The holidays are almost here. For many people, that means traveling to see loved ones or just getting away. Naturally, when you are traveling, you’ll want to bring some games with you to keep you busy.
This year we saw an overwhelming amount of fantastic games. However, some of them are better suited to gaming on the go than others. Whether you’re planning a trip across the country or to someplace warm and sunny, these are my picks for the best games on the go for the holiday season.
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido
Developers: Nintendo EPD and indieszero Corporation
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action-puzzle-RPG
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido is a fast-paced action-puzzle-RPG, which involves devouring scrumptious sushi and hurling your empty plates at your opponents. Within minutes of starting the game you begin to learn the fundamentals of what makes Sushi Strikers: The Way of Sushido an addicting game.
In a nutshell, plates of sushi zip across several levels of conveyor belts in front of you and you must match like coloured plates. As you collect these plates, you can then hurl them at your opponent causing damage. The more plates you collect at once, the higher the stack you can throw at your opponent and cause more damage.
There are over 150 battles, 50 Sushi Sprites, and never a dull moment in the game. More over, Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido is a perfect game that you can pickup and play for 10-30 minutes at a time, which makes it one of the best games on the go for the holiday season!
Buy Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido for Nintendo Switch
Get Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido Digital Download for Nintendo Switch
Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee!
Developer: Game Freak
Publishers: The Pokémon Company and Nintendo
Genre: Role-playing
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
The first main Pokémon RPG games, Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee! have arrived on the Nintendo Switch. This is one of the best games on the go for the holiday season as it has updated gameplay, which mixes classic Pokémon and modern Pokémon GO gameplay mechanics. These games have been designed so that everyone can enjoy.
Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Evee! takes place in the Kanto region. You assume the role as a new trainer from Pallet Town, getting ready to set out on a grand adventure. If you’ve never played the game or any game in the series you won’t feel left out. The game never assumes you’re a Pokémon pro and as such make these games very accessible for anyone to pickup and play.
Buy Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee! for Nintendo Switch
Get Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! Digital Download for Nintendo Switch
Purchase Pokemon Let’s Go, Eevee! Digital Download for Nintendo Switch
Mario Tennis Aces
Developer: Camelot Software Planning
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
All of your favourite Mushroom Kingdom characters are here along with a variety of new gameplay modes in Mario Tennis Aces. If you’ve played any of the previous Mario sports titles, then you’ll feel right at home with Mario Tennis Aces. It has an arcade feel to it mixed with some pretty deep gameplay.
The rules of traditional tennis apply and your various different shots are mapped to the controller’s face buttons. After a 13-year hiatus, Adventure Mode makes its return to the series complete with a variety of missions and boss battles. Adventure mode offers a good six hours, or so, of gameplay to Mario Tennis Aces. If you are planning a trip this holiday season, Mario Tennis Aces is one of the best games on the go for the holiday season.
Buy Mario Tennis Aces for Nintendo Switch
Get Mario Tennis Aces Digital Download for Nintendo Switch
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze
Developer: Retro Studios
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Platformer
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze gets a second chance at life thanks to Nintendo Switch. This Wii U original is first and foremost a platform game. Faithful to its franchise, many levels offer a great challenge.
Making things a tad easier are mid-level checkpoints. They come in the form of cute pigs that wave a flag when you pass by, letting you know a checkpoint is reached. Additionally, there is a new Funky Kong mode.
This lets you play as Funky, who has three extra hearts, can double jump and float, and is immune to spikes. He’s also able breath underwater indefinitely, making underwater levels much easier. Plain and simple, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is one of the best platform games ever made and is yet another game on the list of best games on the go for the holiday season.
Get Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze for Nintendo Switch
Get Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze Digital Download for Nintendo Switch
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker
Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Action Puzzle
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker features three-dimensional gameplay, which will keep you entertained for hours upon end. The story in the game is told in a series of three books, referred to as episodes in the game. The pages in each episode are composed of several chapters. Each page is a level in the game.
You can walk, dash, climb ladders, throw turnips you dig up from the ground, and carry items. Each level is self-contained and relies on the heavy use of rotating the 3D camera. This allows you to uncover hidden doors, path ways to advance, and bonus items.
Each level has three goals for you to complete—discover and collect three gemstones, grab as many coins as possible, and an optional objective. This game is perfect for short-burst gameplay and out of the 82 levels in this game, no two are the same.
Get Captain Toad Treasure Tracker for Nintendo Switch
Purchase Captain Toad Treasure Tracker Digital Download for Nintendo Switch
Dead Cells
Developer: Motion Twin
Publisher: Motion Twin
Genre: Rogue-lite, metroidvania action-platformer
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Motion Twin’s rogue-lite, action-platformer, Dead Cells is a perfect game for those long car or airplane rides this holiday season. While Dead Cells’ story is nothing to write home about, its easy to pickup and addictive gameplay is what will keep you coming back for more. From a gameplay perspective, Dead Cells is easy to master.
The platforming of running, climbing, and jumping is all done with simple button presses. When it comes to attacking your opponents, you have four slots shown at the bottom of the screen that are mapped to various buttons. The first three can be filled with potions, swords, daggers, electric whips, bow and arrows, and shields.
The last two slots can be filled with bombs, traps, and turrets. In all, there are over 50 weapons and spells for you to discover and unlock. The sense of accomplishment when you finally make it to the end of the game is truly satisfying.
Purchase Dead Cells for Nintendo Switch
Get Dead Cells for Nintendo Switch Digital Download
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Developers: Bandai Namco Studios Sorta Ltd.
Publishers: Nintendo
Genre: Fighting
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the newest entry in ultra popular fighting franchise. Never has there been so many playable characters, 74 in all, in just one game. And, there will be fresh new content in the form of new fighters, stages and music through the end of February 2020 in the form of DLC.
World of Light is an all-new single player adventure mode. Wizard Galeem has defeated the entire roster of characters, except for one—Kirby! As you defeat Galeem’s army one by one you gain spirits that give you special perks to aid you in your battle.
In addition, there are also a Tournament, Classic, Square Strike, and Smashdown modes.You’ll have no worries as to the amount of content in this game. Regardless of what type of player you are, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate offers something for everyone.
Purchase Super Smash Bros Ultimate for Nintendo Switch
Get Super Smash Bros Ultimate for Nintendo Switch Digital Download
Best games on the go for the holiday season
Regardless of age or gaming preference you’ll find that these games are the best games on the go for the holiday season. I hope you have a happy holiday and found my list helpful. Are you travelling for the holidays? If so, let me know in the comments section below where you are going and which of these games you will be playing.
Be sure to check out Best Buy Canada for great gift ideas for everyone on your holiday shopping list.
Click here to see the full line of video game software available at Bestbuy.ca
I wish we could travel, things are just a little tight for now. Maybe we can get a Nintendo Switch so we can just chill and eat at friends homes so we don’t have to cook and clean. WE HOPE fingers cross
I’ve only tried Dead Cells a little when I borrowed it from the library. It is a lot of fun.
Despite my terribleness at it, I do also enjoy Smash. It is good to pick up and play in bite sized portions if you are just trying to unlock some of the many spirits available in the game.
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