Six of the best games to play over the holiday season

I don’t know about you, but I associate particular games with particular times of year. It feels wrong to play Dead or Alive Xtreme outside of the blazing heat of summer, for example — for reasons that are probably obvious — but it goes the other way, too; there are games that feel particularly right to play over the holiday season.

So that’s what we’re going to take a look at today! What are the best games to play when sitting in a nice (hopefully warm, but that’s hardly a given with the cost of living situation this year) living room, surrounded by the people you love the best? Let’s take a look!

Super Mario 3D World

Perhaps it’s because I still associate getting a new Nintendo console with the Christmas period, but it always just feels “right” to play Nintendo games over the holiday period. There’s something so joyfully wholesome about them that makes them a pleasure to play — and their accessibility makes them great games to enjoy with family and friends who perhaps aren’t quite as into gaming as you are.

Of all the relatively recent Super Mario games, Super Mario 3D World is one of my absolute favourites, for a variety of reasons. It has interesting and varied level designs, it has a fantastic soundtrack, it looks gorgeous and it’s a ton of fun whether you’re playing it solo or with up to three other people. In fact, playing it with other people makes it a markedly different experience to playing solo, so it’s worth giving it a try if you get the opportunity.

And with it being on Switch now, it’s easily portable and you don’t even need a Wii U. Winner.

DeathSmiles II

How about a shoot ’em up that is explicitly Christmas-themed? That’s exactly what DeathSmiles II from bullet hell maestros Cave offers. It’s a relatively rare example of a horizontally scrolling shoot ’em up from the company, as well as their first title to make use of polygonal visuals instead of sprites. And it’s great!

The Christmas vibe makes the whole game feel pretty welcoming, and the overall difficulty level of the experience is toned down a bit from its predecessor. The scoring system is still rather complicated and requires some study to truly master, but just clearing the game on its easier settings is likely within the reach of most shoot ’em up fans after a little bit of practice.

Plus all the bosses appear on the screen to the opening refrain from “Joy to the World”, which is simply delightful.

Atari 50

If you’re going to be spending Christmas in a room with several generations of people who at least have a passing familiarity with video gaming, Atari 50 is a great investment. Not only does it feature a variety of highly enjoyable games, many of which can be played by two or more players as well as solo, but it is also filled with nostalgic “museum” content, including photographs, videos and other interactive exhibits for everyone to enjoy.

There’s even a selection of “reimagined” games in the mix that allow you to get a nostalgic kick from games that feature modern design elements. Quadratank is sure to get some sparks flying if you get the whole family playing!

51 Worldwide Games

One of the most essential purchases for any Switch owner, 51 Worldwide Games might not sound all that exciting on paper, being a collection of board, card and toy games. But it’s executed with such wonderful care and attention to detail that it’s impossible not to be enraptured by the experience.

Everything has been designed with a wonderful sense of physicality, it’s easy to control even for those less familiar with consoles, and the games on offer run the gamut from simple, child-friendly games like War and Connect 4 to more complex strategic affairs like chess and shogi. Plus there’s no cleaning up required afterwards!

Perhaps best of all, though, is that if you have friends or family members with Switches but no copy of the game to call their own, they can download the free “Local Multiplayer Guest Edition” demo from the eShop and still play wireless multiplayer games with you.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection

Like Atari 50, this is another great collection of nostalgic games from Digital Eclipse, accompanied by some fun museum content including original manuals, box art, posters, comics and other virtual Turtles memorabilia. You don’t need to be a Turtles fan to appreciate it, though, because all the games in the collection are very solid in their own right — and the multiplayer nature of many of them make them ideal for playing over the holidays.

Of particular note are the original arcade versions of the first Turtles game and Turtles in Time, which support up to four players simultaneously, and the various console incarnations of Turtles beat ’em ups support simultaneous two-player action. For the competitive, there are also two takes on Turtles Tournament Fighters — which are actually notably different from one another — as well as the Game Boy and NES single-player titles for anyone who fancies some solo play.

Code: Realize ~Wintertide Miracles~

Finally, if you’re in the mood for a nice cosy visual novel, then Code: Realize’s second fandisc Wintertide Miracles is well worth your time, given that it’s heavily Christmas-themed. However, it is worth noting that the game makes extensive references to the events of both the original Code: Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~ and its follow-up ~Future Blessings~, and as such it’s best to have experienced both of those in their entirety first.

Still, since Code: Realize as a franchise is getting on a bit in video game terms, a lot of you will have doubtless experienced it already. If you haven’t, it’s well worth putting some time into, particularly if you enjoy steampunk and interesting takes on characters from popular literature. And if you have, Wintertide Miracles is the perfect way to enjoy some more time with these characters in a rather more warm and cosy scenario than the “main” narrative!

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