The festive season is just around the corner, and this year is coming to an end faster than we were prepared for. But now that the Game of the Year has been crowned, the next day to mark on gamers' calendars is the New Year, as we look forward to all the big releases coming in 2026.
The team here at Game Rant will waste no time bringing you all the latest news from across the industry. But we'll make time for the people we love (which of course means our favorite gaming systems). So we asked the GR team what they would play over the holidays, and the results were predictably varied.
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Casey Muir-Taylor
social media coordinator
After The Game Awards and the creepy and exciting Divinity trailer, I'm back in the world of gaming. Divinity Original Sin 2. Although it plays somewhat similar to Larian's. Baldur's Gate 3The combat is different enough to be interesting. If you enjoyed BG3, I highly recommend playing it.
On the other side, I'm always playing overwatch 2 With my friends. I know it gets a lot of hate in the highly populated hero shooter landscape, but it works best in my opinion. Finally, I also went through Baekseon’s Last Defense Academy. A hidden gem from earlier this year that combines many of my favorite aspects of gaming. If you like Persona, Fire Emblem, Danganronpa, or JRPGs in general, I think it's worth a try.
dalton cooper
editor in chief
I'll play with you during vacation Meeting at Blake Manor. I didn't even know it existed until the reviews came in, and it suddenly became one of the highest rated games of 2025. Then when I found out it was a first-person puzzle game, The Return of Obra Din and blue prince Vibe, I was instantly sold. I've been hooked ever since.
I'm still on my first playthrough, but it's a game that deserves more than one experience, so I'll likely be playing it a couple times over the holidays. Of course, you'll also be spending time playing games with your family and friends, so you'll have plenty to do. Overwatch 2, ARC Raidersand Battlefield 6 The same goes for sessions.
Graysun Morales
Lead Guide Editor
As boring as the city is, I'll probably spend my holidays grinding it out. Pokemon Legends ZAMega Dimension DLC. I've already played over 60 hours of the game, but I'm still only halfway through the new story missions and have a ton of side missions to finish.
If you're really bored, you can try to complete the entire Pokedex, but you'll have to wait. I also plan on having some quality time with my partner to boot. Mario Kart World, Super Smash Bros. Ultimateand maybe Kirby Air Rider. Unfortunately, with the lack of big new games coming out in December, there isn't much to get caught up on!
Jake Fillery
Evergreen Editor
I'm going to have fun this holiday season. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Slaughtering maggot-poisoned zombies is by no means a festive affair, but it's certainly a fun time for everyone involved (except for the zombies themselves). I've been having fun with Black Ops 7 for over a month now, and I can't seem to stop running trains and getting through high rounds of Zombies mode other than the addictive enjoyment of multiplayer.
Ashes of the Damned and Astra Malorum are treats I didn't expect to see in my stocking at Christmas, but they're welcome to stay. I've accumulated over 100 hours in Black Ops 7 Zombies, and I'm afraid I won't be able to put it down. Shooting the undead, drinking Perks and listening to Richtofen's funny lines will never get old. The loyal nostalgia I've felt for the series since it first opened in Nacht der Untoten on Christmas Day 2008's Call of Duty: World at War is still strong 17 years later!
Jeff Brooks
Evergreen Editor
There were so many great titles this year that we had to leave some unfinished. I usually like to revisit one (or a few if I can) of these backburner games at the end of the year. What game do you want to play again right now? Ghost of Yotei. i loved Ghost of Tsushima 2020 has always had some comical dissonance with the main story. Invasions were such a big priority for Jin that every stray fox or soak in a hot spring felt like stepping on the urgency of the main story.
Ghost of Yotei’s assassination list structure really lends itself to wandering off the path and doing anything and everything along the way. Atsu has been on a quest for revenge for over a decade, giving him plenty of room to spend on smaller moments without affecting the pace of the overall story. I doubt I'll actually be able to do everything the game has to offer, but it's a really enjoyable game that will allow me to spend more time in the beauty of Ezo. We're excited to give the game a nice little shout-out as we close out the year.
Joshua Duckworth
editor in chief
My “main” game right now is fallout 76. It's been a few years since I last played Wastelanders like before, so I wanted to come back and see what's changed. Since I'm starting a new level 1 character, it'll be a while before I get to Burning Springs, but I'm really enjoying this interpretation of Appalachia so far. It definitely clicks a lot better than the last time I played.
I also take turns playing a few co-op games with my friends. social phobia It's become my most played game of the year because it rarely leaves the rotation. The Winter's Jest update, which adds three new ghosts, is the best. We try hard again. Tanglewood hates us coming lol. We also have some late-game saves. I'm satisfied We're trying to win, but I think we'll be done before the new year. Oh, and my wife and I Baldur's Gate 3 Go ahead, I just need some time to play!
Finally, I Dragon Age: Veilguard This is a character I started for DA Day. I played her slowly (she's a dwarf rogue) and she's romancing Davrin. But I'll probably finish her by the end of the year. It depends on the time of year, but I have a feeling the Dragon Age marathon will come sooner, especially since we don't have anything until February in 2026.
Mark Sammut
senior editor
The exact game hasn't been confirmed at the moment, but I plan to play one of the two. You need two things or marvel space invasion During the holidays. I visit my family every Christmas, and recently I started a tradition of playing one co-op game with my brother. It was fun because we didn't have many opportunities to play games together until now due to the considerable age difference.
paul woodward
Interactive map editor
I'm going to have fun during vacation. The Witcher 3. I put it down a few years ago and never beat it, but now I'm taking the time to finally try and beat this fantastic game. There's also DLC, so I'd like to check it out for the first time.
team road
I'm not sure how much gaming time I'll have between work and parenting during the holiday season, but when I do, I'll probably be lying on the couch playing. Palia With my wife. We love playing cozy games together and this genre is perfect for unwinding after a busy day.
The recent game updates have us in full swing into the festive season, so I'd like to take a look at some of the new content when I have time. And of course, contribute to our huge community snowman!
tom bowen
Senior Evergreen Editor
I'll replay the first one, as I tend to do most years. Shenmue Games during Christmas break. It made a huge impression on me when I played it for the first time in December 2000, and I've associated it with Christmas ever since. As the years went by, returning to the streets of Yokosuka started to feel a bit like coming home, so I decided to come back. Shenmue This is also a great way to deal with the occasional feeling of homesickness during the festival period.
Happy holidays from everyone at Game Rant!
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