Fanatical Gift Guide - Best New Year PC game releases to buy this Christmas

If running after gigantic monsters is your kind of game, there's a particular 2022 title that's well worth playing.

Coming to PC hot off its Nintendo Switch release in 2021, MONSTER HUNTER RISE sees you tasked with hunting down over 70 small and large monsters with distinct behaviors, awe-inspiring appearances, and deadly ferocity. From classic returning monsters to all-new creatures inspired by Japanese folklore, including the flagship wyvern Magnamalo, you’ll need to think on your feet and master their unique tendencies if you hope to reap any of the rewards!

Take on Flying Wyverns such as Rathalos, Bazelgeuse, and Nargacuga; and test your might against Elder Dragons including Teostra, Crimson Glow Valstrax, and Kushala Daora. Choose from 14 different weapon types that offer unique gameplay styles, both up-close and from long range.

Each monster that you successfully hunt or capture will provide materials that allow you to craft new weapons and armor and upgrade your existing gear. Go back out on the field and hunt even fiercer monsters and earn even better rewards.

Jump into the Steam PC version of MH: Rise and enjoy beautiful graphics at up 4K resolution, HDR with support for features including ultrawide monitors and an unlocked frame rate make to make this a truly immersive monster-hunting experience. Hunters will also get immediate access to a number of free title updates that include new monsters, quests, gear, and more.

Three years on from the critically-acclaimed PS4 exclusive, and with the highly anticipated sequel expected in 2022, now's the perfect time to get ready to experience God of War on PC.

In this action-adventure, Kratos is a father again. As mentor and protector to Atreus, a son determined to earn his respect, he is forced to deal with and control the rage that has long defined him while out in a very dangerous world with his son.

From the marble and columns of ornate Olympus to the gritty forests, mountains and caves of pre-Viking Norse lore, this is a distinctly new realm with its own pantheon of creatures, monsters and gods.

Better still, with the PC version you'll experience a bunch of neat upgrades and features. Enjoy true 4K resolution, on supported devices, with unlocked framerates for peak performance.

Dial in your settings via a wide range of graphical presets and options including higher resolution shadows, improved screen space reflections, the addition of GTAO and SSDO, and much more. Journey through the Norse realms taking in breath taking vistas in panoramic widescreen.

With 21:9 ultra-widescreen support, God of War presents a cinema quality experience that further expands the original seamless theatrical vision.

Will you conquer your daemons? Or command them? It's time to find out with Total War: WARHAMMER III. The latest instalment in the action strategy franchise from renowned developer Creative Assembly, sees you lead one of four initial races in a gripping war for survival.

Far beyond the world and its petty wars there exists a dimension of pure, malevolent magic: The Realm of Chaos. It is a terrible place, incomprehensible to the mortal mind. It whispers promises of power, but to behold it is to be seduced by it.

The world stands on a precipice, and a single push will plunge it into cataclysm. There is one who schemes to achieve just that, an ancient figure who desires nothing less than to wield supreme power. But to succeed, he will need a champion…

With nine playable Legendary Lords to lead your race into battle, and a wider selection of individual races than any previous Total War: WARHAMMER core title, TW:W3 is shaping up to be the best in series - and well worth a pre-order!

Not many games can say they've had a world-renowned writer such as George R. R. Martin come on board to help tell a immersive story... in fact, we don't think anyone has had Martin on board, no on except Elden Ring.

Rise, Tarnished, and be guided by grace to brandish the power of the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord in the Lands Between. A vast world where open fields with a variety of situations and huge dungeons with complex and three-dimensional designs are seamlessly connected.

As you explore, the joy of discovering unknown and overwhelming threats await you, leading to a high sense of accomplishment. In addition to customizing the appearance of your character, you can freely combine the weapons, armor, and magic that you equip.

Develop your character according to your play style, such as increasing your muscle strength to become a strong warrior, or mastering magic. In addition to multiplayer, where you can directly connect with other players and travel together, the game supports a unique asynchronous online element that allows you to feel the presence of others.

How about embracing the shooter-looter madness with Tiny Tina's Wonderlands - the Borderlands spin-off all about high fantasy rules rather than science fiction, and where rules are more of a recommendation.

Experience a world where Tiny Tina is your guide. Rules don’t apply here, so explore your way through majestic cities, dark forests and terrifying fortresses. Use powerful guns and spells to destroy entire armies and huge bosses.

If you want the loot, then you have to put the work in for it or you’ll get nothing from it in this first person shooter. Meet Captain Valentine and Frette, plus a whole set of wild and varied characters.

If you’re worried about playing this game alone, don’t worry. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands allows you to experience the story with up to three friends in seamless online co-op, sharing loot and the terror of the world in one big battle.

Fight alongside all of your friends' personalized heroes that are unique using the multiclass system and skill trees.

The definitive Destiny campaign, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is the new upcoming DLC expansion for the popular action FPS, where you'll delve into Savathûn’s Throne World to uncover the mystery of how she and her Lucent Hive stole the Light.

Learn the secrets to crafting new weapons, the new Glaive, and survive the truth within her web of lies!

A twisted wonderland of corruption and splendor, Savathûn’s Throne World plays host to a fragile balance of power. From her palace to the swamp, all that she hides can be found here.

Create custom weaponry with unique mod, shader, and stat combinations. Master the new Glaive weapon type and unleash powerful melee combos, projectile attacks, and a deployable energy shield. Bungie plans to rework everything related to the Void in Destiny 2 by scrapping certain abilities and adding brand-new abilities - so expect a fresh approach to combat.

The Deluxe Edition of Destiny 2: The Witch Queen comes with Seasons 16-19, Two Year-Five Dungeons, an Exotic SMG, a Catalyst Ornament, an Exotic Sparrow and for pre-orders will come with exclusive emotes, emblems and ghost shells.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a new tactical RPG set in the darker side of the Marvel Universe. You'll team up and live among iconic heroes such as Iron Man, Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Blade, and Captain Marvel as you battle against demonic forces to stop Lilith, Mother of Demons from resurrecting her master and bringing about the end of the world.

Pushed to the brink, Earth’s mightiest heroes team up with the Midnight Suns - Ghost Rider, Blade, Magik, and Nico Minoru - to desperately revive the Hunter, a legendary hero and humanity’s only hope in stopping the end of the world. As the Hunter, you must build your team, earn their trust, and lead them to overcome their greatest challenge to date.

Become the Hunter, the first customizable original hero in the Marvel Universe. Lead a legendary collection of heroes that span across The Avengers, X-Men, Runaways and more as you customize your team’s abilities and playstyle.

Rise up against the demonic forces of Lilith and experience an immersive story that brings familiar heroes to an unfamiliar world, filled with the supernatural and the mystical.

See heroes in a new light and unlock additional abilities as you develop relationships and strengthen personal bonds outside the field of battle. Dive deep and explore The Abbey - your very own mystical secret base - as you hangout with your teammates, explore the grounds and uncover its hidden mysteries.