What are the biggest games in December 2022? Despite the lack of volume in the second half – thanks to the Christmas holiday period – December promises to be a pretty decent month for video game releases. First up is The Callisto Protocol out Dec. 2, a space survival horror that immerses you in a tense, bloody, closed-aisle prison where unspeakable horrors lurk around every corner. On the same day, the Need for Speed franchise returns with NFS Unbound, sporting an anime-like cell-shaded aesthetic. Although popular American rapper A$AP Rocky is featured in promotional material, he will simply be available as an in-game boss that you can interact with.
After numerous delays, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is finally getting its next-gen update on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X this December, featuring an intense visual overhaul, ray tracing support, and some in-game goodies based on Netflix’s The Witcher series. This will be available as a free update for those who already own the title on those platforms, with the PC version getting an additional photo mode. Just before that, on December 13, Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland lends his creativity to a comedic biopunk shooter called High on Life. Armed with an array of charismatic and talking weapons, you must become the deadliest intergalactic bounty hunter and save the world.
The heroic theme carries over into Marvel’s Midnight Suns on Dec. 2, when you’re thrust into a darker supernatural realm to assemble a faction of beloved superheroes and put an end to the evil deeds of Lilith, Mother of Demons. So you can keep cool by venturing into the cold night as an investigative journalist, looking to uncover your creepy neighbor’s secrets in Hello Neighbor 2, available December 6th.
And don’t forget, The Game Awards 2022 is also scheduled for December – 8th night in the US and 9th morning in India.
With that, here are the top seven games for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X in December 2022.
The Callisto Protocol
When: December 2nd
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
From the mind of Glen Schofield comes The Callisto Protocol, a spiritual sequel to Dead Space that tasks you with escaping the maximum security Dark Iron Prison overrun by bloodthirsty parasitic aliens. Set on Jupiter’s dead moon Callisto in the year 2320, you take on the role of Jacob Lee, a victim of fate armed with a medley of melee weapons, who must fight his way out of claustrophobic passages and, in the process, uncover a conspiracy. His character is also equipped with a telekinetic power, allowing you to grab enemies from afar and throw them at razor-sharp knives and between heavy doors.
The Callisto Protocol is about to be heavy on dismemberment, as you’re forced to get up close and personal with grotesque aliens – hacking and blowing up limbs and getting creative with whatever’s available at your disposal in order to survive. The game also stars Karen Fukuhara (The Boys) as an unnamed companion and adds a season pass to its Deluxe Edition. Priced at Rs. 2999, adds four pieces of content, which include 25 new kill animations. Development on the latter begins next year at Striking Distance Studios.
Callisto Protocol PC system requirements announced
Marvel’s Midnight Sun
When: December 2nd
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
This upcoming superhero tactical RPG game relies on cards to represent the heroes’ abilities and comes from the creators of XCOM. You must stop Lilith, the Mother of Demons, from fulfilling an ancient prophecy to summon the evil Chthon, one of Earth’s Elder Gods. You’ll step into the shoes of a legendary demon slayer named Hunter and work alongside other Marvel heroes such as Iron Man, Ghost Rider and Wolverine.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns lets you use a deck of eight cards – each hero has a unique set of abilities that can be used in combat. These abilities are available in the form of Attacks, Skills, and Heroism cards. When the game starts, you’ll have to draw up to six cards, and you’ll be able to use your abilities (with cards) three times during your turn, along with two redraws to replace abilities.
According to Firaxis Games, Marvel’s Midnight Suns will let you use your surroundings to gain an advantage over your opponent, using a series of attacks or a combination of moves, before finishing them off with Hero abilities. The game will also let you explore The Abbey, a mystical secret base for you to obtain hidden items and secrets to gain an advantage against the Mother of Demons.
Need for unlimited speed
When: December 2nd
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X,
The latest entry in EA’s popular Need for Speed series is set over four weeks of racing and will allow you to compete with other racers to earn money to participate in weekly ranking events. As you try to build your reputation as a street racer, you’ll also have to deal with the police, who are always a few feet away. Need for Speed Unbound will also feature single-player and multiplayer campaigns, according to the publisher.
Like other titles in the series, Need for Speed Unbound will have you starting as a rookie, who must work their way to the top. You can do this by winning races, using your winnings to bet against rival racers, and evading the police when they start chasing you. You can also earn in-game cash by doing road drifts along with other stunts.
Need for Speed Unbound will also require you to use tactics to evade law enforcement by trying to escape, facing them or going underground in Lakeshore to cool off. The game will also feature extensive customization, allowing you to use hundreds of cosmetic items and gear. This includes wraps and cutouts for your car, which can be displayed in in-game Meetups.
Need for Speed Unbound trailer released and full car roster revealed
Rapper A$AP Rocky also contributes to the soundtrack.
Photo credit: Criterion Games
hello neighbor 2
When: December 6
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
There is a big mystery surrounding Raven Brooks. It’s up to you to sneak in and discover the secrets your neighbors are hiding. Hello Neighbor 2 is a stealth horror game that doubles as an investigative journalist simulator. There’s an entire town to explore this time around, filled with eccentric AI-controlled residents and many houses guarding spooky secrets.
Neighbors in Hello Neighbor 2 are controlled by an AI neural network that learns from you and adapts to your play style over time. Outwit the mustachioed gentleman before he discovers you and discovers your secrets.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion
When: December 13th
Where: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
Featuring revamped 3D models, fully voiced dialogue in both English and Japanese, and an improved battle system, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is an HD remaster of the game originally released in 2007. It serves as a prequel to Final Fantasy VII and follows the story of Zack Fair — Cloud’s best friend from the main Final Fantasy games.
This is an action RPG that uses a real-time combat system, giving you the ability to initiate attacks, cast spells, and block or dodge attacks. It also comes with a newly arranged soundtrack by the original composer, Takeharu Ishimoto.
high on life
When: December 13th
Where: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
From the comically creative mind of Justin Roiland (Rick and Morty) comes a first-person shooter where your allies are talking guns. Each weapon will offer a unique ability as you adventure through all manner of biomes across the cosmos – a jungle paradise, a city inside an asteroid, and more.
High on Life is set in a biopunk world where an alien cartel has descended to Earth that just wants to get high with humans. You will have to become the best intergalactic bounty hunter on a mission to rescue humans and take down Garmantuous and his gang to save the world.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next Gen
When: December 14th
Where: PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X
Widely considered one of the best games in its genre, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is set to receive a major update this December. The update for current generation consoles took a while, but it will be a free update for players who already own the original title. The update will allow you to choose between performance and graphics modes on your PS5 or Xbox Series S/X console. If you’re a PC gamer, you’ll have access to the long-awaited Photo Mode.
Just like the original 2015 title, The Witcher 3’s next-gen update will let you play as Geralt of Rivia, the mutant trained from childhood to gain exceptional strength, speed, and combat skills. You’ll use these skills to fight a world full of monsters, with a variety of weapons you can upgrade, as well as magic and potions to increase your combat potential.
When it was first revealed at E3 2013, The Witcher generated quite a bit of excitement over the game’s graphics, and next-gen update teasers shared by CD Projekt Red suggest the game will look even better when it arrives on December 14th.
Players who own the title before that date will receive the update at no extra cost, according to the developer. As for the promised content inspired by Netflix’s The Witcher series, you’ll gain access to a new questline, which upon completion rewards gear inspired by Henry Cavill’s depiction on the show, as well as optional costumes for other characters.
Here’s What’s New in The Witcher 3’s Next-Gen Update
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is also getting an over-the-shoulder camera perspective in the next-gen update
Photo credit: CD Projekt Red