Episode 68: The Best Christmas Game

The Best Games Ever Podcast

If you didn't listen to last week's show you might be confused as to why we're doing a Christmas episode in September. Well, Jim was goaded into it, so we're doing it. We also reserve the right to do another one when it's actually Christmas.

What constitutes a "Christmas Game" is even more wooly a concept than a "Christmas Movie", because examples of entire games themed around Christmas are few and far between. This is probably because game development takes longer, is harder, and is less likely to actually make a planned release date for the holiday season. And even if it did, it would have a very short window to make money in. So the idea of pitching a Christmas game is probably a laughable one in the halls of a game publisher. As is the idea of pitching a Die Hard game, probably, although given how much this industry runs on empty nostalgia we're probably about due another one of those.

Still, there are plenty of games with christmassy elements: winter levels, santa costumes, seasonal events. There are even examples of coverdisc games from decades past that were xmas versions of existing titles - think Christmas Nights Into Dreams, or Cannon Soccer. Unless you're old and decrepit like I am you won't remember what a coverdisc is, if so, it's sort of like a magazine with DLC.

So, what's the best Christmas Game according to our esteemed panel? To find out, you'll have to watch or listen to our show. Which, handily, is probably what you're here to do.

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