IT’S CHRIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAS!
While the TV guide is chock-full of Christmas specials, you might think that the world of gaming has been left out of the festive spirit. Well, actually, if you know where to look there’s an abundance of Christmas-themed games and add-ons just waiting for you to get your grubby mince pie-covered hands all over.
We’ve got you covered with our list of the 13 most festive games or DLC packs, so go don your Christmas jumper, have another glass of sherry, and get stuck in. Each and every one of these will help you get into the spirit of Christmas. Well, possibly. They’ve at least got festive-themed outfits and perhaps snow and presents. What more could you ask for?
Merry Christmas, everyone!
1. Dead or Alive 6
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Nothing says Christmas like pairs of heaving bosoms testing the constraints of various Santa outfits as two ladies energetically beat the lives out of each other. And for that reason, Dead or Alive 6 is one of the most Christmassy games you can get.
Nearly every single character has a festive costume or two available to do battle in if you don’t mind paying for them, bringing some Christmas spirit to the game. So, gather the family around and show them the wonders of Dead or Alive 6 this Christmas. It’s sure to bring tears to their eyes – though perhaps not for the right reasons.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
2. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
- Available on: PS4, PS5, PC
Want to know the worst thing about being a superhero? You don’t get Christmas off. That’s right, crime doesn’t take a break, and so neither can those who fight it. Well, unless they want to face the ire of those they’ve vowed to protect.
And so Christmas is the backdrop of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. If you’ve ever wanted to find yourself fighting crime while the streets are covered in snow and civilians go about their Christmas shopping, this is the game for you. You even get to enjoy some of the Morales family’s festivities, too. Though there is also a supervillain or two to take down which gets in the way of things.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
3. Ebenezer and the Invisible World
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Everyone’s familiar with the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, aren’t they? If not, watch the movie Scrooged this Christmas starring Bill Murray – it’s a classic. Anyway, Ebenezer and the Invisible World puts players in the shoes of the titular old geezer some time after he’s changed his ways, and now he’s been called upon to help with a similar intervention.
A metroidvania game, Ebenezer and the Invisible World asks players to explore a large, interconnected world. And with it being set during Christmas, it’s very festive indeed. You’ll traverse snow-covered streets, will witness an array of bright and colourful lights, and can thwack a snowman or two with your cane if you wish. Needless to say, if you’re after a game that will let you get into the spirit of Christmas, this is it.
Read our review of Ebenezer and the Invisible World
Buy on PC
4. Lake: Season’s Greetings
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
If, like us, you’ve loved playing Lake, taking on the role of a delivery worker in a sleepy old American town, why not pick up its festive-themed DLC to unravel yet another story?
Actually a prequel to the main game, in Lake: Season’s Greetings you take control of a man called Thomas. He’s the original protagonist’s dad, and being in his shoes gives us another perspective with which to view the town and people of the lovely Providence Oaks. In any case, as ever there are deliveries to be made, conversations to be had, radio stations to be listened to, and plenty of driving to be done. Do we like it quite as much as the original game? No. But is it nice to see Providence Oaks covered in show and with decorations up here, there and everywhere? Absolutely.
Read our review of Lake: Season’s Greetings
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
5. Christmas Massacre
- Available on: PS4, PS5, PC
If a Christmas tree starts talking to you this holiday period, telling you to kill, you should probably seek help. Either that, or you’re playing Christmas Massacre.
From the wonderfully deranged mind of Puppet Combo, Christmas Massacre is essentially Hotline Miami in 3D with a festive twist. You take control of a man that is seemingly pure evil, and for some reason he likes to dress up as Santa Claus. Taking commands from a nicely-decorated Christmas Tree that stands out like a sore thumb in his ramshackle home, he heads out to numerous locations over the Christmas period to commit mindless murder – we can only imagine some people have been very naughty indeed. With its retro aesthetic and mindless violence, Christmas Massacre won’t be to everyone’s tastes. It does somewhat let you get into the spirit of Christmas, however, and also let off some steam.
Read our review of Christmas Massacre
Buy on PC
6. Steep
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
It rarely snows at Christmas these days, what with climate change messing with our seasons and bringing us ever closer to our impending doom. If you still buy into the whole Christmas=snow thing though, Steep should be right up your street.
In Steep, snow and ice stretches out as far as your eyes can see. Fir trees scream at you as you pass by, pleading you to adorn them with your baubles and any other bits of shiny tat you can lay your hands on. There are even some foul-mouthed snowmen lurking somewhere. And as if all that isn’t enough, you can even dress up your character with a Santa hat that flaps around as you snowboard. You can’t really get any more festive than that.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
7. Dead Rising 4
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Remember when Christmas specials of popular TV shows used to be a big thing? They don’t do them like they used to though, do they? Imagine a Walking Dead Christmas special where Negan and Rick just chilled out for a bit, shared presents and got a little frisky under some mistletoe. Of course, they’d end up having a blazing row after a few too many sherries, leading to the brutal deaths of a few characters that have only ever seen a modicum of development in that very same episode, but hey, it’d be entertaining. Right? Yeah, well it’s never going to happen.
What has happened though is Dead Rising 4. Letting you massacre your way through the festive season as photojournalist Frank West, it’s probably the closest thing to a Walking Dead Christmas special we’re ever going to get. We guess we can live with that.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
8. Saints Row 4
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
It’s not a story you hear very often: how a street gang armed with giant dildos saved Christmas and brought good will to all men. Well, feel free to enlighten yourself with the How the Saints Saved Christmas story DLC for the excellent Saints Row 4.
Requiring you to fill The Boss with festive cheer in an effort to motivate them to get up off their lazy butt and save Santa Claus, How the Saints Saved Christmas will provide you with enough laughs to get you merry – but not much more. Alcohol is probably your best bet from that point on. Lots of it.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
9. Batman: Arkham City
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
If you’re the type of person that considers Die Hard to be the best Christmas film simply because it’s set at Christmas and is awesome, then Batman: Arkham City will undoubtedly be your favourite Christmas game for the same reasons.
At least Batman: Arkham City is a bit Christmassy though. There are presents, decorations here and there, and Batman’s always ready to serve up a special punch or two for the bad guys. We suppose you could even view the Joker as that awkward extended family member that you only ever see at Christmas and have to painfully tolerate.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
10. Street Fighter V
- Available on: PS4, PC
If Dead or Alive 6 is a little low brow for you, then rejoice, you can engage in some Christmas fisticuffs with Street Fighter V instead. Six characters have Christmas-themed outfits available if you don’t mind splashing the cash, and there’s also a festive stage too, complete with a rather fantastic looking Christmas tree.
Oh, but just one thing: if you have kids, don’t let them see Zangief dressed as Santa Claus. There’s an image that will scar them for life.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
11. Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Having been battling for most of the year, you’d think that the plants would want to wind down their war efforts for the winter and take shelter from its icy grasp. Being already dead, it’s unlikely that the zombies are ever going to give them the chance though, but at least there’s something at hand to bring some much-needed variety into the proceedings.
Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville’s Feastivus content grants you access to Christmas-themed cosmetics and more, allowing you to continue battling over the holiday season in style. It’s not the most generous of offerings, but hey, something is better than nothing, right?
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
12. Hitman World of Assassination
- Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Agent 47 is perhaps the last person on Earth you’d expect to get into the Christmas spirit. The festive bonus episode that’s available, however, would suggest that maybe he does have a bit of a soft side after all. Maybe.
Tasking our favourite bald-headed assassin with eradicating two thieving scumbags who’ve invaded the Paris fashion show, the Holiday Hoarders bonus episode gives the location a wonderfully festive makeover. There’s snow on the ground, a smattering of Christmas decorations, and even presents that Agent 47 can plunder and make use of. The icing on the cake though, is that by completing the Secret Santa challenge you can unlock a Santa Claus outfit for Agent 47 to wear. Ho ho ho, indeed!
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
13. The Escapists
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Usually a game about inmates deviously trying to escape their prisons, The Escapists’ Santa’s Sweatshop DLC may result in them trying to get back in for an easy life.
After spending the last 20 years of your life working under the gift-bearing bearded weirdo known as Santa Claus with poor conditions and even worse pay, Santa’s Sweatshop sees you making a bid to escape and find your way back home, wherever that may be. In any case, with its Christmas-themed content, including a festive soundtrack, The Escapists’ Santa’s Sweatshop DLC is sure to get you into the spirit of Christmas. Even better, it’s completely free to play.
Buy on consoleBuy on PC
