The holidays always leave a mark, don’t they? Between the late-night sessions and the endless stream of snacks, your setup probably looks a bit worse for wear. Maybe there’s a stray crumb wedged under your spacebar, or perhaps your mouse feels a little less “pro-grade” and more “sticky-grade.” It happens to everyone. Deep Cleaning Your…
The holiday rush is finally winding down. You’re likely sitting there with a leftover pile of wrapping paper, a stomach full of leftovers, and that one specific thing: a $50 or £50 gift card. It might be for Steam, the PlayStation Store, Xbox, or maybe just a generic Amazon balance. It’s a great position to…
Christmas is once again approaching, and shoppers may be wondering what to get gamers in their lives. 2025 was an especially hot year for games, with not only the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, but a ton of excellent titles across the Indie and “AAA” space. Thankfully, CGM is here once again to help guide you to making the best purchase to ensure the happiest of holidays!
From family-friendly titles like LEGO Voyagers to more intense titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite titles this year to give you our Christmas Gift Guide 2025: Top Video Games!
Donkey Kong Banaza
Donkey Kong Bananza is an excellent choice for any gamer who was fortunate enough to snag a Nintendo Switch 2—or maybe a good consideration for a Christmas bundle. Its freeform approach to exploration, combined with its myriad rewards and focus on destruction, makes it fun for gamers young and old! As Zubi Khan said in his review, “Donkey Kong Bananza is unlike anything that has come before it.”
Donkey Kong Bananza is available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
If you’re looking for a game to give someone you regularly game with, or perhaps have more than one child in the house, then LEGO Voyagers would be a great choice. Not only is it a fun and approachable puzzle-platformer, but it also feels very much, to me, like a celebration of the innocence of creativity that is inherent in the more simplistic form of LEGO.
For the RPG lover on your gift list, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a MUST HAVE. A game that literally won every award it was nominated for at the Golden Joystick Awards. It’s a game that combines incredible storytelling with resonant themes, and delivers them in a turn-based combat system that draws close comparison to Paper Mario of all games. CGM’s Chris De Hoog gave Clair Obscur: Expedition 33a 10/10, saying, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an encapsulation of all the best the medium can offer—remaking proven mechanics as its own and telling an uncompromisingly bittersweet tale with inspired artistic vision.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available for PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever.
Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.
For those gamers who love a good challenge, Hollow Knight: Silksong is sure to please this holiday season. The long-awaited sequel to Team Cherry’s critically acclaimed Hollow Knight puts players in the role of the mysterious and enigmatic Hornet, who was both friend and foe in the original game. In my review, I said, “It’s a game that retains so much of what made its predecessor great while finding new ways to innovate and elevate the experience.”
Discover the fallen insect kingdom of Pharloom! Explore mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors as you ascend to the shining citadel at the top of the world.
Engage in lethal acrobatic action! Wield a huge suite of deadly moves as you dance between foes in swift, beautiful combat.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a great game to gift for Pokéfans, both young and old. While it’s a little more dialled back than its predecessor Pokémon Legends: Arceus, where the game really shines is in its completely revamped battle system. Eschewing the turn-based format of previous games, Pokémon Legends: Z-A utilizes a real-time battle system that keeps fights exciting and fresh. As Zubi Khan said in his review, “The move to a real-time battle system is also incredibly fun and refreshing, making it easily the best element of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.“
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is available for both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems.
An ambitious new adventure set in Lumiose City awaits in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, coming to Nintendo Switch in late 2025. Explore the city, unravel its secrets and battle Pokémon like never before!
An urban redevelopment plan is underway in Lumiose City! The goal: to turn it into a place Pokémon and people can truly share. Shortly after arriving, you’ll choose from one of these partner Pokémon to accompany you on your journey – Chikorita, Tepig or Totodile.
This year saw a plethora of solid sports titles that are sure to be an excellent choice for the sports-loving gamer in your life, particularly in the 2K series of games. From NBA 2K26 to WWE 2K25 and even PGA Tour 2K25, all of these games saw overwhelmingly positive reviews on Metacritic and OpenCritic for their detailed graphics, excellent controls, and overall representation of the game.
Several of the 2K games are available on Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4 & 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
POWERED BY ProPLAY: Dominate every possession with immersive technology that directly translates NBA footage into realistic gameplay. Feel more connected to every dribble and crossover with revamped size-ups and experience fast-paced, dynamic movement with all-new ProPLAY features.
SQUAD UP IN THE CITY: Build a transcendent MyPLAYER and climb the competitive ranks to reach the pinnacle of NBA stardom in an all-new MyCAREER journey. Team up with friends in a stunning, streamlined City, earn recognition and increase your REP, and battle rival squads for Park supremacy.
RULE BEYOND THE RING: In a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for Xbox Series X|S/PlayStation 5—an immersive, WWE-themed world filled with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Fight to join the Bloodline with “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, as you upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR through multiple storyline chapters.
2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE’S DYNASTY: The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.
For any PlayStation owners, a great idea for a Christmas gift game would be Ghost of Yōtei—the sequel to Sucker Punch’s critically acclaimed open-world samurai epic. Featuring a more robust combat system, a deep and engaging story and a beautifully realized version of Hokkaidō, Japan. And for any gamers who happen to be film and anime buffs, the game features a Kurosawa Mode, Miike Mode, and a Watanabe Mode.
Ghost of Yōtei is available exclusively for the PlayStation 5.
Pre-Order now and receive Atsu + Yotei Six Avatar set (7x) and in-game Mask.
Stunning graphics and gameplay, explore the wild and striking lands around Mount Yotei on foot or horseback. Travel picturesque parts of northern Japan through grasslands, snowy ridges, fields of wildflowers, and more.
While the Nintendo Switch 2 saw two great racing games this year, if you really want to get some bang for your buck this Christmas, then you can’t go wrong with Kirby Air Riders. While the game offers tight controls and a focus on intense races, it balances it out with game modes that are more fast-paced and action-oriented—it’s practically a party game. Add to that an incredible online mode that makes getting into matches quick and exceptionally fun (however, players will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription).
Kirby Air Riders is available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.
If you know anyone who’s always wanted to get into a FromSoftware game but felt too intimidated by its difficulty, then Elden Ring: Nightreign is the perfect gift for them. Maintaining the same vibe and style of the Soulsborne series, but making the gameplay incredibly fast, fluid and enhanced by three-player co-op, Elden Ring: Nightreign captures the spirit of its mainline predecessor but sands some of the edges off.
Elden Ring: Nightreign is available on PlayStation 5, PC (Microsoft Windows), and Xbox Series X|S
ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.
RISE TOGETHER – Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.
For the dad-gamers on your Christmas shopping list, they’re sure to appreciate PowerWash Simulator 2. The zen-like experience of cleaning every square pixel of the game’s litany of locations is enhanced by small fixes to the original’s gameplay. In his review of the game, CGM’s Hayes Madsen said, “I feel like this sequel’s environments are a drastic step up from the first game, and even feature some fun little story bits by way of the text messages your clients send you…”
Of course, getting new games for Christmas is hardly practical without the consoles to play them on. If you want to really spoil the gamers on your list—or give them one big gift for the year—then you’ll want to check out the latest consoles of the seventh console generation.
This bundle includes a system and a full GAME DOWNLOAD for the Mario Kart World game, exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Limited quantities. While supplies last.
One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
PlayStation 5 Console – 1TB, includes wireless controller, 1TBSSD, Disc Drive, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, Astro’s Playroom (pre-installed game)
1TB of Storage, keep your favorite games ready and waiting for you to jump in and play
More Playing, Less Waiting: Experience next-gen speed and performance with the Xbox Velocity Architecture, powered by a custom 1TB NVMe SSD and integrated software. Seamlessly move between multiple games in a flash with Quick Resume
Graphic processing power: Play at 4K 120FPS with the supported contects; Explore rich new worlds and enjoy the action like never before with the unmatched 12 teraflops of raw graphic processing power
While a single game is usually a great gift every Christmas, if the gamer on your list has access to online play (or parents to help them with it), then a subscription to one of the big three platforms’ online services could be a good choice as well! Between PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass, and the Nintendo Switch Online Virtual Consoles, the gamers on your list will have no shortage of games to choose from!
Enjoy a curated library of 70+ classic Super NES and NES games. You can compete (or cooperate) online with friends, share your screen, or virtually pass the controller, depending on the game.
Access a collection of Game Boy games to play anytime, anywhere!
GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive roleplaying adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
If you’re buying this Christmas for a gamer who’s more PC-oriented, then a subscription to GeForce NOW would be an optimal choice. Supporting over 2000 titles on its cloud-based gaming service, any PC gamers who are already utilizing the NVIDIA line of products—from gaming PCs or laptops, to graphics cards—will be able to fully utilize this vast library of games.
You can find a subscription to GeForce NOW by following the provided link.
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