Games Set During Christmas Season

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With December already halfway over, Christmas is almost here for people all over the world, bringing with it time spent with family and the joy of giving gifts.

As a big Christmas fan, I always think it’s such a wonderful time for families and friends to come together. Whether it’s breaking out board games we’ve had for years or getting a new one to play, it’s all about reconnecting and having fun together!

I’ve noticed something cool – a lot of people give video games as gifts around Christmas, but did you know there are actually tons of games set during the holidays? Whether it’s on Christmas Day itself or just somewhere during the Christmas season, it’s a surprisingly common theme!

These games aren’t immediately recognizable as Christmas stories, but their creators cleverly used the holiday season as a unique and enjoyable setting to enhance the player experience.

This list excludes games specifically taking place at Christmas, like the upcoming The Elf On The Shelf: Christmas Heroes (2025) and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

8. Bayonetta 2

A Demonic Christmas

Considering it’s a fantastical series about demons, starring a flirty witch who fights with guns and gun-heeled shoes, most wouldn’t expect the Bayonetta franchise to be set during Christmas.

Surprisingly, Bayonetta 2 begins on Christmas Eve with the main character, Bayonetta, shopping in New York City alongside her friend Enzo.

The Christmas Eve parade was about to start when strange, half-human, half-horse angels suddenly attacked the city. This forced Bayonetta to interrupt her Christmas shopping, and luckily, Rodin – a fallen angel who was dressed as Santa – came to her aid, giving her a new pair of guns.

While the Christmas setting in Bayonetta 2 doesn’t last throughout the game, it makes for a memorable and unusual beginning when Bayonetta’s friend, Jeanne, is pulled into Inferno.

7. Dead Rising 4

Hank East’s Holiday Adventure

The Dead Rising games are known for their humorous take on American consumer culture. Players can use almost any object they find – even things like teddy bears and chainsaws – to fight off zombies within settings like malls and casinos.

It would make sense for a Dead Rising game to take place during Christmas, with all the shopping and sales happening. However, Capcom Vancouver wanted to really excite fans by bringing the game back to the original location of Willamette, Colorado, and featuring the return of Frank West.

Honestly, even though Dead Rising 4 had a lot of potential, most of us fans consider it the low point of the series. They replaced Frank West’s original voice actor, which was a huge bummer, and they took away what made the game special – the constant pressure of the timer and having to rescue survivors. Plus, the awesome psychopath bosses were reduced to quick, forgettable fights. It just didn’t feel like Dead Rising anymore.

Despite its flaws, Dead Rising 4 offers a lot of chaotic holiday fun. Players can battle a deranged mall Santa named Sadistic Claus and his elf army, fight zombie gingerbread men and elves, and even craft a special penguin headgear that freezes zombies!

6. Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa’s Rampage

The Aftermath of a Holiday Massacre

Christmas is usually associated with joy and togetherness, but popular culture often puts a funny or even scary spin on the holiday. Think of movies like Silent Night, Deadly Night or the Christmas episodes of Robot Chicken – they definitely aren’t traditional!

In Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa’s Rampage, players are tasked with cleaning up a gruesome scene: the aftermath of Santa Claus going on a violent rampage and eliminating his elves and reindeer at the North Pole.

Even though the idea of Santa going on a destructive spree might seem strange, it’s surprisingly enjoyable to team up with friends and restore order to the North Pole. There’s a certain satisfaction in cleaning up the mess and getting everything back to its cheerful, organized state.

It’s also fascinating to try and figure out why Santa suddenly attacked his elves and reindeer, and to examine the aftermath like a detective, before ultimately disposing of the evidence by burning it in the fireplace.

5. Tom Clancy’s The Division

A Sickly New York Holiday


ubisoft.com

Okay, so when I first saw Tom Clancy’s The Division, I thought it was just another run-of-the-mill military shooter, and honestly, it kinda is. But what really sets it apart from games like Call of Duty and Battlefield is the fact that it takes place during Christmas time. It’s a cool setting that makes it feel different.

In an alternate 2015, after a deadly virus called Green Poison devastated New York City following Black Friday, The Division tells the story of government agents working to rebuild order and fight crime in the ruined city.

It’s strangely unsettling to walk through an empty New York City blanketed in snow and Christmas decorations, especially when the city is usually bustling with tourists and shoppers this time of year.

While playing The Division can be challenging, it’s most fun with three friends. Working together lets you coordinate attacks and defend against the various criminal groups taking advantage of a deadly outbreak in New York City around Christmas.

4. Batman: Arkham Origins

Gotham’s Naughty Night

Released in 2013, Batman: Arkham Origins stands out from the other Arkham games for a few key reasons. It was the only installment developed by WB Games Montreal, it takes place earlier in the timeline as a prequel, and it doesn’t feature the iconic voices of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.

Even with its flaws, Arkham Origins is incredibly enjoyable. It lets you play as a younger Batman facing off against a group of villains – including Black Mask, Deathstroke, and Deadshot – all vying to capture him, and the whole story unfolds on Christmas Eve.

Many of the most memorable Batman stories take place during Christmas or winter, including classics like Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: White Knight, and the Heart of Ice episode from Batman: The Animated Series. The Origins storyline continues this tradition.

In Origins, we see how Batman first meets many of the characters who will become his famous enemies and helpers, and it also lays the groundwork for the stories in Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham Knight, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

3. Kingdom Hearts 2

The Nightmare After Christmas

The Kingdom Hearts series is well-known for its unique blend of classic Disney stories and the fantastical elements of Final Fantasy. While the first Kingdom Hearts game touches on The Nightmare Before Christmas, the second game explores that world in greater detail.

While the Halloween Town in the first Kingdom Hearts game doesn’t include any Christmas themes, the Halloween Town in Kingdom Hearts 2 is set a year after the events of The Nightmare Before Christmas. This allows players to visit and explore a Christmas Town within the game.

Exploring Halloween Town and Christmas Town in Kingdom Hearts 2 is really enjoyable. Both locations feature unique Heartless enemies themed around their respective holidays, like those designed to look like toy soldiers and jack-in-the-boxes.

It’s also fun to watch Jack Skellington try to earn Santa’s trust after nearly spoiling Christmas, and to see Oogie Boogie briefly threaten Christmas Town again.

2. Cronos: The New Dawn

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

I’m really impressed with Bloober Team lately. They’re quickly becoming one of the big names in horror games! Their remake of Silent Hill 2 is getting amazing reviews, and I’m super excited about their original game, Cronos: The New Dawn, which looks really promising as a sci-fi horror experience.

Surprisingly, despite not being obviously festive, Cronos: The New Dawn is actually a Christmas game. This is because its time travel story takes place during several different Christmas Eves.

As players explore a strange version of 1980s Poland and the ruined modern district of New Dawn, they’ll find discarded Christmas trees – both recent and long-abandoned. They’ll also discover notes detailing how a new infection forced people to stay inside during the holidays, and the hardships they faced.

As the game progresses, players will face terrifying creatures called Orphans. These mutants can emerge from unsettling places – like walls decorated for Christmas and even snowdrifts – making Cronos a particularly frightening Christmas-themed game.

1. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

A Very Spidey Christmas

Unlike the scary atmosphere of Cronos, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a cheerful game taking place during Christmas time in New York City.

Following the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man, Miles Morales finds himself stepping up to protect the city. Peter Parker has left to support Mary Jane Watson on an international reporting assignment, leaving Miles to prove he can handle the responsibilities of being Spider-Man.

This is a heartwarming story about Miles discovering his identity as Spider-Man and working to support his community and family, proving he’s more than just a helper to Peter Parker.

It’s also really enjoyable to swing through snowy New York City as Miles Morales and help people during the holidays, particularly Teo Alvarez and his adorable cat, who’s nicknamed Spider-Cat.

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2025-12-15 18:42