5 of the more festive Nintendo games you should revisit over the holidays
If you celebrate Christmas, then you already know there’s nothing better than opening a brand-new video game on Christmas Day. Or getting a brand-new video game console in general! This year, a whole new generation of players will receive Nintendo Switch 2 systems as holiday gifts – or maybe some additional games or accessories for those who already have one. For me personally, many of my favorite video game memories are associated with Christmas in some way, and I’m sure the same is true for those of you who have celebrated the holidays in the past as well.
So today, we’re going over some Nintendo games that I associate with the holiday season, and aspects of each one that make them special. As a note, not all of these games are inherently festive, because surprisingly few Nintendo games make specific references to Christmas or the holidays. But if you have any holiday memories with a video game not listed here, feel free to share in the comments down below.
Kirby’s Epic Yarn
Memories are subjective, of course, but Kirby’s Epic Yarn is a game I heavily associate with the holidays – doubly so if you played it when it first released and have some nostalgia for it. Though most of the game takes place in worlds with other themes, Kirby’s Epic Yarn’s snow world is one of the coziest and most touching holiday game locations of all time. Play even one of Snow Land’s levels, and you’ll notice a care and attention to detail in both the visuals and audio that make each stage stand out. In my opinion, Kirby’s Epic Yarn’s biggest strength is using its excellent soundtrack to perfectly set a memorable atmosphere, and that strength is on full display here. From the triumphant march of Snowy Fields to the warm, comfy vibes of Cozy Cabin to the quiet winter echoes of Frosty Wheel, it’s easy to see how one could associate Kirby’s Epic Yarn with the holiday season. Unfortunately, it’s not particularly easy to play right now – unless you have a Wii hooked up, that is – I’ve always thought this game should get a Nintendo Switch re-release even though it received a relatively lackluster 3DS port in 2019. Still, this is a great candidate for a cozy game to replay over the holiday season. Yoshi’s Woolly World is up there too, though its snow world doesn’t quite reach the same heights that Kirby’s Epic Yarn’s equivalent levels do, in my opinion.
Animal Crossing
Every main series Animal Crossing game includes a holiday celebration in the form of Toy Day, so we’re including every single one here. Just like Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Animal Crossing’s Toy Day celebrations are made much more special by the unique music played throughout the event. In New Horizons, there are even slightly different themes depending on if you’re playing in the northern or southern hemisphere. In every Animal Crossing game, Jingle the reindeer appears on Toy Day, and he’ll either give the player presents or ask for their help delivering presents to other residents. Pair that with the fact that Animal Crossing’s towns and islands are covered with snow during winter, and you’ve got a game that’s bound to create meaningful holiday memories among many players.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo actually doesn’t have a ton of specifically holiday-themed games, but I’m supposed to be writing about games that I associate with the season, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is one of them. It released in December 2018, right before the holidays kicked off that year. This was perfect timing, in my opinion – it’s the time of year where things start slowing down in terms of work and obligations, which means it’s clearly the perfect opportunity to spend all that time playing video games instead. Even at launch, Ultimate was the largest Super Smash Bros. game ever, with a huge character selection and a decent story mode to keep players occupied. But its main draw will always be its multiplayer mode, which is an easy pastime at holiday gatherings and such. It’ll probably be a very long time before we get another Super Smash Bros. game, but we’ve at least got this one to enjoy in the meantime.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart World is great and all, but I don’t really associate it with the holidays. It’s got its fair share of snow courses in the form of Starview Peak and DK Pass, but I associate those more with winter than the holidays, if that makes sense. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, on the other hand, has plenty of holiday-themed courses. It’s also sold over 60 million units, which means it’s probably been one of the most gifted games over these past few holiday seasons. The first stage that comes to mind is the Animal Crossing one, which has a winter variation where the town is fully decorated for holiday celebrations. You’ve got a giant tree decorated with lights, for one, plus a light snowfall and excellent background music. Merry Mountain, a track that first appeared in Mario Kart Tour, was also added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via the Booster Course Pass. This is specifically a Christmas-themed course, which is kind of a rarity for Nintendo. You could also lump Mount Wario, DK Summit, Rosalina’s Ice World, and Snow Land into the “holiday courses” category, but again, I more associate those with winter in general rather than specifically the holiday season.
Pokemon Sword and Shield
I imagine not many people specifically associate Pokemon Sword and Shield with the holidays – I’m probably the odd one out here. For all of its criticisms, I think there are parts of the Galar region that are memorable and well-designed, and its winter areas are definitely included there. The snowy routes can certainly be associated with the holidays, and the new regional designs for Mr. Mime and Darumaka are ice-based as well. My personal favorite area in Sword and Shield is Circhester, especially at night. Despite being cold and pretty much in the middle of nowhere, Circhester’s background music – which is very underrated, by the way – would be a perfect backdrop for holiday festivities. Though maybe it’s not a great idea to play video game music at holiday gatherings in the first place.
Nintendo eShop (3DS and Wii U)
Wait, this isn’t a game! That’s indeed true, but when Nintendo still ran the eShop on 3DS and Wii U, they often uploaded and swapped out new music tracks on a regular basis. Around the holidays, they’d have the eShop play a unique, upbeat winter theme to give shopping that extra special feel. I was only a young teenager when the 3DS eShop received its holiday music for the first time in 2013, but I remember browsing every corner of its library looking at games I couldn’t buy (until after Christmas of course). It’s not quite the same nowadays – the Switch and Switch 2 eShops are plain to increase loading speeds, I understand, but punching in a prepaid card you got as a gift doesn’t feel as nice when it’s done in pure silence. I hope we somehow see background music return to at least the Switch 2 eShop one day, but I’m not sure how likely that is.
A few honorable mentions here, too: I don’t have a big holiday association with Donkey Kong Country 3 (I only played it for the first time last year!), but you can use a cheat code to change the bonus rooms’ music to a new festive track. That’s all it changes, though. I also think Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Winter Horns world is one of the greatest winter levels I’ve ever played – but again, that’s more associated with winter time in general rather than the holidays specifically.
What video games do you have the most holiday memories with? Feel free to let us know in the comments down below.
