Happy Holidays, otherwise known as the cynical cycle of morbid consumerism and corporate greed! In that festive spirit, we put together a Holiday Buyer’s Guide.
As much as the movies will try to make you believe that the true meaning of Christmas is togetherness, we all know that it is really about millions of overworked parents handing over their hard-earned cash to mega-corporations in exchange for unnecessary junk to clutter up their children’s rooms.
Anyway, (on that cheery note,) below in our Holiday Buyer’s Guide, you will find a list of said unnecessary tat organized into categories along with links to the specific locations, which you can pour all of that overtime money into. Due to the corporations’ favorite pastime of excessive greed and underpaying their overworked staff, postal strikes are taking place up and down the country, meaning that this coming week is likely your last opportunity to guarantee that you will receive your branded garbage before the big day.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Holiday Buyer’s Guide – Games
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Let’s not mince, (pie,) our words here, Dying Light 2: Stay Human was borderline unplayable when it released earlier this year due to technical issues. Thankfully, in the ten months, since the game was first released, it is now in a playable state and is actually a very enjoyable experience. At the price it is currently being sold at, it is well worth picking up and earning a place on our Holiday Buyer’s Guide.
A code for Dying Light 2: Stay Human was provided to FandomWire by Techland.
The Quarry
If you miss good old Deputy Dewey from the Scream movies, then this one is for you, given that David Arquette makes an appearance and gives an almost identical performance. Here at FandomWire, we loved the game so much that we even wrote a piece on the reasons Why ‘The Quarry’ is the Best Video Game in its Genre.
A copy of The Quarry was provided to FandomWire by PremierComms.
New Tales from the Borderlands
Remember that awesome Borderlands spinoff game that Telltale Games dropped a number of years ago called Tales from the Borderlands? Well, a brilliant sequel to that game dropped this year. It may have somewhat flown under the radar, and it may not have been developed by Telltale, but this follow-up is still well worth any Borderlands fan’s time and earns a place on our Holiday Buyer’s Guide.
A copy of New Tales from the Borderlands was provided to FandomWire by PremierComms.
Resident Evil Village Gold Edition
Nothing quite says Christmas is like being chased through an Eastern European village by vicious lycans and ghouls. Whilst Resident Evil Village dropped back in 2021, the recently released Winter Expansion adds a plethora of exciting new features to the game. Additions such as the Shadows of Rose Story DLC and the option to replay the game in third-person make this an experience well worth revisiting. All of these features are included in the Gold Edition of the game, which earns it a spot on our Holiday Buyer’s Guide.
A code for Resident Evil Village Gold Edition was provided to FandomWire by Capcom.
Holiday Buyer’s Guide – Tech
Roccat Syn Max Air
This right here is a serious bit of kit. If you are okay with dropping a little over £200 on a new headset this Christmas, then you could do a LOT worse than the Roccat Syn Max Air. This absolute beast of a headset works best on PC, but can also be used on PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. It is undoubtedly one of the most comfortable headsets which I have ever worn.
The Roccat Syn Max Air was provided to FandomWire by Lick PR.
Roccat Kone XP Air
To go along with the glorious Roccat headset listed above, why not pick up an equally flashy, well-manufactured mouse to match? This responsive, wired mouse strikes the perfect balance between being agile and weighty. The LED lights on both devices can also be linked up using Roccat’s Swarm software.
The Roccat Kone XP Air was provided to FandomWire by Lick PR.
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2
Some may feel that paying more than 200 quid on a headset is excessive, which is perfectly understandable. If you fall into this camp – or if you happen to be more console-orientated – then the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 headset is for you. The fact that it is optimized for console use, paired with the premium grade noise-cancellation, makes this a fantastic option.
A Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 headset was provided to FandomWire by Lick PR.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2
If the price tag of the Stealth 700 is still too steep for you, then there is no shame in picking up the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2. This headset may be slightly older than its successor which we listed above, but it is still a fantastic option for console gamers. In our review of this headset, we ranted about how insanely comfortable the device was whilst delivering high-quality audio.
A Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 headset was provided to FandomWire by Lick PR.
Holiday Buyer’s Guide – Vinyl
Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Little Simz has been pretty unstoppable lately. I recently picked up a gorgeous white vinyl of 2021’s Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and have had it in rotation for the last few weeks. The way that Simz uses classical compositions as the foundations for the beat of each song leads to some gloriously euphoric moments which sound exquisite on vinyl. If you slept on this record last year, then let me assure you that it is well worth your time.
Kasabian – The Alchemist’s Euphoria
The Alchemist’s Euphoria is Kasabian’s first album released after the departure of former frontman; Tom Meighan. Don’t fret, though; this band has lost none of its energy or momentum. With Sergio Pizzorno (the band’s former guitarist) at the helm, they released this electronic-banger-filled record earlier this year to the delight of indie fans everywhere. This vinyl earns a spot on our Holiday Buyers Guide because everyone loves a festive living room rave.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen
Following his second extended hiatus, songwriting genius and godlike guitarist extraordinaire John Frusciante is once again a member of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. His return has clearly had a huge effect on the band’s output, given that they released not one, but two meaty records in 2022. And believe it or not, neither of them sound as though they were made by a band who have been together for four decades, with each of them bringing creatively fresh elements to the table. Both of these records more than earn their place on our Holiday Buyer’s Guide.
Jack White – Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive
Former White Stripe, Raconteur, and all-around blues/rock genius Jack White has also been a busy boy this year. The greatest thing about these two records is the variety which they offer. If you feel in the mood to head-bang to meaty synths and bluesy guitars, then Fear of the Dawn is the album for you. If you prefer some more acoustic introspection, then you can hear Jack masterfully pull off that sort of thing on Entering Heaven Alive.
Holiday Buyer’s Guide – Movies
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Did you get your fill of multiverse madness from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness? Is the idea of seeing Jamie Lee Curtis and Michelle Yeoh embrace with hot dog fingers disturbing to you? If the answer to both of these questions is no, then it is highly recommended that you pick up Everything Everywhere All at Once on Blu-Ray.
Sound Of Metal Criterion Collection Edition
Although this brilliantly tragic tale of a musician struggling to cope with the idea of losing his sense of hearing was first released in 2019, it has only just been added to The Criterion Collection in September of this year. This new edition of the movie, approved by the film’s director, earns a spot in our Holiday Buyer’s Guide.
The Infernal Affairs Trilogy Criterion Collection Edition
Did you enjoy the sinister but heartfelt performance by Tony Leung Chiu-wai in last year’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings? Have you ever wondered where Martin Scorsese got the idea for The Departed? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then The Criterion Collection Edition of The Infernal Affairs Trilogy is highly recommended. The best thing about this recently released version is that the entire trilogy is included, telling the deceit-ridden story.
Holiday Buyer’s Guide – Statues/Figures
The Batman Hot Toys Figure
The Batman was one of the most celebrated comic book movies released in 2022, and this figure manages to carry that movie’s cool, gothic tone. This would be a glorious addition to any bookshelf or desk area. The fact that it is such a detailed model whilst remaining a poseable figure is also a nice bonus.
90s Cartoon Cyclops
Since we have included a DC figure in our Holiday Buyer’s Guide, then I guess that it is only fair to include a Marvel figure too. This recently released Cyclops toy bears the character’s look in the classic 90’s cartoon and has some great articulation to boot.
Solid Snake Statue
Snake? Snake… Snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake! This grossly overpriced statue is available now and is admittedly one of the coolest things I have ever seen as a Metal Gear Solid fan.
Happy Holidays!
And that is our Holiday Buyer’s Guide for this year. What do you think of the products that we included? Was there anything that caught your eye in particular? Let us know in the comments section below, and from everyone at FandomWire, have a very Happy Holidays!
