You’ve eaten too much, you’ve survived the family row, and you’ve opened your presents. The only thing left to do is play a game filled with Christmas cheer. That’s why we’ve compiled our list of top ten Christmas video games, each one bringing you a little slice of festivity.
Of course, if you don’t celebrate Christmas or need a break from it, these are also just some absolutely brilliant games.
The Elder Scrolls VI: Skyrim
The frozen lands of Skyrim await you, full of adventure, beautiful scenery, and dragons. One of the wonderful things about the Elder Scrolls series is you can mod to your hearts’ content. For example right now you can enjoy Saturalia, a mod found in the Creation Club which brings you a festive feast day.
Batman: Arkham Origins
Arkham Origins is a prequel to the other Arkham series, showing Batman meeting many of his rogues’ gallery for the first time. Set during a snowstorm (and crimewave) during Christmas in Gotham, it’s the perfect pick-me-up for a day spent overindulging.
Dota 2
Every year Dota 2 holds Frostivus, a celebration of everything frozen and this year is no exception. Usually kicking off in mid-December, Frostivus puts a festive spin on the MOBA juggernaut with new rewards and festive fun to take part in. Except, sometimes Frostivus is disrupted by Greevils…we have yet to see if that’ll be the case in this, the dark year of 2020.
Hitman 2
Christmas is in part about generosity, and Hitman 2 is incredibly generous. Not only do you get the game, but you get all the content IO Interactive added later, and if you own the original Hitman you can play all the levels in brand spanking Hitman 2-vision. Also Agent 47 is generous to a fault, giving the gift of death to all of his targets. How festive.
Shenmue
Shenmue features a meticulously detailed Japanese town for you to explore, and part of that is the weather and time of year. As the game drifts into Winter you’ll see snow seep into the world as well as roaming Father Christmas figures. Admittedly Santa Maeno is usually advertising a shop, but buying things is part of Christmas too!
Steep
Take a break from it all with a bit of snowboarding, paragliding, wingsuiting, or skiing. Steep is the alpine holiday of your dreams, and what’s better is that you don’t have to get cold to experience it. Pull off crazy stunts and beat your friends’ times on the slopes, it’s all part of your Christmas break.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light
Speaking of cold, there’s little colder in our solar system than the surface of Europa. Destiny 2: Beyond Light takes players to the frozen frontier of this icy moon, fighting against the Fallen at the edge of human existence. With a tonne of new content to explore and loads of exotic gear to pick up, Destiny 2: Beyond Light might be the video game time sink you need over the Christmas period.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
It’s quiet and you’re alone halfway up a mountain in the Himalayas, seeking treasure, tombs, and relics. Rise of the Tomb Raider is the sequel to 2012’s groundbreaking Tomb Raider reboot and it’s an improvement in every way. A particular joy is exploring its mountainous, frozen areas as you fight against the powers of darkness in the roof of the world.
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft explodes every December with the annual celebration of Winter Veil. New quests, decorations everywhere, and even presents to open on Christmas Day makes this a brilliant time to be playing. With the recent Shadowlands expansion bringing in tonnes of new players, this Winter Veil is sure to be a December to remember.
Xmas Lemmings
We end our list with a classic. Xmas Lemmings dates all the way back to 1991, featuring new levels for the hapless creatures each with a Christmas theme. Depending on the version you play you could have up to 32 levels of Christmas fun and frustration, making Xmas Lemmings a perfect stocking filler for anyone.
That’s it for us and our seasonal list of Christmas video games, what’s your favourite game to play over Christmas? Head over to our community forum and have your say.
