Retro games for the holidays!

What is a retro Christmas game? In terms of being retro, is it a game from as early as the 16-bit glory days Nintendo’s Super Mario Brothers of 1985 or can it be as late as 2012’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2? For me, I’d argue that it’s both. Admittedly neither are necessarily Christmas-themed however there is something to be said about the nostalgic memories people across the world receive when remembering the times when they opened their presents under the tree on Christmas Day and discovering these games (often alongside a brand-new NES or Xbox 360 respectively) from as early as the 1980s to as late as the 2010s (the latter including me).

Retro games are intergenerational. ‘Retro’ is in many ways just the feeling of nostalgia but can also be a nostalgia that can be shared among generations. My family, for example, are not necessarily active in video games but that does not stop my dad from sharing with me memories of the Sega Mega Drive and his experiences of playing Sonic the Hedgehog. I, in turn, have shared with my younger cousins my memories of playing Super Mario Galaxy on the Nintendo Wii during the Christmas of 2012. I also shared my memories of playing the toys-to-life games of Disney Infinity and Skylanders while sitting back and relaxing on a boxing day from the early to mid-2010s.

Today, thanks to modern technology and special edition collections, it is easier than ever to access a range of video games from times gone past. From the Nintendo NES and SNES collections on the Switch to the hordes of 2000s and 2010s collections on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, I thought it might be worth recommending which games you should give a look at this Holiday season!

1. Super Mario Galaxy (2007): One of the best 3d platformers out there, Super Mario Galaxy is a magical game with an epic soundtrack, fun bosses and amazing visuals for a game released in 2007. This is a game which takes me back to those Christmas mornings in the early 2010s and was a game I loved to share with the family. Now with the release of collections such as 2020’s Super Mario 3d Allstars and its availability on the switch, I would highly recommend giving this game a revisit.

2. Balloon Fight (1984): Now available on the Nintendo Switch as part of its NES collection which comes with the paid Nintendo online membership, Balloon Fight is a highly engaging game where the aim is to pop the balloons of the enemies before they pop yours while also trying not to fall into the water. A smaller game, Balloon Fight is nonetheless a great game to pop onto the switch and play with family late on a Christmas day.

A game which brings back memories of childhood and good times with family

3. Mario Kart Wii (2008): One more Nintendo game but this one is a classic. Mario Kart Wii is an iconic game while also being one of the most fun rage-inducing games I have ever played. This game brings back memories of playing along with family- hoping the RNG is on your side- before inevitably losing but being able to have a good laugh about it. Now with the introduction of the classic Mario Kart Wii tracks onto Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the switch, it may be time to call over the family once again this holiday season and have a few more races for old time’s sake.

4. Star Wars Battlefront II (2005): This might be a peculiar inclusion, but this is an incredibly fun game. Often considered within the fandom to be better than its 2017 EA remake, Star Wars Battlefront II is a classic third-person shooter which takes you across the iconic Star Wars locations from the movies while having easy to understand mechanics, fun game modes and offering numerous strategies to win. What cements my recommendation, however, is the classic 2005 graphics as well as the prequel trilogy aesthetics which reawaken the 2000s nostalgia.

5. Mega Man II (1991): Often considered the greatest Mega Man game, Capcom’s 1991 instalment features some of the most iconic Mega-Man bosses from Flash Man, Quick Man, Heat Man and even…. Bubble Man? With brilliant 2d platforming, an iconic soundtrack alongside all the discovery and respawning that typically comes with a Mega Man game, this is certainly a game that is worth checking out if you haven’t before this Christmas.

A boxing day treat to sit back and play while recovering from the day

6. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013): Perhaps an interesting inclusion on this list and coming straight from the final years of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag has some of the best storytelling of any games in the series alongside nice smooth mechanics, brilliant music and aesthetics which takes fans of the series back to simpler times (before the dark times, before the skill tree). This game is highly accessible to those new to the series and definitely a boxing day treat to sit back and play while recovering from the day before.

7. Lego Star Wars The Complete Saga (2007): Another game from the early 2000s, Lego Star Wars combines the simple pick-up-and-play mechanics of the early Lego games while combining two pre-existing games (Lego Star Wars 1 and 2) while also adding bonus content to create what I believe is the perfect Lego Star Wars game. An accessible game for all the family, I can share from experience the joys of getting the family around the TV on Christmas day to have some childlike fun playing along to moments from the movies as our favourite characters. Now that the game has been made immortal by meme culture and general nostalgia, it may be worth breaking out once again for pure memories.

8. Donkey Kong Country (1994): Licensed by Nintendo but developed by British developer Rare, Donkey Kong Country is a game which has all the hallmarks of nostalgia. A classic soundtrack, unique graphics, iconic level design as well as unique characters, this is certainly a game which should be revisited this Christmas. What better way to spend the Christmas Holidays the by taking turns with your friends or family and having some classic 90s fun with a classic 90s platformer?

9. Epic Mickey (2010): A game which has just received a remaster this year, Epic Mickey is an interesting yet dark take on the iconic Mickey Mouse and Disney. With creepy but incredibly fun level design, bosses and fun little details for fans of Disney history, this is a game which combines interests for both film lovers and platforming fan while still retaining the traditional Disney magic which is made even better by Christmas (even if it does have one of the worst cameras in a platformer).

BONUS: Nintendo Switch Sports (2022): Ok, this is not necessarily a nostalgic game but as a successor to the classic Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort of the 2000s, it is clear from the music of this game to the inclusion of the iconic sports of bowling, golf and even an updated sword fighting mode that Nintendo was really leaning into the nostalgia for the classic games when developing this game. This game is a celebration of past Nintendo Wii titles and if you do not have access to the originals, this is certainly worth checking out and getting as many of your family and friends as possible to come round and play this Christmas.

Those are all my suggestions of games for this holiday season based on Christmas’ past from both my own personal opinion and some of the research I have done. For me, a nostalgic Christmas game is not necessarily one that explicitly features Christmas iconography but rather a game which brings back memories of childhood and good times with family. They are games which (even if they are the most rage-inducing games you have ever played) you can look back on with a smile. These games have certain qualities, whether it be the imperfect graphics, jerky camera movements or just how seemingly easier these games are to play compared to their modern counterparts, that make them a joy to revisit and if you’re looking for a great game or two to play this holiday season, then you can’t go wrong with some of the classics.