Every Christmas, we decorate our trees, get the house looking festive and settle in for one of the Socially Approved Christmas Films from the list. But does anyone ever think about delving into these games that really nail the feeling of Christmas at this time of year? We’ve put together our favorites for the 12 games of Christmas, but have neglected to fashion them into some sort of carol to sing. We’ll try harder next year.
The Division
Set in a post-biological attack New York, The Division is almost the epitome of Christmas: snowy streets, strings of LEDs, fear of human contact and department stores are murder! It’s a bit of an easy sell since there’s so many Christmas trees scattered throughout the evacuated metropolis. But the eerie abandoned atmosphere sometimes gives way to us thinking about whether this crowd-less appreciation of downtown Manhattan might not be a better way to celebrate the holidays. That’s our inner supervillain talking and we try not to listen.
Dead Rising 4
Playing off The Division’s apocalyptic xmas, Dead Rising 4 goes for the more authentic experience of last-minute Christmas shopping with a throng of mindless zombies. They also happen to be undead, but otherwise it’s an almost identical simulation. This might not be Frank’s best adventure, and the years appear to have changed him somehow, but it’s still your classic improvised weaponry in a mall situation. You’ll need all the knifed-up boxing gloves you can find to pick up that last Tickle Me Elmo.
Batman: Arkham Origins
Frigid cities and snowy streets full of thugs really bring out the best in our Christmas memories department, and Gotham’s decked out halls go one step further. Taking its cues from the 1992 Tim Burton movie Batman Returns, Arkham Origins also brings a darkly gothic Christmas soundtrack full of sombre bells and haunting organs, even riffing on the classic Carol of the Bells for Joker’s theme. They should have taken another leaf from Burton and called it The Dark Knightmare Before Christmas, eh? Come on, that one’s solid, don’t leave.
Bully
It’s likely not many people have nostalgic memories of boarding school at Christmas time, but Bully does at least nail the childhood experience at this time of year. Snowball fights, snowmen and decorations – not that everyone had a secret fort to string up tinsel in – are everything to the non-nog-drinkers at the holidays. It’s worth going back to Rockstar’s schoolyard GTA-alike this December if you’re pining for simpler times.
Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal
If you’re looking for some more adult Christmas cheer, Hitman: Blood Money’s best level, You Better Watch Out, is the one for you – and luckily it has just been re-released in Blood Money Reprisal, available even on Android and iOS. Tasked with taking out the son of a senator during a debauched Christmas party at his chalet, you can disguise yourself as the man in red himself to get the job done. There’s plenty of Christmas atmosphere to get you in the mood for giving while you get busy taking.
Die Hard Trilogy
Everyone is limbering up for the eternal debate at this time of year: is Die Hard a Christmas film? But they’re forgetting all about whether Die Hard is a Christmas game. There’s no debate here, though, as taking out terrorists in Nakatomi Plaza’s decked out lobby, or the tree-lined arrivals lounge of Dulles International are as festive as game settings come. Die Hard Trilogy’s mix-up of genres across the three original film adaptations is already enough reason to go back and play again, but this time of year is the perfect excuse.
Christmas NiGHTS Into Dreams
Back before games could get away with a 200MB patch that put santa hats on chickens, Sega went all in on the festive update by dropping a Christmas-themed sampler disc for the recently released NiGHTS Into Dreams. For the winter of 1996, this limited edition demo for the Sega Saturn featured a rendition of Jingle Bells and Claris, Elliot and NiGHTS wore Santa costumes. The demo was timelocked so playing outside of the November-January window simply launched a Limited Edition version of the normal demo, and playing on Christmas Day itself granted Spring Valley a visit from Santa himself.
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
There's something about Manhattan in winter that really brings out the Holiday cheer, and what better way to see a snowy New York City than swinging by at 80mph suspended between the 80th floors of two skyscrapers? Miles Morales also features a heart-warming story of finding oneself and is full of the sort of community spirit we like to see around this time of year. Become the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man you've always wanted to be.
Killing Floor 2
Indie developers have continued the long tradition of tweaking their games for the holiday period, but none more dedicated than Tripwire Interactive’s Killing Floor 2 which has run a Christmas event for over a decade now. You might argue there’s nothing festive about exploding zombs in a shower of blood and gore but what is Christmas without a little red splashed around the place?
Viscera Cleanup Detail
This makes perfect sense if you think of it almost as a direct consequence of the previous game's Christmas party, cleaning up after Killing Floor players dressed as Santa have finished their spree. The added Santa’s Rampage level really adds to the roleplay experience with elf and reindeer parts scattered across the toy workshop for you to methodically and cathartically clean away. Perfect training for the wrapper cleanup operation on Christmas morning after you’ve torn into all the presents under the tree.
PowerWash Simulator
If that's a little too much gore for your cleaning tastes, then PowerWash Simulator has a similarly themed new free DLC in which you clean up Santa's Workshop after the elves have made a mess. A nice, methodical, calming way to get through the stress of the Holidays.
Super Mario Odyssey
If you’re getting a Switch for Christmas you’ll be very pleased to know that Mario Odyssey already has your Christmas-themed level needs covered. Shiveria, the Snow Kingdom, features delightful knitwear on the locals, and santa hats for the baddies and a sleigh-bell soundtrack throughout. Come for the cosy timber interiors but stay for the weird seal-ball races.