Now that we’re in mid-December, chances are you have some extra free time on your hands. You’re in-luck, because there were a ton of great games this year that you need to catch up on.
In this list we’re looking at 2014’s best games that had high play value. In other words, new releases that will last you at least 30 hours. There are 13 of them in this list, and which suits you will depend on what platform(s) you play on and what kinds of games you enjoy. While RPGs tend to hit the high-value mark easier than games from other genres, there is representation here from action, FPS, and even racing. So, there’s a little something for everyone.
Also See: 2014 Gamer Gifts for the Guy Who Loves Video Games
Below you’ll find 13 games worth your time and attention this holiday season.
New Games with High Play Value to Enjoy During the Holiday Season
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Civilization: Beyond Earth
Platforms: PC
Play Value: Moderate
Price: $49.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
The Civilization series is known for being one of the most addictive in the industry. In these games you control a civilization from its birth, and must frequently make critical strategic decisions in regards to how you progress your civilization and interact with others.
Civilization: Beyond Earth is the first title in the series to go with a sci-fi theme. In that sense it diverts from the normal path of the series. However, just like with previous entries you can expect to invest dozens of hours planning strategy and building up to unforgettable moments.
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Dark Souls 2
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Play Value: Moderate
Price: $29.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
The Souls series has a reputation for being unfriendly to new players. Many quit, but those who endure the challenge are crowned with a sense of victory unlike anything else on the market.
To beat Dark Souls 2 you can expect to invest around 50 hours of hard labor. There's also a ton of side content, some multiplayer gameplay, as well as two DLC packages. This is a great choice if you're in the mood for a challenge.
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Diablo 3
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
Play Value: Moderate
Price: $49.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
Diablo 3 is the ultimate loot game. You kill swarms of enemies, hope for good item drops, equip upgrades, and proceed. That might not sound that interesting, but when you're grouped up with friends it's an absolute joy.
If you're interested, you have a decision to make: PC or console. If you'd like to option to be able to play with friends locally then console is the better choice. In every other situation go with PC.
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Dragon Age: Inquisition
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
Play Value: Very High
Price: $49.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
Do you need a massive RPG, but don't want to play an MMO? Dragon Age: Inquisition is about as good as it gets.
Dragon Age: Inquisition is an epic RPG that contains over 100 hours of content. It has a combat system that is both strategic and action-oriented. Its world is beautiful, and it lets you make impactful decisions. It's a great choice if you're looking for something big.
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Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3
Play Value: Very High
Price: $39.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
If you tend to avoid MMOs, but love Final Fantasy, you need to give Final Fantasy XIV a look. I would consider it the best MMO out there next to World of Warcraft. It's drenched with Final Fantasy flavor, allows you to play any class on a single character, and actually manages to play well with a controller.
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Forza Horizon 2
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360
Play Value: Moderate
Price: $34.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
Forza Horizon 2 is about as big of a racing game as you'll find. Its map has hundreds of events and side content. It has over 200 vehicles that range from European supercars to American off-road vehicles. It's extremely fun to play alone or with friends.
Additionally, its first major DLC launched today adding an entirely new area and new features to the game. If you're a car enthusiast, this is a game that you don't want to miss.
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Grand Theft Auto V (Remaster)
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Play Value: Moderate
Price: $59.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
Grand Theft Auto V is an absolutely massive game. For the past two weeks I've invested more than 30 hours completing the single-player campaign alone. I still have a ton left to do in regards to side content and GTA Online.
Make sure that you get the PS4 or Xbox One versions, because they're a big upgrade from the last-gen iterations.
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Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Platforms: Xbox One
Play Value: Moderate
Price: $44.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
Put simply, this is the biggest video game collection to-date. It includes four critically acclaimed titles from the Halo franchise, all of which have been remastered to varying degrees. You can play online, locally with friends, or just head in to campaign alone to achievement hunt. You'll be hard pressed to find more value in a $60 game.
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Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Platforms: PC, Android, iPad
Play Value: Moderate
Price: Free
Download Now: Battle.net
Hearthstone is one of the most popular games of the planet, in addition to being one of the premier competitive titles in eSports. Surprisingly, it's free-to-play despite being a Blizzard game.
If you've never been addicted to a collectible card game before, give Hearthstone a chance, especially if you love Warcraft. You'll be able to play as one of several Warcraft-derived classes and begin collecting cards to attack your foes with.
Hearthstone: Goblins vs Gnomes just released ushering over 100 new cards to the card pool, making this a great time to dive in.
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Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360
Play Value: Moderate
Price: $49.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
If you're a fan of action games, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a title that deserves your attention. It's among the most surprisingly good games of 2014, and earned that reputation due in-part to its innovative Nemesis system that makes your interactions with its Orc roster meaningful. It has two large maps filled with content to explore, so you're in for a lengthy action RPG adventure.
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Super Smash Bros.
Platforms: 3DS, Wii U
Play Value: Mild
Price: $59.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
Despite having some competitive fighting game qualities, Super Smash Bros. is about as welcoming as they come. You can become acquainted with the game's mechanics within an hour or two of gameplay, and by then you'll be hooked.
Super Smash Bros. has over 20 hours in single-player content, but that is unlikely to be where you'll spend the bulk of your time. Instead, the journey to mastering characters and playing locally or online is where you could very well end up spending the majority of your holidays.
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Titanfall
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360
Play Value: Mild
Price: $39.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
Titanfall was not only the most unique first-person shooter of the year, it was the best. If you're itching to head into the fray and prove that you have the best aim, Titanfall is the game to buy.
Although Titanfall suffered from a lack of content at launch, since then it has received a handful of updates in addition to three map packs. This, combined with the game's thoughtful design, makes it stand-out in the FPS genre. Don't walk in expecting a single-player campaign, though.
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World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
Platforms: PC
Play Value: Very High
Price: $49.99
Buy Now: Best Buy
World of Warcraft has already been a go-to game for anyone in need of a game with depth. Now that Warlords of Draenor is out, that's more true than ever. This is a game that has already taken up over 200 hours of my time in the past six weeks alone. You'll be hard-pressed to find a game that has more value than World of Warcraft.
