The Best Christmas Themed Games To Play This Holiday Season

Christmas is the most magical time of the year, and sometimes you just can’t get enough of it. Even after visiting Christmas markets, putting up their decorations, and watching Home Alone, some people just want more holiday goodness in their lives. Thankfully, video games are here to save the day.

There may not be a ton of them, but there’s a niche selection of games that all take place around the Christmas season.

If you want to escape to far-away fantasy worlds that all embrace the tradition of the holidays, all while killing, jumping, and reaching high scores, here are ten Christmas-themed games you don't want to miss out on.

Best Christmas-Themed Games To Play This Holiday

Dead Rising 4

Let’s start with the most obvious - Dead Rising 4! Every game in the franchise has been built around consumerism, but this takes it to a whole new level with a less cynical spin and more emphasis on what makes the series fun - zombie-killing mayhem!

While you won’t be spending your time Christmas shopping, you'll be smashing, crashing, and dashing your way through a shopping center and the surrounding area.

The entire game is wrapped in a Christmas makeover, with trees, decorations, and even festive weapons to utilize. It may not be the best entry in the franchise, but it definitely captures the magic of Christmas.

Die Hard Trilogy

What's better than one game for Christmas? Three, of course! With the Die Hard Trilogy, you not only get the classic original film, but also tie-ins to Die Hard 2: Die Harder and Die Hard with a Vengeance. Each game has its own unique gameplay mechanics, but it's the original game where you’ll get your Christmas fix.

If you’ve always wanted to step into the shoes of John McClane as he attempts to rescue the hostages of Nakatomi Plaza, then you're in luck.

This third-person shooter puts you in that very role as you fight through enemies in order to save the day and be home for the holiday. For those wanting a more action-packed Christmas adventure, this is the perfect title to play.

Saints Row IV

While the whole game may not be based around the holiday season, one particular expansion known as How the Saints Save Christmas does - and it’s a really enjoyable adventure. If you've rinsed everything you can out of the base game, this is a fantastic addition.

Each mission is a riff on a classic Christmas story, such as a Miracle on 34th Street and The Night Before Christmas. Obviously, each has a bit more going on in it than a simple Christmas narrative, allowing you to use an assortment of festive-themed weapons to take down enemies such as elves.

You also get to drive around in the sleigh, and that's worth the price of admission alone!

Bully

Bully may not occur entirely throughout the Christmas period, but as with any school season, you get to experience all the festive wonders as part of the story.

Roughly halfway through, Christmas descends on the home of Bullworth Academy, and with it, Bully really encapsulates that feeling of the season while you were at school.

With snowball fights, snowmen, and lights decorated around Bullworth Academy and the surrounding areas, you'll be tempted not to press forward with the game to simply take everything in.

Bully does a brilliant job of making you feel festive, even if it's only for one chunk of the game.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge

There's an argument about whether The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween or Christmas film, but to put that argument to bed, it's definitely a Christmas film.

As for the game, it takes place after the original film and puts players in the shoes of Jack Skellington - the hero of the series. As for the gameplay, it may shock you to know this is Disney's take on the Devil May Cry series, as you battle your way through over 20 chapters - each with enemies and platforming challenges to overcome.

You're even graded at the end of each level on your performance. If you want something a bit more hands-on this holiday season, The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge could be a perfect choice.

Yakuza Kiwami

If you've never played the Yakuza series, not only is Yakuza Kiwami the perfect entry point (being a remake of the first game in the series), but it also takes place during the festive season. The hard-boiled narrative allows for many moments of levity as you explore the fictional Japanese town of Kamurocho. 

Stores have their decorations up and are blasting Christmas music as you enter. As you beat gangs to a pulp on the streets, the sound of bells can be heard ringing in the background, adding a nice enchanting feeling to the violence.

It also helps that Yakuza Kiwami has a killer story that will no doubt have you tracking down the rest of the games in the series.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales may not be the straight-up successor to the original game, but it's more than just an expansion. Set around the holidays, it follows the story of Miles as Peter leaves New York on vacation and puts him in charge of protecting the city. Of course, things go turbo very quickly.

There's nothing quite like swinging through New York and combined with the snow and Christmas decorations, it makes it feel even more magical than the original game did. It's the perfect title to pop in and play around a warm fire, mixing superhero antics with a heartfelt story. 

Batman: Arkham Origins

The Arkham series has a habit of having its stories take place over one night, and Batman: Arkham Origins is no different. Set on one Christmas Eve, Batman is faced with multiple assassins tracking him down as a $50 million bounty has been placed on his head.

Much like Die Hard is a film about a man wanting to get home for the holidays, Batman: Arkham Origins feels the same. All of the classic Arkham gameplay is here, with you solving crimes, exploring Gotham, and beating down loads of thugs, but the constant snowfalls and impending knowledge that Christmas is on the way raise the stakes and make for one of the most intriguing narratives in the series.

Bayonetta 2

In the opening segment of Bayonetta 2, our titular hero is Christmas shopping and prepping for an upcoming party, but of course, things go south very quickly. It’s not the first game you think of when you think of Christmas, but Bayonetta 2 uses the season in some clever and quirky ways.

It also helps that Bayonetta 2 is regarded as one of the best action games of all time, providing thrilling set pieces and exhilarating combat to sink your teeth into. With it residing on the Nintendo Switch these days, there’s nothing quite like having a cup of hot chocolate, snuggling up in bed, and tackling the adventure that is Bayonetta 2.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

If you really want to drag out the Christmas season as much as possible, you can't go far wrong with Animal Crossing: New Horizons. As the big day approaches, you'll find your island is getting into the swing of things, with snowfall and villagers preparing for the main event.

You can also get involved too! As you progress through December, you can use the time to decorate your home with decorations, hand out presents, and then, come back for Christmas Day and join in the festive celebrations with your favourite characters.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched at a time when everyone needed escapism, and it still does its job to this very day.