Top 10 Hottest Competitive Games Right Now - December Edition

As the season turns to fall, it means we’re closer and closer to the holiday season. The leaves are turning colors before ultimately falling from trees, the weather is starting to cool off, and it’s already pitch black by 5 o’clock. These conditions are less than ideal to go out with, so what will you do in the meantime? Play games, of course! Just in time for you to casually suggest as gifts from your loved ones, here are 10 competitive games you should be picking up this holiday season.

1. Forza Motorsport 7 (Xbox One)

Microsoft’s critically and commercially acclaimed Forza series returns with Forza 7. The ultimate driving simulator’s strength lies in its realistic visuals that will make untrained eyes double-take at the game’s almost picture perfect replication of famous cars, tracks and landscapes. Microsoft has upped the ante with the introduction of the Forza Racing Championship series, which seeks to pit the very best racers against one another in a quest to be crowned the greatest racer in the world. For more info on the Forza Racing Championship, visit their website.

2. Starcraft 2 (PC)

Blizzard snuck a shocking announcement during their Blizzcon reveals in early November by announcing that players would be able to play Starcraft II’s ranked multiplayer ladder for free starting November 14. For fans of the first Starcraft or other class real-time strategy games, it might be worth sinking some time into the free version of the game before sinking your hard-earned cash into the full version.

3. Madden 18 (Xbox One, Playstation 4)

The ultimate sports game in the United States, Madden 18, remains a mainstay in the world of competitive gaming. From battling friends on your couch to fighting for prize pools of over $1,000,000, no competitive gamer can go wrong picking up Madden just in time for the NFL playoffs to begin. For high-level players, EA Sports has created the Madden NFL Championship Series, where players vie for supremacy online for a chance at major prize packages. You’ll also be able to find the game on sale this Black Friday, making it an even more enticing pick-up this fall. For more info on competing in Madden NFL 18, visit the Madden NFL Championship Series website.

4. FIFA 18 (Xbox One, Playstation 4)

The gaming jelly to Madden’s peanut butter, no competitive gamer’s library is complete without a FIFA title, and this year is no different. FIFA offers competitive tournaments in both their Ultimate Team and traditional head-to-head mode, with prizes and the ability to represent your favorite soccer club on the line. FIFA’s experience is much different than Madden’s, since soccer (ahem, the true football) is a beloved sport all over the world, while the majority of Americanized football fans live in the United States. Truly, the king of FIFA is the king of the entire world.

5. Injustice 2 (Xbox One, Playstation 4)

Injustice and Mortal Kombat creator Netherrealm Studios is no stranger to the landscape of competitive gaming. Mortal Kombat 9 was among the first fighting games to embrace esports as a massive spectacle and Injustice 2’s competitive scene takes the next step in esports by partnering with ELEAGUE to host their world champions. While Dragon already captured this year’s championship, it’s never too late to start preparing for next year’s series, as well as local competitive fighting game tournaments in your area and, like Madden, should be cheap to pick up this holiday.

6. Rocket League (Nintendo Switch)

Yes, this game is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC as well, but you didn’t buy that fancy new Nintendo Switch just to play Mario games, did you? The Switch’s version of Rocket League is unique to its console brethren in that it can be taken on the go via the Switch’s handheld mode. That being said, the game features cross-play with Xbox One and PC users, so you never have to worry about not being able to find games. Plus, Rocket League features its own Championship Series, allowing players to compete for prizes and world championships. Time will tell how Switch users will be able to participate, but we’re sure you’ll be able to join the party real soon.

7. Pokemon Ultra Sun/ Ultra Moon (Nintendo 3DS)

Competitive Pokemon has been around since the Red/Blue era, but the stakes are higher than ever with the release of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon for the Nintendo 3DS. New to this game important to competitive players include new pokemon, including the ability to catch legendaries from past Pokemon games, Move Tutors, which allow your Pokemon to learn moves they can’t learn normally, and new Z-Moves which will add an extra layer of strategy to your matches. Nintendo hosts the Pokemon World Championships each year, pitting the top Pokemon trainers against one another to see who really wants to be the very best (like no one ever was).

8. Call of Duty – WW2 (Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC)

Like it or not, you knew this game was going to be on this list – and you have to respect it. The Call of Duty series was an early adopter of esports and this year’s edition is no different. Competitive Call of Duty: WW2 players learned early on what modes they would have to master for this year’s esports circuit for a chance to win over $4 million in prize money. Say what you will, but Call of Duty’s staying power at the top of the competitive gaming scene for so long is nothing short of extraordinary, and with the new War Mode taking a page from games like Overwatch, this year’s contests are sure to be some of the most interesting yet.

9. Overwatch (Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC)

Another kingpin of the competitive gaming scene, Overwatch, should be on your radar this fall. Blizzard continues to add content to this ever-evolving game and the overall all scene is just as beginner-friendly over a year into its life-cycle as it was the day it came out. Overwatch has a number of esports events perfect for any players looking to earn some prizes by playing their favorite game.

10. PlayerUnknown’s Battleground [PUBG] (PC, Xbox One)

This game’s often the number one game on Twitch and Steam, and for good reason. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, often just abbreviated as PUBG, is a high-octane battle royale shooter which stemmed from a DayZ mod and became its own standalone game. Even though the game is “technically” still in pre-development, players have flocked to the game due to its intensity and the fact that no two games are ever the same. Esports players have also gravitated to PUBG, and the game already has a number of competitive events. Xbox One players should look forward to PUBG becoming available on December 14, just in time to spend their winter breaks indoors and completely shutting out their families for the holidays.

(Featured Image by Activision)