It's the final episode of New Releases of 2018! December might be the last month of the year, but it's far from the least in terms of big game releases. Leading the pack is the high-octane open world of Just Cause 4, plus a trio of Persona spin-off games: Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight, Persona 4: Dancing All Night, and Persona 5: Dancing In Starlight. The once-delayed Insurgency: Sandstorm is charging toward release, and a remake of the cult classic Katamari Damacy is rolling out too. Oh, there's also a little Nintendo Switch game called Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Maybe you've heard of it.
Just Cause 4 -- December 4
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Rico Rodriguez is back, and he's got some new toys. The new balloon and thruster attachments can be combined with the trusty grappling hook and wingsuit for absolute chaos--just watch out for massive storm effects like tornadoes. You'll have to harness all these to win back the country of Solis.
Further Reading:
- Just Cause 4 Release Date, US Pre-Order Guide (PS4, Xbox One)
Just Cause 4 Is Full Of Hilarious Chaos, Thanks To Rockets, Balloons, and Lightning Guns
Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight / Persona 4: Dancing All Night / Persona 5: Dancing In Starlight -- December 4
Available on: PS4, Vita
The mainline Persona games are all about dungeon crawls and demon battles, but these rhythm-game spin-offs let you pick a character and dance along to fan-favorite songs from the series. Persona 4 Dancing already got a Vita release in the West, but now the others are making their way to the handheld, as well as the PS4.
Further Reading:
Katamari Damacy Reroll -- December 7
Available on: PC, Switch
Katamari Damacy is 14 years old, but this remaster updates the cult classic with HD graphics and fully recreated cinematics. The Switch version incorporates motion control to steer the prince and dash around, and you can try out two-player co-op with a single pair of Joy-Cons.
Further Reading:
- Nintendo Direct: Katamari Damacy Remaster Will Be On Nintendo Switch In 2018
Nintendo Direct News Roundup: New Smash Character, Luigi's Mansion 3, And More Big Reveals
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate -- December 7
Available on: Switch
The latest in the Super Smash Bros. franchise brings back every single playable character from the series' history, plus a handful of new contenders like Ridley, King K. Rool, and Incineroar. It also adds Spirits to the mix, which let you boost your fighters' stats. You can unlock them via the Spirit Board or by completing the new story mode, World of Light. It's a big game with a lot going on.
Further Reading:
Insurgency: Sandstorm -- December 12
Available on: PC
What's an episode of New Releases without a shooter? Insurgency: Sandstorm is focused on realism, which makes its close-quarters combat all the more intense. It's releasing on PC this month after an earlier delay, and it's headed to consoles next year.
That wraps up New Releases for 2018! We'll be back in the new year with a whole new lineup of hotly anticipated games. January is bringing us big names like Kingdom Hearts 3 and the Resident Evil 2 remake, so we'll dig into those when we return in 2019.
