Recently I did a top 5 list on Christmas-themed levels, though sometimes a level isn’t enough. So this time we will be looking at My Top 5 Video Games To Play On Christmas:
5. James Pond II: Codename Robocod
If you haven’t heard of the James Pond series, I wouldn’t blame you. The series never got the same recognition as other platformers during its time and its sequel is often overlooked as a Christmas game. So how does this game fit in with Christmas? The story follows James Pond, who finds himself going against his rival Dr. Maybe who has taken over Santa’s Workshop. While doing so, the evil Doctor also took Santa’s workers hostage and turned them into evil minions. Players will go across 50 platforming levels in order to stop Dr. Maybe and help save Santa and his workshop. The game is a lot of fun and adds a lot of fun twists to your average platformer. The music is festive and the vibrant backgrounds are full of candy canes and other Christmas themes. You also get a robotic suit but that’s just another reason to play it. It was originally released for the Amiga and later released for the Super Nintendo in the United States. The game shouldn’t be hard to find because since its release it has found its way onto over 16 consoles as well as onto the PlayStation Network store. If you’re looking for a game to get you into the holiday spirit, you can’t go wrong with this one.
4. Santa Claus Saves The Earth
Another fun platformer, this PlayStation title will have you in the Christmas mood in no time. It’s one day before Christmas and thousands of children are awaiting Santa’s arrival, but something goes horribly wrong. As Jolly ol’ Saint Nick is preparing the presents, a fairy named Nilam gets ahold of our red-suited hero and teleports him to a magical land. It’s up to you to control Santa and help him escape the land all while fighting off a variety of enemies using snowballs and other weapons. It’s also pretty bizarre, but that doesn’t hurt how fun the game can be. If you’re wanting a game that gives you the feeling of saving Christmas as Santa himself, this one will be perfect for this season — even if the Christmas theme is kind of strange.
3. Daze Before Christmas
Once again we have another platformer and once again Santa must reclaim his workshop that has been taken over by an evil team of bad guys. Assuming the role of Santa Claus, players must collect presents and battle crazy enemies — gigantic rats, evil toys, and snowmen who use their decapitated heads as weapons. Though it gets crazier than that. Santa can pick up a cup of coffee which will turn him into the infamous Anti-Claus, which then allows him to use his bag of toys as a weapon. The best part about the game is the music, which often opens very cheerily but then uniquely changes throughout your gameplay experience as Anti-Claus. If you play this game during Christmas, you will not regret it.
2. Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams…
This is more of an expansion than it is a complete game, but it deserves a spot on this list. As if Sega’s NiGHTS into Dreams… wasn’t beautiful and colorful enough, the platformer for the Sega Saturn got a two-level Christmas expansion. The game uses the Saturn’s internal clock and depending on if you play it in December, you will see the seasonal change. The environments will go from green grass to snow, the characters will be in elf costumes, and the music is replaced with the song ‘Jingle Bells’. If you’re hankering for a game that ultimately gives you the feeling and happiness of Christmas, this is your winner. Though it is an expansion of the real game, this standalone add-on will deliver through the detail that was put into it. Just good luck finding it as it can be difficult to grab online.
1. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
When doing this list I found two things: One was that there was a lot of Christmas-themed Commodore games, and two, that there’s a lot of Christmas-themed Wii games. After looking for a while, I finally found this wonderful party game that’s perfect for the whole family. The Wii title includes 13 holiday-themed activities for hours of Christmas gaming. There’s even unlockables like an Advent Calendar and a mode that lets you write letters to Santa. It’s a great game to play with the family and even allows up to 4-players in every game and activity. One game, Hot Chocolate, is your typical memory game — keeping elves warm by pouring and giving out mugs of hot chocolate. Other fun games are Candy Cane Lanes, a bowling game, and Present Catch where you play as an elf that catches presents and avoids obstacles with the Wii remote. The games are pretty basic and don’t require much skill to play, but when it comes to the joy and the feeling of Christmas, this one is the perfect choice. It’s far from the games I mentioned above, sure, but you can’t tell me that a game that lets you decorate a living room, put ornaments on a tree, and sing along to popular Christmas carols, isn’t the perfect Christmas video game.
So there you have it, My Top 5 Video Games To Play On Christmas. Any of these 5 games will put you right into the holiday spirit. Have any other games you’d rather see on this list? Let me know in the comments section below! Also be sure to check out my other top 5 list, My Top 5 Christmas Video Game Levels. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
AJ Eaton is a writer for The Game Bolt and likes to make YouTube videos on his spare time. He is also an amiibo fanatic and is on a quest to collect them all. Although owning many systems, his heart is truly devoted to the Nintendo 64. Add him on Twitter and Twitch!