IT"S CHRISTMAS! A time for being with loved ones, for good will to all men, for conking out in front of the telly after a massive roast dinner and cocktailing the new Wallace & Gromit with the Doctor Who Christmas special. And, of course, it's a time for toys and games — which is something we here at Empire know a thing or two about. Oh yeah, we don't just do movies and TV here, people! Together, our team have curated a guide to the biggest, best, and — most importantly — coolest toys and games that belong under your tree this year. From movie-inspired LEGO sets and TV-based action figures to the latest games for PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch (not to mention good old-fashioned board and card games too!), we've got you covered. Take a look at our 2024 toys and games gift guide below, and remember: while Christmas is a time for giving, you are still allowed to treat yourself, too! Dibs on the Jaws diorama!
LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion
As a wise Professor once sort-of said, “To me, my LEGO X-Men: The X-Mansion!” If, like us, you’ve ever dreamt of enrolling at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, then this X-Men '97 modular set is about as close as you’ll ever get. And it’s even got the pieces to recreate the Wolverine Crush meme! Snikt! Snikt!
Star Wars: The Acolyte – Black Series Figures
The Acolyte may be gone far too soon. But any Star Wars fan who wanted more from Osha and Mae can continue the story (or, pretend half of their faves didn’t die) with these Black Series figures. The Jedi – like Sol, Indara, Yord and Jecki – have real fabric robes, Osha comes with her Pip droid, and Mae wields her signature knives.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC
Corrupt Gods, elite assassins, labyrinthine cities, and vast expanses await in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the gargantuan latest instalment in BioWare and EA's fantasy RPG franchise. Pick a class — Warrior, Mage, Rogue — and dive right in. But be warned: There be dragons!
Horrified: Universal Monsters Board Game
The Universal Monsters remain some of cinema’s greatest icons – and they’re all unleashed in a themed version of Horrified. Choose to play as Frankenstein, the Bride Of Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, the Creature From The Black Lagoon, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, or Dracula. Bagsy being the Bride!
Star Wars Outlaws
Platforms: PS5 and Xbox Series X
The Force may be strong with Star Wars Outlaws, but make no mistake — this one’s for anyone who grew up wishing they were Han, not Luke. An open-world action-adventure that has you playing as underdog anti-hero Kay Vess, Outlaws is the kind of game that’ll have you dodging stormtrooper blaster fire one moment, and shooting the breeze in a cantina, picking up a side-hustle for your side-hustle the next. You’ll love it. We know.
LEGO Jaws Diorama
Cage go in the LEGO. You go in the LEGO. Shark’s in the LEGO. Our shark. Spielberg’s toothy masterpiece gets an ultra-displayable brick build, with the Orca boat, minifigures of Hooper, Brody and Quint, and a full buildable shark. As you hand it over, be sure to say: “Smile you son-of-a…”
Astro Bot
Move over, Mario — a new platforming king just entered the game! One of the best exclusives the PS5 has to offer, Astro Bot is as much an Easter Egg stuffed love letter to the PlayStation as it is an all-dashing, all-swinging, all-rocket punching galactic romp through 50+ planets filled with fiendish puzzles and memorable VIP bots. For an out of this world gaming experience, Astro Bot should be on everyone's wishlist this Christmas.
Final Cut – Evolution Of Horror Card Game
From the minds behind the Evolution Of Horror podcast, this card game isn’t a quiz – it’s a race to collect and create your very own horror movie, accessible to those who don’t know their Freddy from their Jason. Just try not to murder each other while you play.
Dungeons & Dragons: 2024 Core Rule Books
Did you watch Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves last year and think, “I fancy a slice of that fantasy pie?” Well then why don’t you hit the books — the D&D Players and Dungeon Masters Rulebooks, that is — and teach yourself how to play the original and best roleplaying game around? Roll a D20 for Persuasion…
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Square Enix's jaw-dropping next-gen reimagining of the classic Final Fantasy VII continues with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which catches up with Cloud and co following their escape from Midgar. As you seek out Sephiroth, a whole, luscious world is yours for the exploration — so grab a copy, hitch a ride on a chocobo, and lose yourself in the greatest version of one of the greatest games of all time.
LEGO Star Wars: R2-D2
Beep boop! The legendary tin-can droid gets a shelf-ready buildable version here, perfect for old-school and new-school Star Wars fans alike. Really want to make their day? The C-3PO set is in proportion to this R2, so you can pose the old pals together. Oh, my!
Sonic X Shadow Generations
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Part remaster of 2011's Sonic Generations, part all-new Shadow The Hedgehog adventure, Sonic X Shadow Generations delivers on both 2D and 3D Sonic platforming thrills while essentially delivering two games for the price of one. Gotta go fast — to put this in your basket and become some lucky gamer's favourite person come Christmas morning.
Scream: The Game
What’s your favourite scary movie… turned into a party game… from the good people at Funko? Well, Ghostface, that just so happens to be Scream: The Game. Take a group of pals to Woodsboro and try not to get skewered. Whatever you do, don’t say “I’ll be right back”.
Silent Hill 2
At Christmastime, when the nights are cold and dark and long, what better gift could you possibly give somebody than the newly remade Silent Hill 2? The ultimate in psychological survival horror, Konami's return to Silent Hill, the foggy town where poor protagonist James heads in search of his dearly departed wife Maria, is so profoundly chilling that you'll soon forget how cold it is outside. *Shudder*
LEGO Star Wars: The Onyx Cinder
This December, brand new Star Wars adventure Skeleton Crew blasts off on Disney+. And you can hyperspace-jump its all-new ship the Onyx Cinder right under your Christmas tree, complete with minifigures of its young crew. Yes, including elephant-boy Neel.
Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
A first-person, single player, cinematic Indiana Jones game set between the events of Raiders Of The Lost Ark and The Last Crusade? Featuring the vocal stylings of Troy 'Joel from The Last Of Us' Baker and the late, great Tony Todd? Which gives you free rein to crack Indy's whip whenever and however often you like? Maybe the real treasure is the Indiana Jones And The Great Circle we buy along the way.
Magic: The Gathering Foundations Beginner Box
With so many different sets, expansions, and lore to dig into, figuring out where to start with Magic: The Gathering can be a bit daunting. So if you think a Planeswalker is just a weird name for an air hostess, then this Foundations Beginner Box — which comes with two different hands-on guided deck experiences, reference booklet, playmats, and a bunch of bonus packs — is the perfect place to start. Magic!