Well, the year is really flying by, isn’t it! Here we are looking at the best games for this Novem…wait, hang on… (checks notes)… oh god, oh no. Right, here we are looking at the best Switch games for this December, of course. Can you believe it’s 2022 next month? I might need to curl up and think about my life for a quick spell soon.
Luckily, if you’re also feeling the creep of existential dread, one great treatment for this is to bury yourself in video games. And boy howdy are some lovely games coming to Nintendo Switch this month. While there might not be any bumper AAA releases, there are some very cosy indie releases bringing this year’s incredible library of games to a close.
The jolliest month of the year is bringing Nintendo Switch owners the debut of the Life is Strange series on the platform, Devolver’s next smash hit with the addictive Loop Hero, Shovel Knight finally appears in another game with his name on it in Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon, and the long-awaited return of the cult classic Monster Rancher series is here. So, make sure you behave before Santa arrives, or just be naughty and buy presents for yourself, either way, you’ll need our guide to the best December Switch games so you don’t miss a thing.
Here’s our guide to the best December Switch games;
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain – Dec 3
The family-friendly DS title returns for Nintendo Switch with a focus on multiplayer, bringing brain-teasing fun to your living room once again. Straddling the line between entertainment and education, this entry aims to help build your grey matter, as well as compete against friends and family both locally and through online leaderboards.
Can you make your way to the top of the leaderboards and prove you’re the biggest brain in your family? We had a nice time with it, saying that this budget release could be a great pick for families with young kids hoping to share the fun with everyone. You can read our full thoughts in our Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain review.
Danganronpa Decadence – Dec 3
The quirky series finally makes its way to Nintendo Switch, with this package including all three Dangonronpa games, as well as Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp. The latter of which is a brand new expansion, a board-game style adventure with new scenes and interactions between the beloved characters.
For newcomers, each Danganronpa game is a murder-mystery set in a high school, where you have to use your wits to try and sniff out the culprits and stay alive. This comprehensive package is a dream come true for fans, and the ultimate way for anyone interested in the series to finally dive in.
Life is Strange: True Colours – Dec 7
Another long-requested series, Life is Strange arrives on Nintendo Switch this holiday, starting with the very latest in the series. Don’t worry, you don’t need to know anything to start this one. In fact, this is a great way to get introduced to the world.
You play as a young woman called Alex Chen, who must grapple not only with her emotions but also her emerging psychic powers. After a tragic accident, Alex must learn to use her powers to uncover the mysteries in her small town. This is a lovely game to get lost in over the holidays, but be prepared to shed the odd tear.
Love 3 – Dec 7
A pixelated precision platformer with a lot of heart, Love 3 builds on the originals and even includes levels from every game in the series before it. Featuring a series of densely packed and incredibly tough levels, you choose where to place your own checkpoints as you try to survive.
It’s a love letter to the platformers of old, with its stark art style and 8 bit soundtrack, but there’s a lot of modern spin here, that gives the Love series a hefty heap of nostalgia while still being fun to play.
Loop Hero – Dec 9
Just when you think Devolver is done for the year, they have one more amazing title to drop just in time for Christmas. Loop Hero is a tactical deck-building roguelike (say that three times) where no two runs are the same. As you expand your deck of mystical cards you unlock enemies, buildings, and terrain to place on the map.
The longer you survive, the more resources you build, then you can toughen your defences against the many monstrous horrors of this world. Be careful, this is a very addictive game, but we also can’t wait to lose hours to it.
Monster Rancher 1 + 2 DX
Originally released on the PS1, these titles had you raising, training, and battling a motley crew of monsters. Except instead of going out and catching them, you would pop different CDs into your Playstation to randomly generate them.
This time, that mechanic has been replaced by a digital music database, so you can search for CD titles to generate monsters from all over the world. These Dx editions of the two Monster Rancher titles also include several gameplay enhancements that make these shine like never before. This could be a perfect nostalgia trip!
There you have it, our guide to the best December Switch games and our last gaming round-up of the year! If you need something else to play, be sure to check out our guide to the best Switch roguelikes to help get through the cold winter hours.