rift In Timeis finally arriving onDecember 5. This game is similar toAnimal Crossing,in which you’re befriending Disney characters, harvesting crops, and finishing side quests along the way like making dishes forRatatouille‘s Remy. You’re also upgrading shops and other resources available to you. Somehow, there’s an intriguing storyline that meshes all of these Disney icons together and have it make sense.
It’s a relaxing adventure, especially for those who love almost every Disney movie like me. You may want to get theGold Edition, which comes with the DLCA Rift In Timeand 5,000 Moonstones, one of the game’s currencies. And yes, it won’t befree-to-play, unfortunately. I guess it’s something else Eeyore can complain about.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince– Switch
Publisher:Square EnixDeveloper:Square EnixPrice:$59.99Release Date:December 1Trailer
Heading to the Switch exclusively isDragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, the next entry in the long-running JRPG series. Similar to thePokemonseries, you’ll be collecting monsters and training them. As the story proceeds, the game’s environments will change from Spring to Summer and so on.
Synthesizing two monsters to make more powerful allies returns, too. “Players can experiment and eventually unlock over 500 monsters, including franchise favourites, dark lords, and completely new creatures,” says Square Enix in apress release. The game’s also online, so you may compete against your friends and foes throughout the world. I’m excited, but man, I’ll skip over the Overture theme if it plays after it playing in so many trailers. NeverthelessDragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Princereleases onDecember 1.
Sonic Dream Team– iOS, Mac, Apple Arcade
Publisher:SegaDeveloper:Sega HardlightPrice:Free with Apple Arcade subscriptionRelease Date:December 5Trailer
Last up is the Blue Blur himself, Sonic the Hedgehog inSonic Dream Team.This time, you can play as six different characters, including Sonic, Amy, Tails, Cheese, Knuckles, and Rouge. In this 3D platformer, you’re trying to jump and spindash your way through Eggman’s nightmare dreamscapes.
From the trailers and screenshots, it looks like a solid 3D entry, despite being exclusive to Apple Arcade. It’s far more interesting thanSonic Superstars,that’s for sure. It will be availableon the subscription service on December 5. Hopefully this game heads to consoles soon after.
Honorable mentions
This month isn’t just some RPG goodness and the lightning quick speed of Sonic and his friends. There’s far more than that. Who knows? There might be some shadowdrop surprises at The Game Awards. The honorable mentions include:
