Some games don’t have to be Christmas-centered to get you in the festive mood! Sometimes, it’s all about a holiday setting or a single level, making the familiar gameplay as fun as possible.
Many titles use a festive setting to enhance the gameplay with hilarious contrasts like eliminating your enemies in a Santa costume. They’re not trying to deliver the whole X-mass thing, playing with its features to design something fresh and unique.
Explore our top picks from this category to choose the best holiday-inspired game for this season!
| Game | Release | Genre | Trailer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Batman: Arkham Origins | 2013-10-24 | Adventure | |
 | Dead Rising 4 | 2017-03-14 | Fighting | |
 | Saints Row IV - How the Saints Save Christmas | 2013-12-10 | Adventure | |
 | Tom Clancy's The Division | 2016-03-07 | Action & Shooter | |
 | Hitman: Holiday Hoarders | 2016-03-11 | Stealth |
Batman: Arkham Origins
| Release date: | 2013-10-24 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Splash Damage |
It is several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and the game sees the novice Batman fighting evil in a wintery version of the Gotham City map. With all festive decorations included!
Black Mask puts a bounty on Batman’s head on Yule. Our favorite hero confronts eight ruthless assassins while exploring the dark alleys of Gotham City, immersed in the festive spirit. Beat the bad guys to celebrate this holiday season in Die Hard style!
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Dead Rising 4
| Release date: | 2017-03-14 |
| Genre: | Fighting |
| Developer: | Capcom Game Studio Vancouver, Inc. |
Play as Frank West, a photojournalist returning to the town of Willamette. When a man finds himself trapped in a local mall, it’s time to fight another zombie outbreak before help arrives!
Dead Rising 4 is a game where anything can be your weapon! But this time, everything is X-mas-themed, so prepare for lots of twinkling lights, snowmen, festive zombie outfits, and candy-like crossbows. No other zombie game delivers such an exciting holiday vibe!
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Saints Row IV: How the Saints Save Christmas
| Release date: | 2013-12-10 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Deep Silver Volition |
This 2013 DLC follows the Saints saving the holiday spirit and real Santa using the craziest methods possible!
Play three new missions using three exciting weapons and wearing sweaters your grandma would love. Wonder if there’s a new vehicle available? Yes, if you know how to steer a sleigh pulled by a flying reindeer!
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Tom Clancy’s The Division
| Release date: | 2016-03-07 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Massive Entertainment |
For many, Black Friday marks the beginning of holiday shopping madness. In The Division, the sudden pandemic makes admiring the festive decorations a little more brutal!
An unexpected pandemic and military intervention brought utter chaos to the New York streets. Only The Division can stop other factions from taking complete control over a city adorned with holiday decorations. This recommendation represents a tactical approach to the classic X-mas experience!
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Hitman: Holiday Hoarders
| Release date: | 2016-03-11 |
| Genre: | Stealth |
| Developer: | IO Interactive |
This single mission takes you to Paris, where Agent 47 has to eliminate two ruthless thieves trying to steal gifts at the Palais de Walewska.
Have you ever dreamed of becoming Santa 47? This wish can come true if you are willing to kill Santa himself! Travel to Paris to stop two Home Alone-inspired criminals and explore the stunning city in its most beautiful wintery guise.
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Spider-Man: Miles Morales
| Release date: | 2022-11-18 |
| Genre: | Action-adventure |
| Developer: | Insomniac Games |
So, imagine a game taking place entirely during the holiday season. That’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, where you can beat up all the bad guys in a beautiful winter background!
Miles Morales is an ordinary teenager taking on Peter Parker’s responsibilities and legacy – with all the supernatural powers included! However, a new conflict arises, and our protagonist must learn the classic lesson that with great power comes great responsibility. Lead this young man’s double life, use gadgets, fight, and enjoy the winter aura perfect for long holiday evenings.
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See? Some incompatible themes work surprisingly well in gaming, especially if you dream of beating your enemies while enjoying a festive vibe. Video games on our list ensure an adrenaline-fueled experience, with Santas showing up occasionally. But this time, you decide whether they have been nice enough this year!