5 best games that take place during Christmas, ranked

During the holidays, it’s only natural to want to play the best Christmas games, and thankfully there are some that fit that criteria. While some may not fill us with the typical holiday cheer, they are all impactful in one shape or another as we take down criminals as Batman or defame a scoundrel writer from copying a student’s work by going into different realities.

5. Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, which takes place over the holiday season, is the most recent entry on this list. It uses the Christmas theming well, as you solve a puzzle in the game by using an annoying ornament as a distraction, and attend a Krampus party at the college’s favourite bar. The game itself tells a thrilling story as Max Caulfield returns to the series and shifts between realities rather than reversing time. The ending is disappointing for most fans, but the journey getting there is an entertaining one. It’s one of the best Christmas games because it tells a fantastic story within the setting.

“Although it relies a little too much on your having played the first Life is Strange, it continues the adventure well and balances the feeling of familiarity while still keeping things refreshing,” said our 8/10 review. “If you enjoyed the first game, you’re in for a treat with this one.”

4. Tom Clancy’s The Division

While Tom Clancy’s The Division takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, it still somehow brings some holiday cheer. While you’re shooting up thugs on the streets, you’ll see some stunning holiday scenary in the city of New York, a setting that truly gets into the spirit of Christmas. You’ll explore a snowy landscape with Christmas lights strung up on trees. The references to the season are everywhere.

“Manhattan is a joy to walk through, and each mission brings you to a new location that’s either brimming with life, or sapped of it in an equally cool way,” said our review. Furthermore, the game’s online community is still active, despite its age, and the third-person shooting feels stellar. The progression is satisfying as you team up with friends on blockbuster levels and use gadgets to triumph over your foes.

3. Kingdom Hearts 2

While the game itself is not completely holiday-themed, Kingdom Hearts 2‘s Christmas Town is certainly a highlight in the JRPG franchise. It has Sora meeting Santa Claus within the universe of The Nightmare Before Christmas alongside Jack Skellington. It’s adorable that the hero stopped believing in the mythical figure and is therefore not on the nice list. The scenery looks ripped straight from the movie’s “What’s This?” segment with its interpretation of the North Pole

It’s colorful, has weird angles to its architecture, and there’s a thematic carousel that can be spun to attack the heartless. Sora, Donald, and Goofy even get their own Christmas costumes. Donald looks like a snowman while Goofy’s a reindeer: cute. It’s a wonderful world in Kingdom Hearts 2 that even has a Christmas wrapping mini-game.

2. Batman: Arkham Origins

From the bright artistic stylings of Christmas Town to the dark, depressing Gotham, Batman: Arkham Origins does a stellar job of representing the holidays in its own way. It features the city with some neat decorations sparsed throughout as Batman tries to survive Christmas Eve. The decorations somehow fit the darker artstyle of the Arkham series. It’s also cool to see Batman’s cape swooping in the air amidst the falling white snow. It’s one of the best Christmas games because it really gets the setting right.

As you’d expect from the Arkham games, there’s stellar combat that’s awesome to pull off as you rack up a combo. You can also expect stellar performances from the likes of Troy Baker (The Last of Us) as The Joker and Roger Craig Smith (Assassin’s Creed 2) as Batman.

It might be disappointing that Mark Hamill didn’t reprise his role for Arkham Origins, but our review says that “Troy Baker does an impressive turn as the Joker, whose scenes are sometimes pretty damn fun to watch.”

1. Spider-Man: Miles Morales

There’s nothing more festive than helping out your community in times of need, and Spider-Man: Miles Morales emphasizes that with its side quests. You’re stopping thieves from stealing toys and helping the neighborhood of Harlem by saving the local shelter F.E.A.S.T. The game’s main narrative also centers around family, friends, and the community Miles is desperate to protect while Peter is away. It’s very sweet, but crushing at the same time as the story moves forward.

You get the holiday spirit by exploring the city too as shops and the streets themselves are adorned with Christmas ornaments. At the end of one side quest, Miles’ crush Hailey adorably gifts him her scarf to stay warm, and Miles places a beanie on his head to complete the look. This festive style is then unlocked for Miles to wear on his adventures. It’s one of the best Christmas games because it truly gives you the vibes of what the holiday is really about.

Our review complimented “the Christmas time period and wintery sparkle of the city,” which helped “add to the feeling that this is not a copy-and-paste job” as a “spin-off” sequel.

The Christmas theming is stacked on top of an amazing game as well. The action is fast-paced, the storytelling is effective and dramatic, and New York looks stunning and filled with details in Insomniac’s interpretation.