Xbox - Holiday Gift Guide

Xbox maybe the youngest member of the console makes but they have some of the biggest names available on their platform, including the return of Forza Motorsport.

If you are buying a new game or console for that special someone, then our guide of games to look out for should help you out, regardless if they are a casual gamer or a pro gamer. There is of course one major selling point for Xbox and that is Game Pass, for a monthly fee, you can access hundreds of games and while some are short, others are long and as there are always new titles being added (and older ones removed) there is always something new to play.

With the prices listed below, those are the RRP of each item, which means that is the most that you should pay, but with deals and limited time offers, you could get the item for less. So always double check with your preferred retailer.

Xbox Series S

Price: $499 (white) - $549 (black) rrp

There are now two models of the Series S console, the original White release and the newer Black one, so the answer is yes, they have it in Black. It is not just a colour difference here as the Black model also comes with the double the internal storage, 1tb as opposed to the 512gb in the White model.

The reason why we are suggesting the Series S console over the more powerful and disc enabled Series X is that its the more affordable option and perfect for someone who is going to be gaming via digital means. Yes it means you can score a $5 disc deal, but with Game Pass you may not care.

Xbox have also announced that the White model is now coming with 3 months of Game Pass for a limited time, with the price not increasing over the standard Series S.

Starfield

Price: $119.95 rrp

Review: Link

Available: Amazon | EB Games | JB HiFi | The Gamesmen | Xbox Marketplace

Starfield is the biggest games Xbox have brought out all year and given its the size of the galaxy, that is saying something. With hundreds of quests and just as many planets, there is a lot going on in this game and with the chance for you to be anything you want, there is no stopping your sense of adventure. Just know that spaceship management is a thing and will likely cause you grief until you master it.

Forza Motorsport

Price: $119.95 rrp

Review: Link

Available: Amazon | EB Games | JB HiFi | The Gamesmen | Xbox Marketplace

It has been 6 years since the last mainline entry in the Forza series released, the Horizon series saw 2 in that time, but Motorsport is a different beast. The game is all about hitting the track, perfecting your racing line and getting the best time you can. The game has a large number of cars and with your car getting better the more you drive it, taking the time to hit the track with it will get you better times, as long as your skills match of course.

Diablo IV

Price: $109.95 rrp

Review: Link

Available: Amazon | EB Games | JB HiFi | The Gamesmen | Xbox Marketplace

The Diablo series was once considered PC only, but Diablo III changed that and now Diablo IV has cemented that fact. The latest entry offers a story that will take you anywhere from 50 to 100 hours to get through and with the game bringing seasonal content every few months, there is a lot to keep you coming back. Plus a new expansion has just been announced, which will give even more to do next year, until then the random world events will test your characters skills and hey, if you want to roll a new character, you can do that as well.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Price: $79.95 rrp

Review: Link

Available: Amazon | EB Games | JB HiFi | The Gamesmen | Xbox Marketplace

The Assassin’s Creed series has grown over the years, from its initial entry to the last game Valhalla and with each release, more and more was added to the series. Mirage actually strips a lot of the noise back and brings the series back to its stealth killing roots. The city of Baghdad is much smaller than the recent titles, but still offers a lot of exploration and while there is no levelling system, you can still refine your skills.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

Price: $109.95 rrp

Review: Link

Available: Amazon | EB Games | JB HiFi | The Gamesmen | Xbox Marketplace

For the last few years developer FromSoftware has been in the spotlight with the titles Demon Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro and Elden Ring, but long before any of those, they created Armored Core. The last time we saw this series was a decade ago and with this being the 18th title, there was a lot of hype for it and it delivered. Not only are you inside of a giant mech suit, but when you die (and you will) you can easily swap out your weapons and gear to try a new approach.

The Crew Motorfest

Price: $109.95 rrp

Review: Link

Available: Amazon | EB Games | JB HiFi | The Gamesmen | Xbox Marketplace

Two car games in one list? Yes but unlike Forza above, The Crew Motorfest is more about taking to the roads and just enjoying the drive and it being set in Hawaii really helps sell that fact. With playlists celebrating all things cars from specific brands to vibes and even decades, its a car lovers paradise, just be aware that there is an assistant in the game that doesn’t stop talking. But being able to join up with friends and drive around the island is always fun.

Gift Cards

Price: $5, $10, $15, $25, $30, $40, $50, $70, $100

Available: Multiple locations

Gift cards are a great way of giving someone a game, but they can choose the game or games depending on the card amount. Like other gift cards, you can find them in many stores from the ones we have linked above to places like Woolworths, Coles and Australia Post.

So there we go, the items we suggest for that Xbox gamer in your life, or maybe for yourself. If you were wondering why we didn’t list Game Pass in here, its simple that is a 3-month item at most and it would be weird to buy someone their first period and then tell them they need to subscribe for the rest themselves.