With Christmas getting closer and closer, you might find out that you forgot to buy a present for your favorite gamer. Fortunately, you should not despair as I will prepare a list for you, one consisting only of AAA titles any computer gamer fan would love to play. The best part is that you can still get any of these hot titles delivered in time for Christmas, therefore for them to become all-time favorite gifts! Even better, I will post a note for parents to know if any of these games wouldn’t be suitable for kids of ages 13 or below.
The list below has been created after finding which are the best rated computer games on Metacritic (a website that takes into account all major game reviewing magazines and websites and offers the average score of the game – so there are more voices behind these grades, meaning that these games are certainly of the highest quality). Check out the best 20 new PC games you can offer as Christmas gift in 2009!
1. Street Fighter IV
With an amazing overall rating of 91 that tells us that the game is almost flawless, Street Fighter IV is the perfect gift choice for the gamer that loves a fighting game both in single player but especially in multiplayer. The franchise has millions of fans worldwide and they certainly have some serious reasons for that, don’t you think? Don’t buy this game to a person that doesn’t like fast-paced gameplay, fighting games or games in which reflexes and repetitive button mashing pay the most important part.
Check out the game and purchase it from Amazon.com
2. Batman: Arkham Asylum
This game is not considered suitable for kids under the age of 13 (16 according to PEGI ratings). However, it is definitely a high quality, well done action game featuring one of the most popular action heroes ever: the Batman! This game also has a rating of 91 on Metacritic, just like Street Fighter and should be purchased to any gamer who loves fast paced action games and is ready for a challenge. Gamers who prefer more static/logical games or strategies might not like Batman: Arkham Asylum, even though until now I haven’t met a person to say that it didn’t like the game…
Check out the game and purchase it from Amazon.com
3. Dragon Age: Origins
One of my favorites this year, Dragon Age: Origins is a game for gamers who love a solid role playing game that will keep them hooked for 30+ hours, battling hordes of enemies and making tactical choices , will certainly love this game. Also it is highly replayable and has a great value for its price. It also has a Metacritic rating of 91, meaning that I’m not the only one who considers this game one of the best games released this year. Don’t purchase it to a gamer that didn’t like playing Diablo or Gothic.
Check out the game and purchase it from Amazon.com
4. Left 4 Dead 2
Probably the best co-op shooter released this year, Valve’s masterpiece stands high on the Metacritic charts with an average score of 90. It is not a game that should be played by young gamers, according to the gamers, but it certainly is incredibly fun and it is highly replayable. Get it for any first person shooter fanatic that isn’t scared by a bunch of hideous zombies. Don’t buy it for somebody who hates shooters or has a crappy Internet connection!
You can get the game in time for Christmas from Steam.
5. Braid
Considered to be one of the best independently developed platformer/puzzler games of recent times, Braid was made available for the PC gamers this year after recording tons of success on consoles. It is one of the cheapest games on this list, but one that still has a huge dose of quality injected to its veins: it has a rating of 90 on Metacritic. Get it for any gamer who loves platformers (games like Super Mario) and also puzzles and is patient, and don’t get it for somebody who can’t stand these genres and prefers action instead.
You can purchase the game from Direct2Drive
6. Empire: Total War
All tacticians out there have been rewarded this year with Empire: Total War, a mix of turn based and real time strategy in a series that has already made history in the world of PC gaming: the Total War series. With an overall score of 90 on Metacritic, this strategy game is not suited for those who don’t like the genre or younger kids who might get bored eventually creating the tactics and strategies for each of the battles. Still, for everybody else, especially strategy game fans, this is a gem of a game!
Check out the game and purchase it from Amazon
7. Dirt 2
An intense driving/racing game, this title that was just recently released managed to make Need For Speed fans forget about their favorite and turn towards the awesome, gorgeous DiRT 2. It requires a pretty powerful system to run at maximum settings, but it certainly is a great gift for those who have the horsepower to play it. Don’t get it to anybody who doesn’t like racing games (or cars!) and check out the game’s system requirements before making a purchase – you don’t want to find out that your gift is, actually, unplayable! However, those who played it rated it high, Dirt 2 having an average score of 90 points on Metacritic.
Check out Amazon
8. Football Manager 2010
Now this is one game that’s part of my favorite franchise of all times and as you can see I am not the only one to consider it a blast. However, it is a more special kind of a game and choosing it as a Christmas present for somebody you aren’t sure if they enjoy the genre is quite a gamble! I say that because FM2010 is quite a complex simulation with a gameplay different of that of most of the games on the market. Still a high quality product – it’s Metacritic score is 88, so a must buy for the fans of the genre or series.
Check out Amazon.com
9. Plants vs. Zombies
One of the most pleasant surprises of this year, Pop Cap’s little gem is a fun, fast paced title everybody enjoyed playing. It’s not very challenging, nor hard to learn and it would certainly make a great gift even for those who don’t call themselves “gamers”. And with a Metacritic average review score of 88, you know that this is the best casual game to buy for Christmas! Don’t get it, though, for somebody who gets headaches when they hear the term “casual game”.
Check it out and get it from Big Fish Games!
10. Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box
This game is a complete reinvention of the successful Burnout series of games, a series of great racing/driving games. It features hot multiplayer games and is simply fun to play – just make sure that the person you’re getting the game for doesn’t already has it on any of the next-gen consoles, since the title was released for Xbox 360 and PS3s last year. If they don’t have it, then you probably have one less person to worry about, present-wise!
You can purchase the game from Amazon
Check out ten more hot games on the next page!
