Make His Christmas Merry: Video Game Shopping Guide from Wives to Husbands

Shopping for men can be daunting, especially with Christmas quickly approaching. Most wives will openly admit to not having any idea about what to get their husbands. Most men, however, like to unwind after a long day by hitting a video game or two. So what would your husband absolutely love to see under the tree this year? Here's a list of some of the biggest games of 2010 that will make your better half's Christmas merry.

Top Games from 2010:

Final Fantasy XIV
This is the latest installment in the Final Fantasy series and was highly anticipated by the gamer community. With improved graphics, better gameplay, and an irresistible MMORPG format that is sure to entice all who loved the previous games, it's an easy choice for any gamer who is more into the roleplaying games. If your husband has played a previous Final Fantasy game, it's a safe bet to assume he's going to at least want to test run this one. Final Fantasy XIV is newly released and like many MMORPG's it is facing some interface and limitation issues, so it may be important to take that into account. Chances are it will be another half a year to a year before the game's full potential really blossoms. The one major drawback? The game costs $49.99 for the initial start-up and then another $12.99 per month after the first 30 days, which may be more than you really wanted to spend. All in all, though, it can be purchased at most major retailers. If you're not sure your husband would like this, a safer bet may be to pass on the PC version and wait until March 31, 2011 when a version for the PS3 is released.

Final Fantasy XIII:

Not sure your husband would like Final Fantasy XIV and wanting to wait and see if its ratings go up? Can't blame you, it's a solid choice. However, if your husband is still a Final Fantasy buff there's no reason to despair, there's another option. Also released this year, Final Fantasy XIII is for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 platforms and has actually received high ratings and reviews. The graphics are highly improved with a much more exciting battle system with amazingly well-liked characters. The one major drawback is how linear the game is, meaning the gamer doesn't have many chances to customize the gaming experience and explore the world. For many, this is a significant drawback, although some do certainly like the linear nature. Final Fantasy XIII can be purchased for $39.99 at any major retailer.

Fable III

This is the latest installment in the Fable series, meant for the Xbox 360, so if your husband has either of the first two he'll likely not want to miss the third. An enticing mixture of fighting, magic, roleplaying, and the ability to follow the gameplay as either a good character or an evil character makes it a game with a lot of potential and a lot of play time. Though it has gotten fairly high ratings, some gamers who loved the first two may be disappointed with the third. While Fable III does allow you to play as king or queen and make judicial decisions, a step up from the second, it also has significantly decreased gameplay and takes much less time to beat. There is nowhere near as many options, quests, customize-ability, or attraction as the first one, either. Overall, though, this is likely a game your husband will not want to miss if he's played the other two. It can be bought at all major retailers for $59.99.

Super Mario Bros. Wii:

A new take on a classic. Who doesn't look back fondly at memories of playing this game on the Super Nintendo? Mario is now revamped and ready to go, with plenty of high ratings to boot. The game was extremely well received in the gaming world, just what you would expect from Super Mario. There are 88 levels in the game as the gamer needs to play through to rescue Princess Peach, just as in the original. This game offers the chance for players to co-op, which can be a great experience and certainly adds to the gameplay. We all know that men never truly grow up, do they, so why not give your husband a gift that will take him back to yesterday? This game is available for $49.99 at all major retailers.

Halo: Reach:

Yet another first person shooter in the world of Halo to be released, but what guy doesn't like shooting things and blowing things up? This is perhaps the best game in the Halo series and received extremely high results to back it up. If your husband likes first person shooter games or has a previous Halo game, it's a safe bet he'll enjoy Halo: Reach. Reach offers a compelling co-op campaign mode with better graphics and slightly less repetitive scenery than in previous Halo games. The only big drawback about this game was the number of strange glitches during gameplay that a gamer could sometimes find themselves in. Still, that's not really reason enough to keep most people away. This game is available for the Xbox 360 for $59.99 at all major retailers.

How To Find Out What Games Your Husband Likes

For a woman who may not know very much about video games, it's sometimes hard to figure out exactly what your man might or might not like. Your safest bet is to wait when he's not home and raid his game cabinet. Take a piece of paper and write down what type of game each is. If he has a lot of first person shooter games, roleplaying games, strategy games, etc. it will become obvious. Also, sequels or continuations in a series can do wonders. If someone really enjoyed the first (or in the case of some games like Final Fantasy, the first 12) it's safe to say they'll be wanting to give the next one a try, too. Another great way is to watch your husband in the store to see if there are any games in particular that attract his attention or any that he picks up. This way, you get more of an idea of what he likes and he still is his old, oblivious self when it comes to your plans. Everyone wins.

Save A Little Money On Your Video Game Shopping

If you're really working on a tight budget or trying not to spend too much, you might consider buying used. Most men don't care whether they have a brand new game or one that's been used. Something to watch out for, though, is to make sure you buy your used game from a reputable dealer such as GameStop, who guarantees their game. Also, before you purchase the game ask to take a look at it and make sure there are no scratches or damages to the bottom of it before buying. It's not going to matter in the least bit to your husband how much it cost or whether it's been used before, he'll just be thrilled to have it.

Also keep an eye out for special deals that stores might have on video games. Sometimes around the holidays there may be sales on certain games or there might be in-store promotions. GameStop, for example, has the Power Up card, where you get points for every purchase you make. You can then exchange those points for gift cards and goodies. There is a free version of the card, but if you opt in for the $15 yearly subscription (which would depend on how much you or your husband would use it), you also get 10% off of used games, 10% bonus on trade-in credit, and a whole year's subscription of Game Informer magazine, which your husband might love just as much.