It’s beginning to feel a lot like… well with the new Omicron variant, global warming, and a host of other global issues, not a lot like Christmas. It’s been a bit harder getting into the seasonal December cheer as of late, but fear not. We have compiled a list of some video game levels guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit, or at least extend some yuletide nostalgia to give you that sweet holiday serotonin boost. Let’s get wintery!
Shiveria Town: Mario Odyssey
There are countless wintery Mario levels to pick from, and while Cool Cool Mountain from Mario 64 and Snowball Park from Mario 3D World almost made it on the list, Shiveria edged them out. Blending the quaint colorful cheer of a German style Christmas market with plenty of seasonal Scandinavian hygge, this is the quintessential quaint holiday village. We’re honestly surprised Mario and Peach haven’t shot a Hallmark Christmas Movie here yet.
Snowdin Town: Undertale
A town that seems to be perpetually celebrating Christmas, Snowdin feels like a hometown Christmas. It’s the kind of holiday vacation where you swing by your old stomping grounds, meet some friends at Grillby’s for a holiday drink, enjoy a walk through downtown to take in the decorations, and then go to Papyrus and Sans’ for an overly complicated game of White Elephant with the whole gang. If you’re searching for that sense of home for the holidays, be sure to book your ticket to Snowdin Town.
Cainhurst Castle: Bloodborne
Sure, Christmas can be the happiest time of year, but more traditionally it’s known for its share of spooky creatures and ghost stories. If this is your ideal holiday vacation, you’re going to want to take a visit to Cainhurst Castle. With a spooky midnight snow and plenty of eerie ghosts in your Christmas past, present and future, you’ll feel like you’re indulging in the Krampus side of Christmas. Plus the Martyr Logarius fight feels straight out of a twisted adaptation of the Nutcracker.
Snowflake Mountain: Diddy Kong Racing
Initially we had this entry as just Frosty Village, but every nook and cranny of DKR’s Snowflake Mountain oozes winter wonderland. It has snow covered brightly lit trees. It has large igloos and friendly snowmen. It has an epic sled race with a an incredibly formal Walrus. Every single track here is one you’ll want to play with your family on Christmas morning.
Freezeezy Peak: Banjo Kazooie
The quintessential Christmas video game level, Rare Ware left nothing out of the stocking when building Freezeezy Peak. Hills and mounds are larger than life Christmas gifts. There’s an escort mission where you’re helping decorate a tree. Then you’re traversing up a cheery winter scarf adorning a sky scraper tall snowman. And the ski jump and Polar Bear racing sections give that speed of racing down a snow covered hill on your brand new sled. Freezeezy Peak is the level that you end up playing the entire game around the holidays, just to re-experience every ounce of this pure joy and holiday magic.
However and wherever you’re celebrating the holidays this year, we hope these levels can bring a bit of extra cheer! And be sure to let us know your favorite Christmas levels in the comments!
