Best Christmas Games - Investment Policy

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the captivating world of video games, I must say that this list truly takes me on a nostalgic journey through my gaming history. From the hauntingly beautiful “Parasite Eve” to the action-packed adventures of “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales”, each game on this list offers a unique and memorable experience that I have come to cherish.

For enthusiasts of all things Christmas, there’s an abundance of TV specials and films to enjoy. However, when it comes to video games, the selection is rather limited. Few games are actually based on or set during Christmas, and even those that incorporate some Christmas themes typically only do so in specific levels.

Kingdom Hearts 2 serves as an outstanding demonstration, where the characters, led by Sora, journey to the festive locale known as Christmas Town. This location offers a delightful gaming experience to immerse you in holiday cheer, although it can be fully explored within just a couple of hours at most. Other games that offer enjoyable Christmas-themed levels are Hitman: Blood Money, Bully, and Persona 5. Are there any games or expansion packs featuring comprehensive Christmas settings? Let’s explore together.

When determining the ranking, both the game’s overall reputation as well as its ability to capture the holiday spirit will be considered.

13. Special Mention: Dead Rising 4

Out Of Season But Still Christmas

In “Dead Rising 4”, the storyline occurs beyond the festive season of Christmas. Yet, since the city was deserted around that time, all the decorations remain, giving the game a distinctively festive atmosphere. The contrast between the joyful holiday ambiance and Frank West battling through hordes of gruesome corpses is quite striking.

In summary, this particular installment in Capcom’s Dead Rising series is often considered the least impressive, and there seems to be little discussion about a potential fifth game. Despite its perceived shortcomings, the game maintains an element of mindless enjoyment. The character of Frank, although quite different from his earlier appearances, still manages to deliver some humorous dialogue.

12. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

The Holiday Is Not Relevant To The Story, But It Is Set During Christmas

Among Konami’s Metal Gear series, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake often gets overlooked due to its limited release in the West during its initial run. Today, it can be found in some compilation releases, but it continues to be eclipsed by its earlier and more renowned counterparts such as the widely acclaimed Metal Gear Solid series.

In this storyline, we find Solid Snake journeying to Zanzibarland on Christmas Eve, aiming to thwart another nuclear mech attack. You might recognize Zanzibarland, as it’s a common reference in Metal Gear Solid. Even though it’s an older game, Metal Gear 2 was a significant release for the stealth genre and shares many similarities with the first Metal Gear Solid.

11. Bayonetta 2

An Awesome Hack And Slash Game Set Around Christmas, Although The Holiday Is Not Referenced All That Much

In the game, Bayonetta 2, the setting seems to be around the Christmas season, though specific dates aren’t provided. The narrative starts with Bayonetta purchasing numerous gifts and having her assistant/accomplice Enzo transport them all. This amusing introduction is where the Christmas vibe of the game concludes.

Players might find it intriguing to view the concept of battling angels during or near Christmas as a recurring theme, despite most tales typically portraying angels in a positive light. In this sense, Bayonetta 2 stands out for challenging expectations. Crucially, this Nintendo exclusive is an aesthetically pleasing hack-and-slash game that builds upon the foundations of its predecessor while also making the action more user-friendly.

10. Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa’s Rampage

A Dark Comedy Game About Santa Being Pushed Well Beyond His Breaking Point

As a gamer, I’ve had a blast with “Viscera Cleanup Detail” – it’s an engaging game where you’re tasked with tidying up the grisly remnants of alien battles. This game turned out to be a sleeper hit and even got two additional content packs, giving me more opportunities to scrub away all that gory chaos!

One such DLC was called Santa’s Rampage and gives players the task of cleaning up a particularly festive murder carried out by a not-so-jolly man. It’s a ridiculous concept that ends up being a ton of fun to execute, and players who want to get into the spirit of Christmas in a rather eccentric manner should give this game a shot!

9. Shenmue

Set During December And Featuring Some Christmas Spirit

Shenmue stands among the greatest video games ever made, with its debut on the Sega Dreamcast being a grand and costly event. This ambitious attempt at creating an open-world game where players can truly immerse themselves in the life of Ryo is incredibly enjoyable once they become accustomed to this game’s distinct style.

Essentially, while Shenmue isn’t centered entirely around Christmas, its portrayal of the festival is so vivid that it’s worth experiencing in its own right. However, be mindful not to delay reaching this festive occasion excessively as the game will impose a negative ending on players if they linger until mid-April.

8. Daze Before Christmas

Santa Gets A Lot Of Work To Do In A Pretty Hard Classic Platformer

Before Christmas Arrives” is among the rare titles that place Santa in the limelight. As he prepares to travel worldwide for gift distribution, an unsavory doppelganger of his snatches all the presents. Given its roots as a 90s platformer, it’s best to approach this game with modest expectations.

Nowadays, finding a genuine copy can be quite challenging, but there could be alternatives available. Although this game isn’t a timeless classic, its innovative concept makes it worth investigating. It’d be intriguing if this game were added to the retro service on the Nintendo Switch in the future.

7. Yakuza

While Not 100% Consistent, Quite A Few Yakua Games Are Set Around Christmas

Although it’s not typically highlighted, some Yakuza games are set during Christmas, which strangely complements the series’ unique blend of slightly corny yet consistently exciting narrative style. In games like Yakuza 0 and Yakuza Kiwami, the holiday season serves primarily as a backdrop. However, this is not true for all entries in the series.

In the game “Yakuza 5,” one of the subplots features Saejima disguising as Santa Claus to confront a gang of thugs who specifically target him due to his resemblance to Santa. This isn’t the only Christmas-themed side quest in the series, but the main stories of “Yakuza” games do not typically revolve around Christmas. However, because of its unique and festive elements, “Yakuza” can still be an excellent choice for holiday play.

6. Saints Row 4: How The Saints Save Christmas

A Silly Christmas Romp With The Saints

As a diehard fan, let me tell you that Saints Row 4 ranks among the top open-world games for sheer entertainment value. The base game’s superpower antics are an absolute blast to play with, and the holiday spirit is amplified in the How the Saints Save Christmas DLC.

The idea of saving Santa from a simulation while mustering the Christmas cheer required to make this holiday fun again is a ridiculous concept that only Saints Row 4 could pull off. The DLC is a short and sweet experience with its fair share of memorable moments.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge

Jack Skellington Has To Save Christmas

The timeless film “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is beloved during both Halloween and Christmas seasons. In 2005, “Oogie’s Revenge” served as a continuation of the original story, offering a fresh tale where Jack Skellington must (once more) thwart Oogie Boogie’s attempt to seize control over Halloween Town, with Christmas playing a prominent role.

As a gamer, diving into Capcom’s creation, Oogie’s Revenge, I couldn’t help but notice its familiar feel. It seems to have borrowed quite a bit from the playbook of Devil May Cry. Frankly, it’s an unexpected twist for a game set in this universe. Nevertheless, as an entry point into hack-and-slash genre with familiar faces, it’s quite enjoyable. The combat could use some refinement at times, but overall, it’s fun to play. The real star of the show, however, is the captivating setting.

4. Tom Clancy’s The Division

Hey, Not Every Christmas Game Needs To Be Cheery

In the vein of Dead Rising 4, Tom Clancy’s The Division shares a similar backdrop. Following Thanksgiving and Black Friday, a virus spread in New York City, leading to chaos and anarchy. Despite efforts by the government to control it, the city eventually transformed into a lawless territory.

Agents from The Division are deployed during the holiday season, acting as an elite special operations unit tasked with restoring order. Although it might not be Christmas itself, the city is still adorned with decorations and looks as inviting as always, despite being ravaged by a lethal virus. Nowadays, recommending The Division can be challenging given its sequel’s superiority; however, the game remains enjoyable as a third-person shooter with an engaging setting.

3. Batman: Arkham Origins

Gotham Gets A Christmas Makeover

In Batman: Arkham Origins, the map is similar to that of Arkham City, but it’s been given a festive makeover for Christmas and some adjustments tailored to the prequel storyline. These subtle alterations create an intriguing, eerie ambiance that distinguishes this spin-off from the core series. On Christmas Eve, Gotham City transforms into a battlefield as eight assassins are hired by Black Mask with the mission of eliminating Batman, who is still in his early years as a crime-fighting hero.

Typically considered an outlier among the console versions, “Arkham Origins” remains a highly enjoyable action-adventure game according to most standards, though it may not quite match the excellence of “Arkham Asylum” or “Arkham City“. The narrative is satisfactory, and Gotham City appears more stunning in “Arkham Knight“.

2. Parasite Eve

Darkness Falls Over Christmas

The game “Parasite Eve” is set around the time of Christmas Eve. It’s a remarkable Role-Playing Game (RPG) from the 90s that skillfully merges elements of “Final Fantasy” and “Resident Evil”. In this game, you take on the character of detective Aya Brea.

One evening, she goes to watch an opera, but instead discovers that everyone around her suddenly bursts into flames – the only exception being herself. Her mission now becomes locating the source of this phenomenon, eliminating these fiery aberrations, and saving Christmas. The story unfolds in the iconic backdrop of New York City, a timeless setting for a festive horror RPG.

1. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Spider-Man Does Not Take Holidays Off

Spider-Man: Miles Morales represents another exciting superhero title, which unfolds during the festive season of Christmas. Similar to Parasite Eve, it’s based in the bustling cityscape of New York City. The narrative revolves around Miles returning home from school to celebrate the holidays with loved ones, but a sinister plot awaits the young spider-hero.

In Miles Morales’ case, he must safeguard his local territory all by himself since Peter is occupied with other matters. This game provides a great starting point for understanding Miles as a character, delving into his past while distinguishing him from Peter Parker. Compared to Marvel’s Spider-Man, it has a shorter campaign and utilizes many recurring assets, but it remains an exceptional adventure. The spin-off even refines the combat and movement mechanics slightly, outperforming its more substantial precursor in certain aspects. Any gamers planning to play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 should not overlook this spin-off.

2024-12-05 10:24