The year might be coming to a close and we’re wondering what day exactly you’re supposed to put up the tree as we shift our brains into “holiday mode”, but December 2022 still has a few gems to look forward to.

First up there’s the long-awaited spiritual successor to Dead Space, The Callisto Protocol, which alongside the remake of EA’s classic is set to bring back those sci-fi horror vibes in style. And then there’s Firaxis’s Marvel’s Midnight Suns, which sees the team behind XCOM create a full-blown superhero RPG.

And that’s only the first week. Here’s what you can expect for December, across all major gaming platforms.

The Callisto Protocol

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Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 2



The debut sci-fi survival horror game from Striking Distance is in some ways a spiritual successor to the original Dead Space, with that game’s co-creator Glen Schofield at the helm. Ahead of its debut, we’ve seen just how brutal and stunning The Callisto Protocol looks in trailer form. This is one of the big games not only for December 2022, but 2023, and it kicks off a surprisingly stacked month of varied games to keep an eye on.

Marvel's Midnight Suns

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Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 2



What began as a riff on “XCOM but with Marvel” has expanded into so much more, with developer Firaxis digging deep to deliver a robust and surprisingly epic turn-based RPG featuring several classic superheroes. The cards-as-skills-and-abilities turn-based combat is the highlight here. The whole setup of having a base of operations to engage and communicate with the other superheroes is somewhat reminiscent of the recent school-based Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Blade runs a book club, and you can chill by the pool with Iron Man.

Need for Speed Unbound

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Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 2



Need for Speed Unbound sees EA and developer Criterion Games take another stab at bringing back the classic racer in the Forza and Gran Turismo age. With a focus on street racing, running from the cops, and working your way up the ranks, it has that classic Need For Speed look and feel. And with its very cool animated meets realistic visuals and deep levels of customisation (you can remove entire panels from cars), this could be a return to form for the long-running series.

Swordship

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Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 6



A high-speed futuristic game of dodge-em-up on the high seas, as you turn enemies on each other and look to steal and secure valuable cargo. Swordship has a striking minimal aesthetic with vibrant colours and presents all of its action with a great sense of speed. There are even shades of Rare’s classic NES game Cobra Triangle, and anything that reminds us of that is worth playing.

Hello Neighbor 2

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Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 6



Stealth horror game sequel where you get to snoop to find out what your neighbour is up to - and what’s happened in the sleepy town of Raven Brooks. On top of digging into the draws and cupboards of Mr. Peterson, you’re also being tracked by a new mysterious creature. Hello Neighbor 2 builds on the original in many ways but perhaps the most interesting is how the AI evolves - as depicted in the trailer above.

Dwarf Fortress

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Platform: PC
Release Date: December 6



The likes of RimWorld, Prison Architect, and Minecraft owe a lot to Dwarf Fortress, a complex and intricate construction, management, and roguelike sim that generates entire worlds and histories with an impressive level of detail. And now, this new release brings the classic Dwarf Fortress action with full pixel-art graphics and music. And for those new, there are in-game tutorials to guide you through managing a bustling colony of dwarfs. Until their eventual demise.

IXION

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Platform: PC
Release Date: December 8



IXION is a sci-fi city builder with an impressive level of detail, and it blends elements of exploration and survival as you build and explore the stars. As manager of a large space station, you’ll be in charge of everything from keeping everyone happy to managing power and dealing with the dangers of deep space.

Choo-Choo Charles

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Platform: PC
Release Date: December 9



“Charles is a bloodthirsty train, and you need to destroy him.” What began as a riff on the whole Thomas the Tank Engine modded into Resident Evil 2, is now a fully-fledged survival horror game with Choo-Choo Charles making its PC debut this month. Plan each mission carefully, and upgrade your train with new gear and weaponry, head out on foot to interact with the world. And above all, avoid Charles.

Dragon Quest Treasures

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Platform: Switch
Release Date: December 9



An all-new Dragon Quest for the Nintendo Switch, Dragon Quest Treasures sees you exploring a fantastical island, recruiting monsters and other allies into your gang, and hunting for treasure. Big time, as you’ll be able to store all of your treasure in a vault, put various pieces on display, and build enough cred to become the ultimate collector of shiny golden things.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion

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Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 13



A modern remake of the classic action RPG Final Fantasy VII prequel. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion sees the game get a complete visual overhaul with fully voiced dialogue available in English and Japanese. Square Enix also notes that the combat system has been updated, making it feel like a remake versus being just another HD remaster. And as it was originally released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2007, no doubt this release will make the game a lot more accessible.

High on Life

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Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 13



From Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland, High on Life is a sci-fi comedy that sees an alien cartel looking to use humanity as drugs. With first-person shooting and a talking gun, this one will no doubt split the audience in terms of its particular brand of humour. But if it nails the combat and other aspects in addition to the comedy we could be in for a little holiday treat. Oh, and it’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Next-Gen Update)

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Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 14



The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's free "next-gen" update is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on December 14, and with new ray-tracing features, improved visuals and performance (DLSS 3 and FSR support are coming), bug fixes, a photo mode, and even new content inspired by the Netflix series - it's a massive definitive edition style update. And best of all it's free to all players.

Blacktail

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Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: December 16



“Become the guardian of the woods or the terror nightmares are made of”, Blacktail is set in a dark fairy-tale world inspired by Slavic myth. You take on the role of Yaga, a 16-year-old girl accused of witchcraft and banished from her home. With vibrant visuals, first-person archery-based combat, and a strange world to explore, this choice-driven tale has sleeper hit written all over it.

Sports Story

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Platform: Switch
Release Date: December



The successor to the charming Golf Story and a new sporting RPG in the style of the classic Mario sports games from the Game Boy Color era. A complete sporting adventure and top-down RPG with numerous sports to master including soccer, tennis, volleyball, fishing, cricket, and BMX racing. No release date has been set but Sports Story is set to make its Nintendo Switch debut sometime this December.