If you were lucky enough to unwrap a console on Christmas Day, it probably feels like your eyes have been opened to a whole new world of gaming possibilities. Where should you begin? Good question, and you’ve come to the right place to find the answer. Here are some of our picks for must-play titles on each of the major platforms
PlayStation 5
Gran Turismo 7
Even those with only a passing interest in racing games will enjoy hopping behind the wheel in Gran Turismo 7. In our review, we deemed it “the most welcoming GT ever”, thanks to the frictionless way it introduces game mechanics via the Gran Turismo Café. Thankfully, this more guided approach won’t alienate the car and motorsport enthusiasts among you either, since it incorporates career race events and a roster of reward vehicles that you can unlock and take for a spin. Racing feels smooth and responsive on the PS5’s Dual Sense controllers, and the game glistens with true-to-life models and time-of-day effects across the circuits. GT Sport mode is also available to PlayStation Plus subscribers, allowing you to go head to head with other players online. Existing EE customers can keep things super streamlined by paying for PlayStation Plus via their phone contract – simply select ‘Pay by Mobile’ at checkout, and the transaction will be incorporated into your monthly bill.
The Last of Us Part I
A gripping story, action-packed third-person combat, and a beautifully realised in-game world – the 2022 remake of Naughty Dog’s captivating survival blockbuster was built to showcase just what the PS5 is capable of. Whether you played the original The Last of Us on previous generation hardware, or are stepping into Ellie and Joel’s shoes for the first time, the revamped visuals across lighting effects, textural details, and character design make what was already a tense and emotional experience all the more immersive. In the wake of the hit TV adaptation, and with a remaster of the game’s sequel – Part II – on the way later this month, there’s never been a better time to dive into this modern classic. Sign up for PlayStation Plus Premium, and you can play a 2 hour trial of the game before you buy.
Final Fantasy XVI
The franchise’s beloved reputation precedes it, but Final Fantasy XVI has plenty that will hook players new to the series. Leaning away from its turn-based roots and towards reflex-driven action, the game’s detailed world-building shifts to Valisthea, a group of five magical kingdoms with an aesthetic inspired by mediaeval Europe. Fans of Game of Thrones and The Witcher are bound to enjoy unravelling the grand history of the land and the immense mythical Eikons that also call Valisthea home, while combat aficionados will delight in the sheer spectacle of battles, amassing powers that enhance protagonist Clive’s abilities along the way. Snap up a copy of Final Fantasy XVI in the EE Game store, where you can also take advantage of bundle deals that pair the game with PS5 accessories.
Nintendo Switch
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Believe the hype; Tears of the Kingdom is a rich and creative sandbox game that will keep you entertained for hundreds of hours with its sprawling, multi-layered network of challenge shrines, story missions, and side quests. Undertake puzzles, boss fights, and crafting at your own pace as you explore the vast map of Hyrule (plus the Sky Islands above and cavernous Depths below), while being guided by quirky NPC interactions. Don’t be fooled by the game’s wholesome aura; combat in Tears of the Kingdom is sufficiently challenging and is given a strategic twist with the inclusion of weapon degradation. All-new mechanics – which enable you to fuse materials, construct complex automatons, and levitate your way through ceilings – provide endless opportunities for fun, whether you’re using the Switch’s handheld capabilities to liven up your commute, or playing via your TV at home. Both physical and digital copies of Tears of the Kingdom, IGN's Best Game of 2023, are available for purchase via EE.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
His brother may have the name recognition, but this Luigi-led adventure has the honour of being one of the most charming Switch outings for the plumbing duo. Gameplay sees you wander the halls of a spooky hotel, capturing spirits and collectibles in a Ghostbusters-style vacuum backpack. Of course, playing as Luigi, you do so with trademark trepidation, hilariously quivering and grimacing as you tiptoe around fog-shrouded rooms. There are plenty of puzzles to solve, spectral bosses to battle and humorous surprises to uncover, and despite the haunted premise, the game retains all the colourful stylings of a Super Mario Bros. title, with atmospheric lighting helping to set the tone. You can even play co-op, with player two taking on the role of slimy doppelganger Gooigi! Get a physical copy of Luigi’s Mansion 3 from the EE Game store for just £39.99.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
What would it look like if you pitted some of the most iconic characters from across gaming against each other in a multiplayer brawl? Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the sometimes chaotic, but always outrageously fun answer. Far less intimidating than most other fighting games, its button combos are comparatively simple, but with the choice of 74 fighters, 104 stages, plus items, hazards, and Final Smash finishing moves adding further spectacle and peril, each bout still feels like a competitive tussle. Although it possesses a single-player Adventure campaign, PvP is where Ultimate shines, so to make the most of the mode, get yourself some additional Joy-Cons. Up to eight players can battle it out on a single console, and with the colourful options available in the gaming accessories section of EE’s store, there’ll be no mistaking whose controller is whose.
Xbox Series X|S
Microsoft Flight Simulator
If you’ve ever dreamt of soaring above the clouds, but had your hopes dashed by the price of flying lessons, Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox will help you spread your wings. Even without the luxury of a tricked out PC rig, the console version of the game offers an astonishingly realistic piloting experience thanks to the breadth of landscapes, airfields, weather conditions, and aircraft available, and the detail with which each is rendered. Real life cockpits have been laser-scanned to capture authentic (and functional) instruments and layouts, and Bing maps integration means you can explore far flung destinations, visit world famous landmarks… or simply enjoy a birds eye view of your house. If you’re less of an aviation geek and want to remove some of the technical aspects, the range of assists and adjustments provide plenty of ways to enjoy a more arcade-like experience. Microsoft Flight Simulator, optimised for Xbox Series X|S, is available to play now on Xbox Game Pass.
Starfield
Speaking of racking up air miles without leaving your living room, Bethesda’s latest RPG takes their established formula of deeply personalised character building to a new realm beyond the stars. Starfield is so immense that it allows you to craft your own flavour of first-person space adventure; whether that involves interstellar dogfights, exploring the mysteries of our solar system, collecting space pirate loot, or establishing Sheffield 2.0 on a freshly discovered moon. It’s easy to plough hundreds of hours into the game without making a dent in the main questlines, there are plenty of companion characters to meet along the way, and every corner of the Settled Systems is packed with tactile features, so you’ll never find yourself short of things to do. Play the game that was the talk of the summer now on Xbox Game Pass, or you grab a digital copy for your personal library in the EE Game Store.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Once the cornerstone of Xbox’s exclusive game offering, the adventures of Spartan 117 aka Master Chief remain a must-play for FPS fans. This game package collates the first four numbered entries in the Halo series, plus prequel Halo Reach and the Halo 3 ODST side game, but each has been remade with improved graphics, sounds, cutscenes, and framerates to bridge the gap between console generations. After a rocky start, online multiplayer issues have been patched via game updates, and you can also crossplay between Xbox One and Series X|S, meaning that if members of your OG squad have yet to upgrade their system, you can still get the gang together to blast through your favourite maps. Over two decades may have passed since players first fought off the franchise’s alien aggressors, but whether you’re rekindling nostalgia or wielding a Needler for the very first time, The Master Chief Collection still has the power to get your adrenaline pumping. Play it today via Xbox Game Pass.
Open to every player on any network, check out the EE Game Store for more game and accessory offers that’ll help you level up your play throughout 2024.
