The holiday season is in full swing for gamers this year, and it is the perfect time to play games that harken to the festive season. Whether it is for the Nintendo Switch, PC, or PlayStation and Xbox consoles, there are plenty of games that give players a taste of holiday cheer. With games like Stardew Valley or Kingdom Hearts, a holiday setting is part of the gameplay, and a frolic in the snow is required to continue on through the game. However, there are other games tucked away with DLC or cute snowy towns that players may want to consider visiting.
When the holiday season comes around, it would seem that the best way to engage in the holiday themed gameplay is through seasonal events like in Animal Crossing or Pokémon GO. However, there are plenty of titles that don’t stick to December community events to offer players the chance to enjoy a decorated tree or a festive dinner table. While are nice to participate in, they can also be limiting to those who want holiday spirit other times of the year or as part of the main story’s narrative. By creating a chilly setting players can enjoy all year long, like winter expansion pack The Sims 4: Snowy Escape, there is no limit to the holiday fun.
Games that offer a holiday-themed level range in playstyles. Players can find a candy cane or holiday wreath lurking in the most unsuspecting of genres. However, the games below offer players a selection that specifically laces the holiday levels into the main story or as a well-rounded DLC, and not just as a snowy themed weapon seen in Fortnite’s holiday event. From quests with kittens to a festive cookbook, these titles will allow players a chance to enjoy the spirit of the holidays any time of year.
Kingdom Hearts II – Halloween Town
Kingdom Hearts fans get a real taste of the holiday spirit when they return to Halloween Town in KH2, where Jack the Pumpkin King has decided that he wants to again attempt Christmas. Kingdom Heart’s Sora, Donald, and Goofy must then accompany Jack to Christmas Town, where Jack hopes to attain Santa Claus’ blessing in delivering presents for the holiday.
However, thanks to a returning villain, things don’t go as planned, and the player must then help fix everything before it is too late, and toys aren’t able to be delivered to the good boys and girls of Santa’s nice list.
Cat Quest – Merry Kitmas Quest
Cat Quest has added a holiday expansion that revolves around Kitmas. These side-quests are activated from the Queen Resort, sending players on a journey to save Kitmas. On the quest, players will battle Snowcats and Santa Claws in order to rescue Santa Paws.
There are five quests available that range from level 15 to level 75, and players receive special armor and a weapon that looks like a Christmas tree. Cat Quest‘s story unravels through the completion of quests but not all need to be completed to finish the narrative, so while the holiday story does feel optional, it is there for anyone who wants to battle in the name of holiday spirit.
Stardew Valley – Feast of the Winter Star
Farming sim fans get to celebrate the holiday season during winter in Stardew Valley. On the 18th of Winter, the player will receive a letter from the Mayor with the name of a townsperson the player will need to get a gift for. Players will bring that gift to do an exchange with their secret Santa for the year. The festival takes place on the 25th between 9AM and 10PM and will take the player’s entire day, so check those winter crops and milk the cows before heading to town. Completing the Secret Santa Stardew Valley event each year boosts a player’s relationship with the character they bring the gift to.
Overcooked: Gourmet Edition – The Festive Seasoning
Fans of the game Overcooked can also enjoy the holiday season with the DLC pack ‘The Festive Seasoning’ for Overcooked: Gourmet Edition. For those wanting to cook in style with holiday flare, the DLC pack includes seasonal map, a winter lodge theme, a snowman and reindeer chef, new recipes, and the ability to cook using a flamethrower. Gamers who enjoy the art of a kitchen management simulation can get this Overcooked DLC free so long as the base game has already been purchased.
Undertale – Snowdin
Another game that has a snowy theme level is Undertale. The town of Snowdin is accessible once the player leaves the Ruins and journeys through Snowdin Forest. The town has a festive feel, with lights on its banner and snow-frosted trees. Snowdin offers players a shop, an inn, and a library to visit. They can also pop into Grillby’s tavern or visit Papyrus and San’s house. The town is forever covered in ice and snow, hence its clever pun of a name. While the town itself isn’t specifically meant to be holiday-themed, it definitely gives players that frosty, winter feel as they walk through the snow and meet the town’s inhabitants.
Games that embrace the holiday season are perfect during the chilly winter weather or any time of year. For titles like Undertale and Kingdom Hearts II, the snowy landscapes are part of the story and can be enjoyed any time a player picks up the game, while Cat Quest and Overcooked give players the option to take on holiday challenges via their DLC. Whether it’s gift giving in a farming simulation or battling evil Santa-cat robots, there are plenty of options for gamers that want to enjoy the holiday spirit while immersing themselves in a fun adventure, and it doesn’t stop at what’s mentioned here. Older games like Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko and the entirety of Batman Returns on the SNES are also holiday-themed. These titles give gamers options without having to balance the limited timeframes of holiday events like in Animal Crossing that only come around once a year.
