Games Released in December 1999

699 new games debuted in December 1999, with PlayStation being the most active platform. December 16 was the busiest day, with 30 releases. Planescape: Torment was the most popular release of the month.

Which days had the most releases?

December 22 saw the most activity with 30 releases.

30 releases

December 22

30 releases

December 16

28 releases

December 1

26 releases

December 9

How did each week compare?

The first week of December was the busiest with 83 releases.

Week 1 (December 1–7)

83 releases

Most popular release in Week 1

Quake III Arena

Quake III Arena is a first-person shooter built around competitive multiplayer combat. Unlike earlier entries in the Quake series, it has no story-driven campaign, and its single-player mode instead pits the player against computer-controlled bots across a series of increasingly difficult arenas. Matches take place in maps that mix gothic and technological architecture, with weapons and power-ups spawning at fixed points that players fight to control. Movement techniques such as strafe-jumping and rocket-jumping are central to high-level play. Game modes include free-for-all deathmatch, team deathmatch, one-on-one tournament duels, and capture the flag, and the game supports network and internet play along with extensive customization and modding.

Week 2 (December 8–14)

62 releases

Most popular release in Week 2

Planescape: Torment

A CRPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons setting of Planescape in which The Nameless One, an immortal amnesiac, sets off on a quest across the infinite Planes and gathers a party of conflicted companions to find out who he is and reclaim his mortality. Throughout it, he faces the consequences of the horrors he committed in his past lives and tries to find the root of all the torment plaguing his companions and the Planes.

Week 3 (December 15–21)

68 releases

Most popular release in Week 3

Mario Party 2

Mario and the gang are back for another round of Bowser-bashin' party action! Watch as your favorite Nintendo characters don different duds for each of the five all-new Adventure Boards! A slew of new tricks and devices bring new levels of challenge and excitement to board game play. New board maps, new Mini-Games, new action and new surprises means a whole new batch of fun! Get ready to unleash your best Hip Drops, hammer swings and high-flying high junks for another round of frenzied multi-player action!

Week 4 (December 22–28)

66 releases

Most popular release in Week 4

Valkyrie Profile

Valkyrie Profile is a role-playing video game developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix (now Square Enix) for the PlayStation. It was released on December 22, 1999 in Japan and on August 29, 2000 in North America. An enhanced port of the game was later released for the PlayStation Portable under the name Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth on March 2, 2006 in Japan, July 18, 2006 in North America, and April 27, 2007 in Europe.

Week 5 (December 29–31)

30 releases

Most popular release in Week 5

Shenmue

"He shall appear from a far Eastern land across the sea. A young man who has yet to know his potential. This potential is a power that can either destroy him, or realize his will. His courage shall determine his fate. The path he must traverse, fraught with adversity, I await whilst praying. For this destiny predetermined since ancient times... A pitch, black night unfolds with the morning star as its only light. And thus the saga, begins..." This first chapter of Shenmue kicks off Yu Suzuki's cinematic Dreamcast tour-de-force, an exploration-heavy adventure that has players immerse themselves in Yokosuka, Japan. Players slip into the role of a young martial artist named Ryo Hazuki, who is on the trail of his father's killer. On the way, players must talk with hundreds of characters, engage in martial arts battles, and marvel at the realistic depiction of the Japanese coastal town.

Which platforms saw the most releases?

PlayStation received 95 new titles in December 1999. The runner up was PC with 60 new titles.

PlayStation95 releases

PC60 releases

Game Boy Color47 releases

Dreamcast36 releases

Nintendo 6426 releases

Arcade13 releases

WonderSwan10 releases

Neo Geo Pocket Color6 releases

Mac5 releases

64DD2 releases

What genres were most popular?

Adventure was the dominant genre in December 1999 with 48 titles. Role-playing followed closely with 42.

Adventure48

Role-playing42

Sport35

Shooter32

Simulator29

Strategy29

Puzzle28

Platform27

Racing25

Fighting24

1999 Review

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