Episode 359 – 2023 Video Game Gift Guide with Stephen Duetzman
It’s gift giving season! Every year, we have Stephen Duetzmann from Engaged Family Gaming to tell us about their video game gift guide. What video games are the best picks for your family this year?
359 Facts:
“Island 359” – a VR game available on Steam
and “The Battle of Wolf 359” from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space 9.
Sponsor Message
If you need help figuring out where to place your little “dollar workers” in the worker placement game of life, reach out to First Move Financial. You can find them at firstmovefinancial.com/familygamers to schedule a call today.
What We’ve Been Playing
Monopoly Chance – and Stephen proposes putting “Monopoly” onto other great board games.
Escape Academy (on XBox Game Pass)
Tokaido Duo
Purrfect Match
Celeste – and we learn about the accessibility options. (Our kids have since watched some speedruns. They’re crazy.)
Super Mario Bros Wonder
SNAP REVIEW – Gamestormers
Check out this tableau-building storytelling game and watch or read our review.
The Video Game Gift Guide
Stephen runs Engaged Family Gaming and has been covering video games for about a decade now.
Let’s discuss their holiday video game gift guide!
For XBox:
- Game Pass will never go wrong – it can tack on to an existing subscription. Read the EFG Parent’s Guide to Game Pass.
- Minecraft Legends (XBox – included on Game Pass, but also PS 4/5, Nintendo Switch, PC)
- Bluey: The Videogame (on everything)
- Disney Speedstorm – a free-to-play racing game (just download it!)
CORRECTION: Bonnie Hunt is not Helen Hunt’s sister. Everything else Stephen says about CARS is true. - Hi-Fi Rush – a rhythm fighting game! (on everything: Find out more)
- Star Wars: Jedi Survivor – (on everything) this has been out long enough that you can look for discounts!
- Street Fighter 6 (XBox, PS 4/5, PC)
- Party Animals (also on Game Pass)
- Starfield (also on Game Pass) “Fallout in space”
For Sony Playstation:
- Sonic Superstars – with multiplayer! (on everything, not just PS)
- Octopath Traveler 2 (PS 4/5, PC, Nintendo Switch – rated T)
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (currently only PC, but PS5 soon. rated M – GROWNUPS ONLY)
- Final Fantasy 16 (PS5, rated M – GROWNUPS ONLY)
Nintendo Switch:
- Bluey, of course
- Metroid Prime Remastered (rated T, but mostly because “it’s intense”)
- Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe
- WarioWare: Move It! – dumb but fun. Check out this video from EFG.
- Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Super Mario Bros Wonder
- Disney Illusion Island
What’s Stephen looking forward to the most right now?
“Playing the Avatar Pandora game with my mom.”
In 2024: Probably a new Nintendo Switch, probably a new Grand Theft Auto game. Princess Peach game (we’re excited for this one, too!)
If you’re buying a console for the holiday, don’t forget:
Don’t forget to set it up before Christmas! (Plug in, connect to the internet, download updates, install a game or two.) It’s a much more effective surprise if it’s ready to play on Christmas morning.
And don’t forget about The Family Gamers holiday gift guide, too!
Find Stephen Online:
EngagedFamilyGaming.com
Youtube: @EngagedFamilyGaming1
TikTok: @EngagedFamilyGaming
Facebook: @EngagedFamilyGaming
or the Engaged Family Gaming Community
(You can find Stephen in The Family Gamers community as well.)
Find Us Online:
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Twitter (X): @familygamersaa
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or join the Family Tabletop Community on Discord! thefamilygamers.com/discord
Or, for the most direct method, email us! andrew@thefamilygamers.com and anitra@thefamilygamers.com.
Check out our new Family Gamers and Play Games with Your Kids merchandise – T-shirts, hoodies, and mugs – at thefamilygamers.com/merch.
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The Family Gamers is sponsored by First Move Financial. Go to FirstMoveFinancial.com/familygamers to learn how the team at First Move Financial can help you pile up the victory points.
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