Five Festive PC Games to Play this Christmas

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens

Introduction

Unlike movies and TV shows, Christmas themed or otherwise seasonal games are something of a rarity unless you like reskinned versions of already mediocre mobile games, of course (bah, humbug)! This is why I’ve compiled a short list of winter PC games that are sure to boost that festive feeling and maybe even spread a little Christmas cheer!

Festive Games

We Were Here Franchise

This series consists of We Were Here (review here), We Were Here Too and We Were Here Together, the first instalment is free and later games can be bought either individually or as part of a bundle including supporter packs and soundtrack.

Each game is a 2-player online co-op puzzle adventure, requiring exploration, observation, teamwork and good communication in order to complete and will provide good fun and just the right amount of challenge. Set in the fictional medieval Castle Rock in the wastes of Antarctica, they have a cold wintery backdrop and setting, emphasised by the lovely artwork and effective audio, making them ideal festive games to play with friends or family.

Secret Neighbour – Christmas 2020 Update

The online multiplayer version of Hello Neighbour (review here), Secret Neighbour is a horror-survival game in which a group of intruders must try to rescue their friend from the creepy neighbour’s spooky basement, the twist being that one of the intruders is actually the neighbour in disguise!

This year, Dynamic Pixels have released a Christmas update, making it a great pick for a festive game. The new content includes a new map, a snowball fight in the form of a team deathmatch mode, the ability to build snowmen and a whole bunch of seasonal cosmetic goodies such as winter decorations and Christmas skins all in addition to updates to the existing level editor and general optimisations.

A Good Snowman is Hard to Build

Made by a small team in Coventry, and initially intended as a short Christmas project, A Good Snowman is Hard to Build went on to win a number of awards and accolades including being listed as one of TIME Magazine’s top ten apps of 2016!

Undeniably festive, this cute puzzle game is about being a monster and building snowmen in a barren world. Players must solve mind-bending puzzles, designed by Alan Hezalden in order to help the strange creature with their Christmas creation, all the while enjoying the delightfully charming artwork, cute character and the whimsical and relaxing soundtrack.

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

Set in the familiar Life is Strange universe, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (review here) adopts the same gameplay and styling as the rest of the franchise with a mix of walking-simulator and point-and-click mechanics with a heavy focus on narrative. The story focuses on Chris, a 9-year old boy with an active imagination and tackles some heavy themes, such as loss, alcoholism and neglect.

The wintery lodge setting of Chris and his dad’s house alongside the tear-jerking but ultimately heartwarming story that serves to remind players of the importance of family and make this the perfect feel-good festive game.

Year Walk

This game explores the ancient Swedish phenomena of Year Walking through this abstract puzzle-adventure set in 19th century Sweden on an icy cold New Year’s Eve. Players must venture out into the dark woods full of strange and mysterious creatures in order to find and decipher cryptic clues, solve puzzles, and discover the truth that lies hidden between fact and fiction.

The snowy wintery locale, starry skies and the wonder and mystery of the folklore that is explored mirror, in a general sense, the magic of Christmas, making this another seasonal delight and a great example of a festive game.

Summary

Whether it’s the snowy settings, wintery vibes, the shared fun of a multiplayer experience or outright Christmas themes, I hope there is something on the list to help even the most Scrooge-like a dose of festive cheer.

Merry Christmas ands Happy Holidays!

Enjoy this selection of Festive games? Check out these other lists:
Free Indie Games to Play in 30 Minutes or Less – Five Free Games that Attempt to Tackle Mental Health Issues – Perusing the DRM-Free Treasures of the Humble Trove