Gift-giving presents a conundrum. Is it better to give something useful, such as a 112-bit screwdriver set, or something whimsical, such as a cat-sized iron throne? There is no right answer. T
hat's why our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide, curated by Washington Post reporters and editors, includes suggestions at both ends of the practicality spectrum.
With a wide range of gift ideas in nine categories - we've even included some that are functional and fun - this guide will make the process just a little bit easier.
From an immersive, otherworldly masterpiece to a brass bonanza budget title, there's a game to please any player's palate this holiday season. The staff of Launcher provide their picks on what's worth picking up.
Bandai Namco: "Elden Ring"
Mature PC, PlayStation, Xbox
$49.94 A beautiful, involved and challenging action-adventure RPG from the makers of "Dark Souls." With lore crafted by George R. R. Martin ("A Game of Thrones,") the massive "Elden Ring" is on the shortest of lists for 2022's game of the year.
Activision: "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II"
Mature PC, PlayStation, Xbox
$69.99 The next entry of the wildly popular military shooter franchise provides players with tense, multiplayer battlefields and a campaign that follows the formation of a multinational Special Forces unit led by the fearless Capt. Price.
Sony: "God of War: Ragnarok"
Mature PlayStation
$69.99 Kratos, the troll-smashing Spartan turned god, returns to help guide his son through the perilous days of Ragnarok, the prophesied destruction of the Norse gods.
Annapurna Interactive: "Stray"
Everyone PC, PlayStation
$39.99 Wander the streets of a post-apocalyptic dystopian underworld in a kid-friendly story of an adorable orange cat trying to reconnect with friends on the surface. Worth it for the purr-on-demand button alone.
Nintendo: "Xenoblade Chronicles 3"
Teen/Mature Nintendo Switch
$59.99 Band together characters from warring nations to break a cycle of conflict in this action-adventure RPG.
Nintendo: "Splatoon 3"
Everyone Nintendo Switch
$55.45 A lighter, brighter paint-based shooting game puts the emphasis on players marking their own territory alongside a single-player and co-op mode.
Dotemu: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge"
Everyone Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox
$34.99 Players young and old will bask in the side-scrolling arcade mayhem as the beloved heroes in the half shell and friends face down the Foot Clan in a cartoonish beat-em-up.
Nintendo: "Pokémon Violet and Pokémon Scarlet"
Everyone Nintendo Switch
$119.99 (both games) The latest mainline Pokémon games promise to spin the franchise forward by offering new, open-world dynamics among a number of other new features.
Annapurna Interactive: "Neon White"
Teen/Mature Nintendo Switch, PC
$24.99 Ever fashion yourself as a master assassin tasked with casting out rogue demons from heaven? No? You might after playing "Neon White," which left a big impact on our reviewer.
Holy Wow: "Trombone Champ"
Everyone PC
$14.99 "Trombone Champ" blew the internet away with its meme-worthy, comical clips of players trying (and usually failing) to match the pitch of popular (?) songs. A perfect party game for family holiday gatherings, too.
giftguide-videogames
Activision: "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II." MUST CREDIT: Infinity Ward
Sony: "God of War: Ragnarok." MUST CREDIT: Santa Monica Studio
Annapurna Interactive: "Stray." MUST CREDIT: BlueTwelve Studio
Nintendo: "Xenoblade Chronicles 3." MUST CREDIT: Monolith Soft
Nintendo: "Splatoon 3." MUST CREDIT: Nintendo
Dotemu: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge." MUST CREDIT: Tribute Games
Nintendo: "Pokemon Violet and Pokemon Scarlet." MUST CREDIT: Nintendo
Annapurna Interactive: "Neon White." MUST CREDIT: Annapurna Interactive
Holy Wow: "Trombone Champ." MUST CREDIT: Holy Wow Studios