Choose which Platform:
Alright Mum and Dad, let me begin this Guide by breaking the bad news… again. You’re not going to find a PlayStation 5 or XBOX Series X for your child this Christmas unless you pay an exorbitant eBay auction price, or the highly unlikely situation where you get lucky and receive notice of a fresh batch of units coming through prior to the big day; I know it’s the same message I gave last year. This guide will hopefully soften the blow for kids out there writing letters to Santa, tirelessly begging for their brand new home console under the tree.
But I will say, if you do score either console before Christmas day, kudos… It must have been an interesting scenario wrestling other parents out of the food court with a steadfast stampede in tow. Regardless, I hope this guide helps out anyone before Christmas or on the big day. It’s going to be a rough one this year, but there are plenty of items up for grabs that will keep the kids, Mums, Dads, and other family members busy right through the new year, and hopefully to an arrival of fresh next gen units.
PlayStation 4
A Top-Up...
Give the gift that keeps giving…
Available in values of $5, $15, $30, $50 (Recommended) and $100, you can’t go wrong. This allows you to gift that someone a flexible choice of a game, the DLC they’ve been eyeing, or a PlayStation Plus Subscription (12 Months $79.99AUD).
Best of all, they can use this on PS4, PS5 and PS Vita.
They'll love this...
The sequel to the critically acclaimed multi-award winning action-adventure/horror; The Last of Us Part II see’s the return of an adolescent Ellie, looking for retribution against former Firefly members.
This instant classic follows the events of the 2013 smash hit The Last of Us, Where Joel and Ellie fight for survival against hoards of infected “runners”, that have mutated from human to zombie in the midst of a global pandemic.
If they’ve yet to play its prequel, I would highly suggest picking that up first. But if they’re a fan and have yet to play this incredible title, then it’s a great gift.
Swinging Santa...
The sequel to 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man for PlayStation 4, Miles Morales is the next chapter in the Spider-verse. And for the youngsters, this is a treat; especially those that loved the recently released Animated feature length smash hit, Spider-Man: Enter the Spider-verse.
Miles Morales takes the reigns of our friendly neighbourhood masked vigilante, while Peter takes a quick holiday in Europe (boy, they aren’t living in COVID times). Only, the unexperienced teen has his hands full with a new threat looming over New York City.
Kratos Krumpus...
The Reboot that saw the gaming world go crazy for Kratos, and his fatherly – or lack thereof – love for his son, Atreus. This is God of War (2018), the latest entry into the esteemed franchise that has dominated the PlayStation platform and is responsible for multiple Game of the Year accolades attached to Sony Santa Monica.
The campaign see’s an older Kratos, widowed after the untimely passing of his wife Faye. Before she passed, she had requested to be cremated and for her ashes to be scattered atop the highest peak of the Nine Realms. This would set the God and his offspring on a tumultuous test for their survival, but growth as father and son. Truly one of the greatest stories ever told in gaming.
Beyond the Horizon...
Looking for something a little different? Needing a sense of adventure?
Horizon Zero Dawn, the multi-award winning 2017 PlayStation 4 epic is now available on PC. Roam a post-cataclysmic Earth, set in the 31st century where humanity has slightly devolved, with only remains of technological advancement existing within creatures known as “machines” roaming its desolate plains.
Your protagonist Aloy, an abandoned orphan is outcased by her tribe and handed to her new guardian Rost, in hopes of training the young girl, into a warrior in hopes of being accepted again.
PlayStation 5
A Modern Rogue...
Stuck in a loop, yet all the places to run…
Returnal is PS5’s hottest Roguelike, action-adventure third person shooter that comes from acclaimed studio Hallmarque. Portraying Space Pilot Selene, the ASTRA corp disobeys orders and becomes stranded on the planet Atropis. The only issue here is, our hero is now stuck within the planet’s unique time cycle which in fact is never ending.
A massive contender for Game of the Year, and highly recommended.
On Rachet, On Clank, On Rivet?...
The fun never stops with this incredible 3D Platformer.
Ratchet and Clank return, set years after their previous outing. The pair contemplating retirement are celebrated by their peers, that is until the devious Dr. Nefarious ruins all plans, and steals the Dimensionator, a device that opens portals to alternate realities which Clank had initially wanted to use in hopes of finding Ratchet’s family.
After damaging the Dimensionator, portals are scattered across each reality, splitting the pair across different universes where they meet with their partner’s counterparts.
Swordsman's Sleigh...
Need a Chrissie Gift for Pops?
Bring dad back to the cinema of yesteryear, as he indulges himself in one of the most immersive experiences on PlayStation 5 to date. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut takes you across the incredible isles of a war-torn continent, struggling for survival against the impending insurgence of the Mongol’s.
Jin must protect his people by eliminating the threat, learning the way of a Samurai with gaming’s most engaging swordplay, and sleek mechanics.
Create Memories...
That fresh new console smell. Opening up the box, taking out that brand new hardware. Setting it all up… but playing all by your lonesome?
Why not pick up a second Dualsense and make some memories with Dad. The new Dualsense revolutionises the way we play, with a variety of colours available.
The haptics, the adaptive triggers, and just the solid build of this beautiful piece of tech will astonish anyone who takes a quick grasp of this incredible piece of kit. A true next generation experience is here.
XBOX
All the Games...
Don’t know what to get them? This is the answer. 3 Months of XBOX Game Pass Ultimate will give the gamer access to an entire library of first party XBOX Game Studio titles that will leave them busy for hours on end.
A litany of gaming at their fingertips thanks to XBOX’s revolutionary subscription service gives the gamer no excuse to rush out and buy the hottest XBOX title. It’s already available from this incredible subscription based feature.
Feliz Navidad...
Off to Mexico for Christmas…
Race through the gauntlet, from circuits to cross-country. Visit a live Volcano and reach new heights. Speed through the Horizon festival, where Mexico awaits. The newest Forza sends you off to the gorgeous outskirts of South America, where you can virtually experience its incredible scenery and fall in love with its culture.
Just be sure to pack yourself a mask… Oh, not for what you’re thinking. The Sandstorms that you’ll have to race through.
Halo Holiday...
Get ready for the greatest Halo experience, ever.
Halo Infinite brings the universes favourite Space Cadet, Master Chief to the forefront of what may be his biggest expedition to date. Trying to find a way home, stuck on Zeta Halo and at his last resort, John prepares for the ultimate threat across an open world of familiar foes. With what could be the Spartan’s final outing, the Chief is ready to rule supreme.
The acclaimed multiplayer and lengthy campaign will also be available on Game Pass, and promises to be the smoothest home console entertainment experience ever, delivering a solid 4K/120FPS. Now that’s infinitely impressive.
Freedom & Comfort...
The best thing about gaming headsets is that most work on everything. The SteelSeries Arctis 3 has the absolute freedom of flexibility to use across a multitude of platforms out there.
Available in White or Black to match the overall aesthetic one may desire, the headset entails 7.1 Surround sound, for precision gaming.
The Arctis 3 2019 Edition was Awarded PCGamer’s “Best Gaming Headset” of 2019, and I concur. This is the perfect addition to your gaming setup.
Nintendo
Keep it simple...
Running out of memory on their Switch? Perfect!
Time to help out with an upgrade to their Switch Storage. A simple yet effective gift is a Micro SD Card, with enough SPEED (100MB/s Min) and Memory.
I personally Recommend going for 128GB Minimum, as it will quadruple his existing onboard storage, allowing Dad to fit more digital title’s and his physical library’s installations.
An Adventure of a lifetime...
Super Mario 3D World was the Wii U’s most highly acclaimed adventure platformer for it’s massively underappreciated home console. Not only was the console itself in a rock, and a hard place, but the title was lost in infamy due to the unit’s record low sales.
The title is a classic, and has had many Mario fans salivating at the thought of a “Deluxe” edition being remastered for the home console-hybrid-handheld. Now making clawing its way onto the Switch, Nintendo’s boldest and brightest Mario tale sets forth to impress an entirely new generation, including exclusive content that ensures to blow people away.
Bowser’s Fury takes a dark turn from the traditional vibrant overlay delivered in a Mario series, and sets the Koopa King on a path of devastating destruction.
Fun for the whole family...
Want to entertain the entire family?
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch is the ultimate Family title, and will keep Dad entertained for hours. Choosing to play solo, couch co-op, jumping online or battle mode, Mario Kart continues the tradition of putting smiles on faces around the globe.
Compatible with Joy Cons, and Pro Controllers for up to four players, this is a no brainer if you’re desperately searching for anything that Dad may not already have in his collection.
Have a Dreadful Holiday...
Samus Returns in what might be her greatest outing yet.
After being notified of a notorious parasite known as X, infecting multiple species on planet ZDR, The Galactic Federation deploy Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifiers (EMMI) in hopes of safely searching the isolated destination, but lose all contact with the bots.
With no choice, they entrust intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran to investigate the planet, where upon arrival is immediately confronted by a Chozo warrior who strips the warrior’s suit of her renowned abilities. Instructed by ADAM, her ship’s AI, Samus must make her way up to the surface after being trapped and confined in an underground lair.
PC
Upgrade his setup...
Dad still gaming on that old, crusty Wireless keyboard and mouse combo?
Time to add some bling to his gaming setup with this awesome Mechanical Keyboard from SteelSeries. The SteelSeries APEX 7 TKL Mehcanical Gaming Keyboard will curb their playstyle. Come out on-top in every round of Destiny or Siege.
Treat them the right way. They will love you for it.
Simple yet effective...
In addition to Dad’s sweet new keyboard…
Be sure to grab a new mouse with some sweet RGB to suit. The SteelSeries Rival 3 Gaming Mouse will deliver them elevated preciseness. Stop all that cheating and relying on auto-aim.
The Rival 3 glides quite smoothly across a Qck Mouse Pad, like a match made in heaven.
Freedom & Flexibility...
The best thing about gaming headsets is that most work on everything. The SteelSeries Arctis 3 has the absolute freedom of flexibility to use across a multitude of platforms out there.
Available in White or Black to match the overall aesthetic one may desire, the headset entails 7.1 Surround sound, for precision gaming.
The Arctis 3 2019 Edition was Awarded PCGamer’s “Best Gaming Headset” of 2019, and I concur. This is the perfect addition to your gaming setup.
Feliz Navidad...
Off to Mexico for Christmas…
Race through the gauntlet, from circuits to cross-country. Visit a live Volcano and reach new heights. Speed through the Horizon festival, where Mexico awaits. The newest Forza sends you off to the gorgeous outskirts of South America, where you can virtually experience its incredible scenery and fall in love with its culture.
Just be sure to pack yourself a mask… Oh, not for what you’re thinking. The Sandstorms that you’ll have to race through.