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The 12 Days Of Video Games

by Jill Grodt on Dec 24, 2021 at 10:00 AM

In concept, the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is just a big list of amazing gifts to get your significant other for the holidays. But in practice, it’s useless! Seriously. Who has twenty different kinds of birds on their wish list, and where would you even put them all? But it’s undeniably catchy. So, we thought we’d spruce up this classic carol by replacing all those unwanted fowl with some great game-related gifts you could get your true love (or really anyone) this holiday season. Hopefully, this version will catch on soon.

Twelve Spartans Fighting

Halo Infinite

Well, at least in Halo Infinite’s Big Team Battle multiplayer mode, twelve Spartans are fighting on your side. Another twelve are trying to take you down. But, because the developer made the latest Halo entry’s multiplayer free, it’s an easy gift to give. There’s also a really impressive single-player campaign if your giftee wants more Halo Infinite.

Eleven Engines Humming

Forza Horizon 5

Imagine sitting behind the wheel of a parachute-equipped car being pushed out of an airplane. Then, when the tires touch down, finding yourself in the middle of a race that runs through Mexico’s diverse landscape. Forza Horizon 5 players don’t have to imagine because this all happens in the game’s epic opening sequence and only gets better from there.

Ten Bikes A-Speeding

Sable

Who doesn’t want to fly across the desert on a hoverbike? Sable will leave your gift recipient feeling like a mix between a Jedi and Link in Breath of the Wild as they ride, climb, and glide through the beckoning environment. With no ever-present, over-arching mission looming over the adventure, players can simply enjoy this experience.

Nine Planets Rifting

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The absolutely gorgeous return of PlayStation’s familiar mascots, Ratchet and Clank, sees the heroes battling across both space and time. The nostalgia-filled platformer features nine distinct planets, all of which are affected by the rifts that have begun to open up across the galaxy. This dimension-breaking game is an upgraded walk down memory lane.

Eight Marks A-Slaying

Deathloop

Colt is a man on a mission. He’s going to get off the isolated island he’s stuck on and break the loop that keeps him repeating the last day over and over again. To do that, he must kill eight powerful people. But with everyone against him and time running out, that task is easier said than done.

Seven Souls A-Reaping

Death's Door

In Death’s Door, you play as a crow whose 9 to 5 sees him reaping the souls of the living; until something goes wrong. To set things right, you have to fight your way through seven main bosses, each being harder than the last. The combat mechanics are top-tier and match the game’s surprisingly thoughtful narrative.

Six Geese A-Honking

Untitled Goose Game

We tried to get all the birds out of this carol, but one managed to sneak its way back in. Untitled Goose Game was initially released as a single-player experience but later expanded, allowing for couch co-op. So, really you’d need to get three copies of the game to get six geese honking all at once, but if you managed to get that set up, it would be worth it.

Five Tiiiiime Loops

Returnal, Loop Hero, Outer Wilds, 12 Minutes, The Forgotten City

It’s tempting to call 2021 the year of the time loop, as so many amazing titles featured the concept in their designs this year. Instead of being repetitive, these games managed to weave the idea into the gameplay in thoughtful and unique ways, ensuring each new take felt fresh and fun to play.

Four Colors Stirred

Life is Strange: True Colors

Represented by various hues, the hero of Life is Strange: True Colors, Alex Chen, can see others’ sadness, anger, fear, and joy. The latest entry in this much-loved series sports an enhanced new look but retains the moving narrative fans have come to expect from a Life is Strange title.

Three Henchmen

Inscryption

A slightly spooky title; Inscryption is short but perhaps the most unexpectedly interesting game of the year. It starts as a desperate card game. Your foe, a wild-eyed, cabin-dwelling baddie, throws three minor minions in your path to victory and freedom. This game is sure to surprise even the most seasoned video game enthusiast. 

Two Dolls In Love

It Takes Two

Okay, so the dolls aren’t so much in love as they are getting a divorce. And they’re not really dolls, but a pair of humans magically trapped in bodies of wood and clay. But that doesn’t stop It Takes Two from being one of the best games of 2021, and it’s a co-op adventure, so you can play it along with whoever you gave it to.

And The Tall Lady From That One Meme

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil Village may not seem to exude holiday cheer at first but just look at that castle entryway. You could fit an amazing tree in there. Plus, there’s even a quaint, snowy village nearby. If you’re cool with a veritable smorgasbord of horror tropes haunting your winter wonderland, pick this game up.

Products In This Article

Resident Evil Villagecover

Resident Evil Village

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation VR2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mac, iOS
Release Date:
May 7, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), 
October 28, 2022 (Switch, Mac), 
February 22, 2023 (PlayStation VR2), 
October 30, 2023 (iOS)
It Takes Twocover

It Takes Two

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
March 26, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), 
November 4, 2022 (Switch)
Inscryptioncover

Inscryption

Platform:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Release Date:
October 19, 2021 (PC), 
August 30, 2022 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4), 
December 1, 2022 (Switch)
Life is Strange: True Colorscover

Life is Strange: True Colors

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC
Release Date:
September 10, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC), 
December 7, 2021 (Switch)
Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eyecover

Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye

Platform:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Twelve Minutescover

Twelve Minutes

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, Android
Release Date:
August 19, 2021 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC), 
December 7, 2021 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch), 
TBA (iOS, Android)
The Forgotten Citycover

The Forgotten City

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:
July 28, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), 
September 23, 2021 (Switch)
Loop Herocover

Loop Hero

Platform:
Switch, PC
Release Date:
March 4, 2021 (PC), 
December 9, 2021 (Switch)
Returnalcover

Returnal

Platform:
PlayStation 5, PC
Release Date:
April 30, 2021 (PlayStation 5), 
February 15, 2023 (PC)
Untitled Goose Gamecover

Untitled Goose Game

Platform:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Mac
Release Date:
September 20, 2019 (Switch, PC, Mac), 
December 17, 2019 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
Death's Doorcover

Death's Door

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, Android
Release Date:
July 20, 2021 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC), 
November 23, 2021 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch), 
TBA (iOS, Android)
Deathloopcover

Deathloop

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date:
September 14, 2021 (PlayStation 5, PC), 
September 20, 2022 (Xbox Series X/S)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apartcover

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Platform:
PlayStation 5, PC
Release Date:
June 11, 2021 (PlayStation 5), 
July 26, 2023 (PC)
Sablecover

Sable

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
September 23, 2021 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC), 
November 29, 2022 (PlayStation 5)
Forza Horizon 5cover

Forza Horizon 5

Platform:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:
Halo Infinitecover

Halo Infinite

Platform:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: