Traditionally speaking, December can often be a quieter month in the gaming world.
While the mad dash for Christmas is very much on and everyone is looking for something to gift the gamer in their lives, the vast majority of noteworthy releases usually target an October or November release.
With that said, if you somehow haven’t been interested in the embarrassment of riches available in those months this year, December still has a few surprises in store for you as a PS5 gamer.
Here are the best PS5 games hitting the shelves in December 2023!
The Lost Legends of Redwall: The Scout Anthology (December 1st)
There appears to be some confusion regarding the exact release date of this narrative puzzle-adventure collection, with official trailers stating December 1st as the release date but some outlets appearing to place the date later in the month.
We’re taking the official word as gospel here, so hopefully, you can expect to play The Lost Legends of Redwall: The Scout Anthology early in December.
This plucky puzzle collection brings together the three acts originally released between 2018 and 2021, allowing you to play through Sophia and Liam’s tale without any interruptions.
If you’re a fan of the world of Redwall, well, you’ve probably already experienced this game, but if you haven’t, it’s another story in the Redwall series, so what’s not to love?
SteamWorld Build (December 1st)
The SteamWorld games are known for two things: high quality and genre experimentation.
Whether it’s the Metroidvania stylings of SteamWorld Dig or the tactical combat of SteamWorld Heist, you know you’re getting an interesting product when it bears the SteamWorld name.
SteamWorld Build looks to continue that philosophy with aplomb. It’s a city-builder that adopts SteamWorld’s unique steampunk-Western aesthetic, as well as its folksy dialogue and narrative style.
Your planet is dying, and you must dig deep beneath the earth in order to uncover resources that could help you build a way to escape your predicament. Be careful, though, because there might be something down there that doesn’t want you around…
Disney Dreamlight Valley (December 5th)
You may have a memory of Disney Dreamlight Valley already hitting the PS5, and you wouldn’t be wrong in that.
However, in December, the game will finally exit Early Access and get a full release, and what’s more, developer Gameloft has made the (rather sensible) decision for Disney Dreamlight Valley to remain a premium product.
That does mean you’ll still have to pay for it if you haven’t already, but it should also hopefully ensure that the cosy life sim doesn’t become overwhelmed by free-to-play microtransactions and cash-grab opportunities.
If you haven’t played Disney Dreamlight Valley yet, you’re in for a treat; it’s a beautiful paean to all things Disney, and it should launch with lots of content to keep you busy.
Arizona Sunshine 2 (December 7th)
This one’s strictly for the PlayStation VR2 owners, we’re afraid, so if you haven’t yet signed up for the glorious world of the virtual reality future, then you’ll have to give this one a miss.
Arizona Sunshine 2 is a zombie apocalypse action game in which you must slay hordes of the undead alongside your four-legged friend Buddy.
If you’ve ever fantasised about hacking apart legions of slavering zombies with weapons like shotguns, flamethrowers, and machetes, then look no further than Arizona Sunshine.
PlayStation VR2 promises to make this one an unforgettable experience thanks to its high resolution displays and immersive controllers, too.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (December 7th)
Say what you will about the world of James Cameron’s Avatar movies; they are, at least, extremely immersive, and a video game seems like the perfect way to experience them.
Hopefully, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will prove us right on that front. It’s developed by Ubisoft, and it looks to feature many of the classic trappings of a Ubisoft-style open-world game.
In essence, what you seem to be getting here is Far Cry pushed through the gorgeous and expansive filter of the Avatar series, so if that sounds appealing, then you’ll find lots to love here.
Naturally, if you’re not a Ubisoft fan, then you may want to look elsewhere, but who knows? Avatar’s gorgeous visuals and alien landscapes might be the hook that draws you in.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (December 7th)
December 7th is turning out to be a very busy day indeed for PS5 gamers, isn’t it? You should have plenty of choice no matter what your particular gaming preference happens to be.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is, believe it or not, a CRPG set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. You play as – you guessed it – a rogue trader, roaming the lawless Koronus Expanse in search of opportunities for profit.
You can choose to engage with the world of Rogue Trader however you like. Will you enforce the will of the glorious God-Emperor, or will you search for ways to undermine his rule?
Whatever you decide to do, you’ll be accompanied by a cadre of party members from disparate backgrounds, including “righteous heroes, twisted psykers, and perfidious xenos”, according to the Steam page.
Developer Owlcat Games is best known for the Pathfinder series, so if you like the studio’s development style and you’ve been looking for something immersive to sink your teeth into, Rogue Trader looks like it’s going to fit the bill very nicely.