So, November’s almost wrapped, and you’re probably thinking that there’s no more major PS4 games battling for your hard-earned cash until early 2017, right? Not quite. Sure, the tidal wave of triple-A titles that typically washes over us in the period of October-November is coming to a close, but there’s still plenty of games worth your dosh in the weeks before Christmas. So, whether you’re on the market for some gifts for family members, or just fancy treating yourself to a cheeky pre-Christmas game, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s the full list of PS4 December games.
Check out the PlayStation Plus games for this month.
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The Dwarves (December 1)
The Dwarves is a fantasy role-playing game with a strong story and tactically challenging real-time battles. 15 playable heroes, each with individual skills, are to be deployed cleverly. Take on superior numbers of orcs, ogres, älfs, bögnilim, zombies, dark mages, and many more foes, to give them the low-down.
Battalion Commander (December 1)
Fancy letting off some steam by shooting and blowing stuff up? Then Battalion Commander is the remedy you need. With trouble brewing in the North, it’s up to you to grab your guns, rockets, and grenades and secure the troubled region in this all-out action extravaganza.
The Keeper of 4 Elements (December 1)
A tower-defense game by nature, The Keeper of the 4 Elements sees players defending a picturesque land from the invading forces of the army of darkness. Taking control of a Mysterious Monk, players will wield various magical powers to protect the land as you attack foes with everything from earthquakes to hurricanes.
WinKings (December 1)
WinKings is a 2D platform game which throws you into a fantasy Vikings era. It’s a party game with gorgeous graphics and sound design. It can be played in single-player mode as well as in local multiplayer. Different and unique worlds, characters, enemies, and weapons make for engaging gameplay.
Steep (December 2)
Ubisoft’s taken a punt in the saturated sports market this year with the extreme sports romp, Steep, which hits shops later this week. This open-world behemoth sees gamers taking to the precarious slopes of the Alps, as they compete with other gamers in a shared environment to rake in points by performing death-defying stunts and eyeball-popping tricks. While there’s the ability to tackle the slopes on your own, Steep places huge emphasis on competitive online play, with gamers competing against each other across a variety of sports including skiing, wingsuit flying, snowboarding, and paragliding. You can also scrutinize your efforts by rewinding, pausing, and replaying a recording of your mountain run and seeing how you stack up against other players. If you fancy a bit of something different in the sports genre this winter, Steep should be right up your street.
The Last Guardian (December 6)
A game that really needs no introduction, The Last Guardian has been in development for almost a decade now, and has been the subject of numerous technical issues and development setbacks. Originally a PS3 title, Fumito Ueda’s ambitious action-puzzler finally arrives on PS4 in the U.S. on December 6 and in Europe on December 9, bringing with it a hefty weight of expectation among gamers and critics alike. Featuring sumptuous visuals and otherworldly environments, The Last Guardian chronicles the blossoming friendship between a young boy and Trico; a massive, griffin-like beast that is trapped within the confines of a massive, puzzle-filled landscape. Both characters need to work together to overcome the various riddles and enemies contained within, although it’s the central theme of friendship that is the game’s big draw as you gain the trust of your hulking, feathery friend. Can it live up to the hype? We sure hope so.
ARK: Survival Evolved (December 6)
Originally released on the PC, Ark: Survival Evolved puts gamers on a dinosaur-filled island as you attempt to stay alive while fending off pugnacious wildlife and hostile human adversaries. Gamers will be able to navigate around the land on foot or by riding their own dino, and defend themselves using firearms and improvised weapons, and engage in both single-player and multiplayer modes. Move over Jurassic Park!
Demetrios: The Big Cynical Adventure (December 6)
Demetrios is a quirky point and click adventure game inspired by classics like Broken Sword. Bjorn Thonen, a slob of an antique dealer living in Paris, is robbed one night after coming home drunk. Forced to conduct his own investigation with the help of his neighbor Sandra, he ends up involved in a murky, mysterious affair.
Space Overlords (December 6)
Space Overlords is the ultimate galactic customisation romp, where you are able to literally create your own galaxy and share your creations with other players. Customise planets however you see fit, download and explore other user-created galaxies, and go on the offensive by decimating other planets as you see fit.
Werewolves Within (December 6)
An online game for five to eight people, Werewolves Within aims to replicate the feel of playing Werewolves, the classic classic party game of sleuthing and lies, in a close group by taking advantage of positional tracking, character animation based on voice-inflection analysis, and natural gestures.
Stardew Valley (December 13)
The popular farming-’em-up makes its long awaited PS4 debut this month following its PC release earlier this year. Stardew Valley channels contemporary titles like Harvest Moon to provide an addictive farming romp as you tend to your crops and raise livestock on your bustling little community.
Drive!Drive!Drive! (December 13)
Developed by Different Cloth, Drive! Drive! Drive! offers a unique spin on the genre by allowing gamers to race more than one track simultaneously. The game becomes something of a racer/management affair as you jump from one track to another in a blink of an eye, leaving the AI to race in your place as you hop to a new race course. Hence, you’re driving on two tracks at once! If you fancy a game that puts a new spin on racers, then Drive! Drive! Drive! has you covered.
Bridge Constructor (December 13)
Bridge Constructor has already drummed up over a whopping 50 million download across PC and Xbox One, and will be hitting PS4 this month at long last. As for what the game’s about, well, it does exactly what it says on the tin: You take control of an aspiring architect and cobble together your own structures as you proudly cop an eyeful of tracks and cars passing over them….that is, providing you’ve done your job properly, or all that’s going to be left is a pile of scrap!
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (December 13)
Starting life as a Kickstarter-funded campaign, Shantae is the fourth game in the platform series. Play as a half-genie and use a variety of powers and special skills, such as transforming into creatures, to advance through the colorful environments.
The Little Acre (December 13)
This point-and-click adventure from Pewter Games is a narrative-driven adventure where you play the star of your own cartoon. Follow the story of Lily and her father, Aidan, who find themselves transported to a strange world filled with adventure, humour and fantasy.
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier (December 20)
Telltale Games’ zombie-flavored interactive horror series remains one of the biggest critical and commercial IPs of the past five years or so, and after a long wait, The Walking Dead is making its much-anticipated return on December 20. Season Three, dubbed A New Frontier, reunites gamers with heroine Clementine, only this time a number of years have passed since her previous exploits, and she’s now a hardened, teenage survival of the zombie apocalypse. Clem will be joined by a number of newcomers, including a chap named Javier, who is searching for his missing family. Telltale’s pedigree speaks for itself when it comes to The Walking Dead, so expect emotional twists, impossible choices, and a whole lot of undead that need a bullet to the brain.
Don Bradman Cricket 2017 (December 22)
Big Ant Studio’s cricket game does exactly what it says on the package. Play the quintessentially British sports game with a full career mode and manage your team to success in domestic and international fixtures. There’s also a ‘Be a Pro’ mode and numerous creation tools, including the ability to create your own cricket ground.
Rollercoaster Dreams (December 22)
This amusement park management game from Bimboosoft will be available on PS4 and PSVR. Players will be able to manage a theme park, and take advantage of the limitless rollercoaster editor, where creations can then be shared with the community.
I Expect You to Die (TBA Dec. 2016)
I Expect You To Die treats PSVR gamers to an escape-the-room puzzler experience where you have to do your best to make it out of a trap or, well, die. But that’s half the fun, as I Expect You To Die comes up with all manner of unique and often humorous ways to kick the bucket. Can you find them all?