The Best 10 Christmas-Themed Levels In Video Games

Like most media, video games also celebrate Christmas. But what levels celebrate it the best?

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Since the late 1970s, not a holiday season has passed without kids everywhere wishing to find a new video game or system wrapped up and waiting under the tree. Whether given as gifts or played during downtime between festivities, video games have their place during the holidays. But of course, people aren’t the only ones who celebrate Christmas. Games do as well.

Characters in games often celebrate the holidays. Even in games set on planets and in worlds other than Earth, there’s often some kind of winter holiday being celebrated. Still, Christmas elements often their way into these events. But with all the Santas and snow, only a few stand out from the crowd as the very best Christmas-themed levels in video games.

HolliJolli Village – Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time

Partners in Time is the second in the Mario & Luigi series. It’s thought of as the franchise black sheep because, of the original three titles, it didn’t get remade. While it’s known for including baby Mario characters, it also had a dark tone. HolliJolli Village is one place where the darkness can be found.

The alien menace Shroobs had attacked the quaint, Christmas village. Mario ends up being just a step too late to stop them, and witnesses the devastated village. Buildings are destroyed and the inhabitants have been abducted. Fitting for a dark level, the music is “Jingle Bells” played in minor key.

Christmas Spring Valley – Night Into Dreams

Nights Into Dream is one of Sonic Team’s most unique titles. This forgotten Sega Saturn masterpiece of a game was a aerial acrobatic platformer, casting the player as a dream creature that would zip through the sky. It was one of the Saturn’s biggest titles, receiving tons of promotion. One such promotion was a Christmas themed demo disc of Nights that released in December 1996.

This game, Christmas Nights Into Dreams, reskinned the first level to a Christmas theme. The level was now snow-covered, presents dotted the land, and the music was all Christmas carols. It’s still extremely rare to see an entirely Christmas-themed game. Players who enjoy it can access it as a bonus in re-releases of Nights.

Central Park – Parasite Eve

PlayStation RPG Parasite Eve takes place around Christmas in New York City. Officer Aya Brea must investigate a genetic conspiracy involving mitochondria. The game’s first half features a lot of Christmas trappings, but most levels are indoors. Not so for Christmas Day’s mission in Central Park.

The antagonist, Eve, is planning on attacking a concert in Central Park. So Aya has to trek through the snow to reach the stadium in the center. Through a quiet blanket of snow, Aya must fight her way through escaped Zoo animals. At the climax, she faces against Eve on top of a carriage tour throughout downtown. This has big New York Christmas vibes.

Snowdin – Undertale

It’s common for snowy levels to have Christmas theming. First town Snowdin in Undertale follows a traditional snow level, and its Christmas vibes give it a comfy feeling. It feels relaxing when the players looks out at the decorations. The various inns and shops offer more cozy atmosphere.

The music evokes that Christmas spirit without specifically aping existing songs. The citizens are also wrapped up in scarves and coats, adding to that adorable feel. Sequel Deltarune also features Christmas-theming. But Undertale did it first, establishing that warm holiday feel.

You Better Watch Out… – Hitman: Blood Money

Despite taking place in April, Mission 7 in Hitman: Blood Money is Christmas decked out. While this party takes place in a pornography magnate’s mansion, it’s all about the holiday spirit. And by spirit, they mean the presence of Father Christmas. This mission finally lets the stoic Hitman Agent 47 disguise himself as Santa.

This party’s Santa doesn’t really fit with the Christmas spirit. The depravity has driven him to drink, giving Agent 47 the opportunity to dress in his iconic suit. The feeling of disrupting this decadent party in a Santa disguise somehow really captures the Christmas spirit. This twisted Christmas level really fuses Hitman’s sensibilities with holiday cheer.

Gotham – Batman: Arkham Origins

Plenty of open worlds will mix things up by going Christmas. This is typically the realm of sequels or DLC, taking the existing map and decking it out in Christmas icons. The recent Spider-Man: Miles Morales did this, covering New York City in snow and lights. But the first open-world superhero game to do this was Batman: Arkham Origins.

Despite Gotham being foreboding in most media, it’s had quite a legacy at Christmas. As early as Batman Returns they understood that covering the gothic madness with powder snow was a unique visual. Batman: Arkham Origins itself is underrated, the setting helping sell the prequel aspect. An overworked, rookie Batman having to work on Christmas really emphasizes his youth.

Tsukimino – Yakuza 5

Yakuza 5 was the largest Yakuza game on release. It had the most playable characters and locations of the series, and filled them with minigames and sub-stories. Taiga Saejima’s chapter takes place in Sapporo’s fictional Tsukimino district, a city already known for snow. While the Yakuza series usually set its plots around Christmastime, Tsukimino actually takes advantage of it.

The entire district is covered in snow, which allows for fun minigames. Saejima can participate in ice sculpture contests, snowball fights, and even build a snowman. There’s even a part where he dresses up as Santa. This allows him to stop the “Santa Hunters” thugs targeting people dressed as Santa. Between them and being chased by children, Santa has it tough in Yakuza’s world.

American Consumption – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist

American Consumption is similar to Hitman’s level. It fuses Christmas’ commercial elements with Splinter Cell’s darker espionage action. This level takes place in a shopping mall around Christmastime. Sam must stealth his way through all the trees and tinsel in order to take out the deadly terrorists.

The tackiest decorations cover every corner of the mall. This might seem like it’d be helpful for sneaking around, but the decorations are so searing they’re painful to move through. Not to mention that Christmas muzak is playing throughout the level. This cynical capitalist take on Christmas is fitting for the specials ops of the Tom Clancy game franchise.

Freezeezy Peak – Banjo-Kazooie

Banjo-Kazooie’s Freezyeezy Peak is another ice level. While Santa himself never makes an appearance, almost every other tradition does appear. The hill on which the player begins becomes a track for a sledding race, which detours through a snow-covered hamlet. The player’s rival racer even has three children who need to be brought Christmas presents.

Snowman are also common throughout the level. While there are a few snowman enemies who throw Snowballs at the protagonist pair, the level’s centerpiece is also a giant snowman. And to one side of the giant snowman is a giant Christmas tree. Another mission includes decorating a tree with sentient lights called Twinklies.

Halloween Town – Kingdom Hearts II

When Halloween Town from The Nightmare Before Christmas first appeared in Kingdom Hearts, it was a bit of a surprise. At that time, the film wasn’t even usually thought of as Disney, despite their ownership. But the world ended up being a hit, which meant in the sequel it ended up being expanded upon. And the sequel not only included the gothic Halloween Town, but also the cheery Christmas Town.

Adapting the events of the movie more faithfully than the first game, this level sees Sora and company moving between the snowy Christmas Town and the dark Halloween Town. These two biome types keep the enemy and challenges fresh. It also significantly downplays Santa’s grouchiness from the film, leading to a touching scene where Sora and Santa talk. In essence this makes it kind of the ideal form of the Nightmare Before Christmas plotline.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-christmas-themed-video-game-levels/