15 best games to play on Christmas

Christmas is a time not only of miracles but also of rest. During these days, one wishes to immerse oneself in the festive atmosphere or relax with a favorite game, leaving behind tension and fatigue. Have you behaved well this year? Get your Christmas stockings ready, as we're about to fill them with 15 excellent games that will bring you festive cheer.

The Sims 4

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Let's start with the popular life simulator The Sims 4. What could be better than decorating not only a real house for Christmas but also the home of your virtual family? This game also celebrates this wonderful holiday in grand style. Santa will even visit your characters and bring gifts.

Overall, it's a fantastic game for relaxation with a million possibilities. Here, you write the story, create families and entire dynasties, engage in building, designing, and career. Players can personally find the love of their characters' lives or arrange real trials with drama like in movies. It's the perfect little world to dive into headfirst.

Hogwarts Legacy

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Many cannot imagine Christmas without watching Harry Potter movies. It has become a tradition, and in 2023, there's a chance to personally dive into this magical world. Hogwarts Legacy is an expansive RPG set in and around the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The castle and its grounds are lovingly detailed, and you'll definitely want to explore every nook and cranny, visiting iconic places from all the movies.

The events take place long before Harry Potter's birth. Your character is enrolled directly into the fifth year due to unique abilities. You choose the house, and then immerse yourself in the daily life of Hogwarts students. You'll attend classes, learn spells and potions, learn to fly on a broom, unravel hundreds of mysteries, and battle magical creatures. True magic awaits.

Fortnite

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Another perfect game for the holidays is Fortnite. It's a game-as-a-service in the best sense of the term. Here, every gamer will find entertainment to their liking. Want a shooter? You got it! How about survival in an open world? It's here too. Maybe you want to find yourself in a LEGO world and just build and explore a vast world? This option has recently become available. Fortnite has evolved from a battle royale to a multi-game for any audience.

Currently, the annual Winterfest event dedicated to Christmas is taking place. Every day, players will receive free gifts in the form of cosmetics. There are also special missions to complete for more valuable prizes.

World of Warcraft

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During the holiday season, popular online projects are bustling with life. Millions of people from around the world gather together for fun, to collect gifts, and simply to socialize. The legendary MMORPG World of Warcraft is no exception. To this day, it remains the most popular and expansive online game, played by fans for years! The conflict between the Alliance and the Horde keeps growing in detail, with the project receiving major updates, new classes, and locations.

WoW is a classic of its genre. Players choose a side in the conflict, a race, and class, and then embark on a long journey, growing stronger and developing their characters. The game emphasizes social interaction. People form guilds, communicate, make friends, and even find love.

Currently, WoW is hosting the Feast of Winter Veil event, dedicated to the winter holidays. Join in to feel the spirit of Christmas and claim valuable gifts.

Lost Ark

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Another popular MMORPG that welcomes you with a winter event and valuable prizes. The game world is filled with the spirit of Christmas. Now, in major cities, there's a festive atmosphere. Players can obtain not only beautiful outfits and crafting resources but also a unique mount.

Lost Ark is a unique isometric Action-RPG that has become a full-fledged online game with a large audience.

Here, you'll find all the aspects of classic MMORPGs: a variety of classes, PvE raids, world bosses, PvP arenas with valuable prizes, and much more. All this is generously adorned with a dynamic combat system featuring skill combinations.

World of Tanks

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The tank action game World of Tanks gained worldwide popularity, becoming not just entertainment but also a cyber discipline. In this massive online project, you will test legendary tanks from around the world. Essentially, it's a shooter, but instead of a character with a gun, you control a formidable steel machine.

Games from Wargaming are always known for their holiday events. Players can expect not only gifts and unique events but also stunning visual decorations in the spirit of Christmas.

The festive atmosphere is excellently conveyed here. Currently, in WoT, the Holiday Ops event is taking place, bringing many valuable gifts. As a tradition, players will decorate their garage and Christmas tree, collect snowflakes, and claim gift boxes. You can also acquire the unique commander Vinnie Jones with original voice acting.

THE FINALS

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The end-of-2023 newcomer, THE FINALS, also features a cool Christmas event. This free online shooter is quickly gaining popularity and has every chance of staying at the top of Steam for a long time. The game's main feature is its destructible environment, affecting gameplay and dynamic battles.

A major patch titled Happy Holiday has been released in the game, bringing the Christmas atmosphere to THE FINALS. The Morocco map is covered with snow, snowmen and a festive Christmas tree have appeared on the streets, and thematic outfits are available to all players for free.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

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What winter holiday would be complete without the snowy province of Skyrim? This legendary RPG has been delighting fans for many years and has acquired a whole list of reissues, which has spawned numerous memes. TES V is often joked about, but for many gamers, it remains one of their favorite games. It's certainly a landmark title for the entire gaming industry.

You have an entire snowy northern province at your disposal and complete freedom. The player decides how the adventure will unfold, who they will be in this world, and how they will affect the fate of Tamriel. The game is perfect for a cozy holiday experience.

Valheim

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Speaking of coziness, one cannot overlook the popular survival game Valheim. Thanks to its unique graphics, the atmosphere here is simply stunning. There's nothing better than sitting by the fire with friends, roasting freshly caught meat, and washing it down with mead. You can build anything here, even an entire castle.

We emphasize that playing Valheim with friends fully unlocks the gameplay, making it an excellent reason to gather together for the holiday. Build, survive, fight bosses, and explore the world of Valheim, from sun-drenched meadows to snow-covered mountains.

Founders' Fortune

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Another way to spend the Christmas weekend cozily is by playing Founders' Fortune. It might not be as famous as Valheim, but it certainly deserves your attention. This incredibly cute and stylish game combines elements of The Sims, Stardew Valley, and a city-building simulator. You start with two enthusiasts determined to build a village that will eventually grow into a city. The game offers ample scope for creativity.

As you gather resources, cultivate fields, and breed farms, don't forget about your citizens. They're not just the labor force but individuals with their own character, mood, and needs. They can be happy or sad, fall in love, and feud. Residents will start families, thereby continuing their dynasty. Since it's Christmas, it's worth noting that in Founders' Fortune, you can also organize holidays.

Stardew Valley

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This game is perfect for relaxation at any time, especially at Christmas. Stardew Valley is a unique project with a soul. Despite its style, the game is engaging and holds your attention for hundreds of hours. It's a true life simulator, like The Sims series, but with a focus on farming.

Although it's an offline project, it has a strong social component. NPCs live, have personalities and preferences. They organize festivals, give each other gifts, work, love, and conflict. Here, players can find a partner and start a family. By the way, Christmas is also celebrated in Stardew Valley, and in the cooperative mode, you can spend it with a friend or your significant other.

Tropico 6

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In Tropico 6, there's always a festive atmosphere. The developers achieved this effect with vibrant graphics, humor, and an energetic soundtrack. It's an economic, city-building simulator that allows you to enjoy the game and relax without reading hundreds of pages of guides. The difficulty can be adjusted to your preference. For the inhabitants of the tropical islands, you are the ever-wonderful leader who loves money and power.

Currently, Tropico 6 is hosting a Christmas event. Tall palm trees are covered in glistening snow. It's the perfect combination of hot tropics and fluffy cold snow. You can immerse yourself in this celebration alone or with a friend in cooperative mode.

My Time at Portia

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If you're looking for a game world where you can literally live, but not just focus on farming, then My Time at Portia is your choice. It's a sandbox game with a large open world and great possibilities. The story takes a back seat here, and nothing forces you to do anything specific. You are free to travel, engage in building and crafting, farming, artifact hunting, and battles.

Moreover, the vast world isn't empty. There are towns and settlements with NPCs from whom you can take daily quests. And, of course, My Time at Portia has cooperative play.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Online

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One cannot overlook such an MMORPG giant as FINAL FANTASY XIV. In terms of popularity, this project can compete with WoW, although they have many differences. While the MMO foundations are the same, the gameplay itself is different. FF XIV is more dynamic, resulting in fast and vivid battles.

Currently, the game is hosting the Starlight Celebration event, where you'll receive gifts, as well as Santa Claus armor and a yard decoration with garlands. Christmas trees, garlands, and Christmas creatures have appeared in the locations.

The Jackbox

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Let's finish the list with the coolest game for parties. The Jackbox series is perfect for any occasion when you gather with a large, friendly group. These game collections are designed for just that, and all you need are phones connected to the Internet. Essentially, it's like a board game for groups where each person completes a task written on a card. 

There are a total of 10 collections with mini-games, so there's plenty of entertainment for the entire Christmas holiday.

We hope that these 15 games will create a pleasant Christmas atmosphere for you and help you spend the holidays in a fun and cozy way.

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