The year is winding down and the Holidays are quickly approaching. This time of year, many are rushing out to find last-minute gifts for that special someone. 2022 has had plenty of exciting releases, many of which make great gift options. For those struggling to find the perfect present, Marooners’ Rock has your back! Our staff has compiled some great gift ideas for the geeks and gamers in your life
Andrew’s Recommendations
This is Andrew taking over this part of the Gift Guide! As of late, I’ve been diving into a mix of games both digital and physical, and along with tech I’ve been looking at and learning quite a bit about or even owning. It’s safe to say both Erin and I have been playing quite a bit of board games on our off days. For me, some great gifts for you to pick up this holiday include quite a few games that I’ve got in recent months. Let’s kick off with my recommendations of the game I (Andrew) suggest you pick up.
Heroes of Barcadia
Heroes of Barcadia is a 2-6 player tile-based, dungeon-crawling tabletop party game with a liquid twist: your character’s health is measured by the drink in your glass. My favorite thing about this game is that it can be played with your significant other or even when you have friends over to play.
Playing this game doesn’t require you to have any alcohol. I’m mostly a social drinker, so having something that doesn’t force me to drink and still makes me have a good time was nice. It’s not a secret that I’m a Kickstarter backer of this game, and we are receiving our copies now, and if you’re looking for a game to enjoy from past ThinkGeek staff, you’ll be well advised to pick this one up. You can order this game from https://www.rollacrit.com/pages/heroes-of-barcadia and sign up to be notified when it’s available.
Harvestella
Harvestella is a role-playing video game developed by Live Wire and published by Square Enix in 2022. In a similar fashion to other RPGs that we’ve played, this game incorporates everything you might enjoy in other RPGs based on Final Fantasy, yet gives it a life simulation all its own.
In my effort to tend my crops, explore the world, and write the story, I have lost track of the time I have spent. It is clear that Square Enix has figured out how to appeal to those who enjoy relaxing games. When it comes to the RPG elements of the game, you’ll be exploring, obtaining more items for your fields, and learning more about the events happening. At this time, the game Harvestella is only on the Nintendo Switch and PC.
Infernax
When it comes to Infernax, the game is a 2D Metroidvania developed by Berzerk Studio and published by The Arcade Crew. If this is the first time you are hearing of Berzerk Studios you might have heard about the other game they created called Just Shapes and Beats. The game Infernax came out in February 2022, it’s been one game from the Berzerk Studios team I’ve enjoyed playing in my spare time since there is so much for one to do in-game.
I would get more into that, but Infernax has so much going on in-game for the good that you’ll keep coming back to see what happens to you next, which enemy or boss takes you down. If you’re a fan of Metroidvania-style games, you’ll be wanting to pick this up as the replay value is quite high for those of us that own the game. At this time, Infernax is on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
PX248 Prime Advance
As of late with my new PC, I’ve been looking into new monitors and even purchased some new ones this year for my PC along with Erin’s PC. I’m a huge fan of looking into tech and I’d like to talk about the Pixio Gaming monitor, which is both affordable and something worth picking up for playing games on PC or even some consoles.
The PX248 Prime Advance is perfect for those who want to play in 1080p, and yes, I know some of you might want to play in 1440p. Budget-conscious individuals will appreciate this monitor since it offers a lightweight design and can also save space on their desk if space is limited. In terms of size, resolution, and refresh rate, the monitor is 24 inches in size along with 1080p resolution, and has a response time of 1 millisecond.
For the low price of $149.99, this monitor is right in a good area for those still trying to stay within their budgets. With the PX248 Prime Advanced, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for performance when it comes to your gaming and visual experience. This product can be found here if you’re interested in learning more.
Frank’s Recommendations
Frank here, taking over for three of my picks for 2022. This year I played through an even mix of new releases, and older games from the backlog. My picks for the year are all well-known entities in the gaming pantheon. Two of these titles revolutionized the franchises they’re from, while the other aims to celebrate the studio’s long-lived legacy!
Kirby and The Forgotten Land
Kirby and The Forgotten Land is not only the pink puffball’s first true 3D platforming adventure but possibly his best. While gameplay has been tweaked to fit a 3D environment, it feels much like previous Kirby titles. Environments are linear in scope but densely packed with plenty of collectibles and objects for Kirby to inhale. Kirby and The Forgotten Land is available exclusively on Nintendo Switch.
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
Atari 50 takes the concept of a compilation and flips it 360 degrees. The meat and potatoes of Atari 50 lie within the collection of over 100 games. These range from all generations of Atari platforms, as well as some new exclusive titles. In addition to a large collection, Atari 50 features a very unique timeline, whrich takes players through all eras of Atari’s lineage. Atari 50 is a must-own for any gaming historians looking to learn about one of our industry’s pioneers. The collection is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Sonic Frontiers
The latest in SEGA’s long-running Sonic franchise is quite the departure from games of the past. Sonic Frontiers takes the 3D Sonic formula and expands it into an open world. It’s up to Sonic to save his friends, recover the chaos emeralds, and uncover the secrets of this mysterious new land. Sonic Frontiers is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Matt’s Recommendations
Since I have had quite a bit of free time this past year, I’ve got to experience quite a bit. Honestly, 2022 has been my busiest year. Most of the recommendations I have are popular titles but fun ones nonetheless. My recommendations will cover a wide variety of ages.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Love it or hate it, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have made a lasting impact on Nintendo Games and the Pokemon Franchise as a whole. Despite the game’s numerous bugs, the Pokemon community has rallied behind the newest games. For newcomers to the Pokemon franchise, the latest games give players a little bit of everything; in fact, the game offers a deeper experience than previous Pokemon Games. No longer is it a solo experience. If Pokemon games continue down this line, trainers will no longer need to buy two copies of the same game to get every Pokemon.
Elden Ring
The Game of the Year, Elden Ring, is an easy addition to this list. The game’s beautiful open world, polished mechanics, and challenging bosses leave gamers coming back for more. Almost a year after its release, players still find new things to enjoy. Additionally, From Software is determined to have the game live on by introducing a new DLC. Yes, the game is a bit of a masochistic game but when playing with friends, it can be a lot of fun.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare II
During the holidays, Call of Duty is an easy franchise to recommend for any holiday gift list. Despite having a mature rating, parents will still get the game for their kids. This year’s Call of Duty Modern Warfare II improved on what fans loved from Call of Duty Modern Warfare (2019) while also making it more grindy and accessible.
The game’s graphics are smoother and it offers a variety of accessibility options that previous adaptations were lacking. The story is enjoyable even if it takes a darker turn. Most gamers can easily get at least 80 hours out of the game.
Jackbox Party Pack 9
Who doesn’t love a great party game? Jackbox Party Pack 9 brings back what you love from previous Jack Box Games while trying something new. The game offers some new game modes while bringing back some fan favorites. Players can easily play this as a party game, especially during the holiday season. All that is needed is some kind of mobile device which most adults and even children have. The game is also a great stream game that can provide a ton of laughs.
Hyper X Naruto peripherals
Earlier this year, I was gifted a set of the Itachi Hyper X Naruto Peripherals. Over the last five years, the Hyper X headset has easily been one of my favorite headsets. Sadly, earlier in the year my Hyper X CloudX Wired Headset started to have problems. Thankfully, someone gifted me the Itachi set as an early birthday gift and I have been in love. Sadly, my laptop died shortly after using them, but the issue is not connected. So if you have someone who enjoys gaming and loves Naruto consider picking up Naruto: Shippuden x HyperX set.
Does our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide help you out? Have any recommendations
