The holiday season is upon us! As human, this means a few things: spending time with, and getting smothered by, friends and family, giving and receiving gifts, and partaking in delicious foods. As gamers, this means a few, let’s say, different things: avoiding friends and family to game, giving and receiving steam gifts because it’s easier than shopping around, and partaking in takeout that was ordered in between online matches. No matter what holiday you’re celebrating this year, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, etc., if you’re reading this blog, then the likelihood of video games being involved is very high. While there are a plethora of games that came out this year that ought to be played, this blog will inform you of several that I found to be the most festive and fitting for the holiday season. Enjoy, and happy holidays!
-Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag- (Playstation 4)
The first game on my “Holiday Games List” (working title) is, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Imtheman2013, this game isn’t festive! It hasn’t even got snow!” And, yes, it hasn’t got snow. But hear me out, there are reasons why this game is on my list. During the holiday season, most people are left with a lot of time off of their usual work and school routines. This excess amount of time can lead to Cabin Fever, or a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in a small space, with nothing to do for an extended period (as described by wikipedia). Luckily for us gamers, we have video games to distract us! This brings me back to Assassin’s Creed. Black Flag features a huge, open world rendition of the Caribbean Islands of the 18th Century. Countless hours can be lost to sailing the sea and listening to pirate shanties, or hunting wales, or looting shipwrecks, or causing shipwrecks, or completing assassination contracts, or treasure hunting, or (and I know this last one sounds crazy) actually completing the exceptional main storyline. This game is a beast when it comes to content, and it’s actually an extremely polished game when compared to its’ predecessor, Assassin’s Creed III.
-Little Inferno- (iOS)
The next game on my list may come as a shock to some, as it’s definitely not one of the bigger releases to happen this year. Little Inferno is a great little game developed by Tomorrow Corporation, and it being their debut game, I’d say it’s a pretty stellar success. The objective in Little Inferno is to burn anything and everything in your Little Inferno Fireplace to stay warm during the harsh winter -- yes, this game has snow! The objects that are available to burn are often silly, and the game even has a peculiar tale to tell. Little Inferno is surprisingly addictive… or maybe I’m just a pyromaniac. Either way, since this game has recently gone portable, there’s even more reason to pick it up. I mean, you could be cozy by a fire while being cozy by a fire. *insert fire-ception joke here*
-Ni no Kuni: Wrath of The White Witch- (Playstation 3)
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of The White Witch is the third game on my “Holiday-ish Games Because Being Festive Is Fun List” (working(working title)). Ni no Kuni was released quite early this year, but even so, it has secured its place among the few games that I consider Game of The Year worthy. Ni no Kuni tells the tale of Oliver, a young boy who goes through a traumatic event and is swept into an unexpected adventure. While on this adventure, he encounters one of the best supporting characters of this generation, Mr. Drippy. Experiencing Oliver and Mr. Drippy’s story is something that anyone looking for a fun and heartwarming JRPG should pick up. Level-5 did a phenomenal job on this game. Oh, and did I mention that there’s a snow region? Well, there’s a snow region… with abominable snowmen! Fuzzy, delightful abominable snowmen.
-Batman: Arkham Origins- (PC)
The final game on my “Festive Games of 2013 List” is Batman: Arkham Origins. As I’m sure the entire gaming community knows, Arkham Origins is the prequel to the very popular Arkham series that Rocksteady developed. Origins is developed by Warner Bros. Games, but it sticks with the core mechanics that made Rocksteady’s games so fantastic. Unfortunately, Arkham Origins isn’t the masterpiece that Arkham City was, but that isn’t to say that it’s a terrible game, because it is far from that. This games biggest fault is its mediocre main storyline. However, in Origins, you’ll find the free-flowing action and stealth we’ve come to love, a ton of side-missions to discover, loads of collectible goodness, and a moderately sized map to explore. So, all-in-all, Arkham Origins is definitely worth looking into if you’re a fan of the series. I almost forgot to mention that the game takes place on… Christmas Eve! So, while roaming the streets and skies of Gotham, expect to see tinsel, red and green party lights, and Santa hats galore. If Christmas isn’t your holiday of choice, there’s still a lot of snow to be found in Gotham, which is festive by its’ very nature.
There you have it! Those are my recommended festive games to try out this holiday season. A little side note: the platform name next to the titles of the games are just the platform that I played these games on, not the only platform that they appear on.
Thanks for reading!
Nagoshi Studio’s YouTube channel with the Gang of Dragon trailers appears to have been removed following reports that NetEase will stop funding.
Dear team,
Xbox has always been different.
We started with a simple idea. Games should bring people together through shared experiences. That led to the first Xbox in 2001, Xbox Live in 2002, and new ways to connect, from friends lists and achievements to parties and play across devices. Today, Xbox reaches over 500 million players around the world, with some of the most important franchises in entertainment.
re-evaluating exclusivity 💀
PS players will need to go back to pretending to dislike Xbox games
Or meaning since it’s doing so good they might just do everything day 1.
They didnt say re-evaluating their multiplatform approach.
🤣🤣🤣 Xbox is so dead. I know you scared🤣🫵ӿ 97;
Even when the topic is strictly Xbox he can't stop talking about PlayStation. Xbox has basically become the hate of PlayStation... and not much else.
Hurt over video games 🤣🤣
Lmao we all grew and got jobs but apparently you stayed home broke 🤣🤣.
Man I love loyal dogs like you. MS kicked Spit and slapped you around but you still come back on all 4s.
Good little boy 🤣🤣
My only question is what games are PlayStation gamers gonna play now? They don’t really come out with new games anymore. I’m looking forward to wolverine, but after that then what?
Lmao
There’s no way after everything it’s going back, the damage is done
What you are seeing now is the new management telling what the core fanbase (aka…you) want to hear so they are pumped full of hope and are more likely to invest in the next Xbox console
When Phil took over after the awful Xbox One reveal he did the same thing, he told people what they wanted to hear for damage control.
It’s crazy people are getting suckered into this again.
FWIW..... wasn't the new management speaking to the other staff.... not so much us (regular folk)?
And you'll now go back to again thinking exclusives suddenly matter, that multiplatform is no longer the future, or that revenue from multiplatforms doesn't matter, like all you flop flopping xbox grifters lol.
The whole post just sounds like the previous phil corpo slop talk to me, whole thing reads like a nothing burger lol.
“re-evaluating exclusivity”
She also said this.
“The model that got us here won’t be the one that takes us forward.”
I don't know if they have a model anymore it's flipped so many times since the xbox one reveal
There's a bunch just like him but that's what happens when some rely on dreams, hope and wishful thinking. lol
"pretending"? Bro gears hasnt broke 1mil on ps5, and starfield hasn't passed 200k, Hellblade 2 was even stated to be a financial disappointment in sales on its own console, let alone ps5. Im not saying people don't like them, but they certainly aren't setting the community on fire, Forza may be different tho
Xbawx is ''re-evaluating exclusivity''... Translation: After throwing all sort of crap to the wall to see if something sticks but clearly nothing worked, we, including our lord ''in charge'' Phil came to the conclusion that exclusives indeed do matter so please forget if we ever said otherwise.
Yup, I feel it in my gut, next gen belongs to xbox, PS6 is cooked...
Someone can’t sleep after those 5 million forza games PURCHASED by PlayStation owners🤣 🧌 💥
Well with the decreased price of gamespass even with cod off it there is no way it is profitable given the cost of making their 1st party games (not if you actually include that cost in gamespass costs which they typically dont but should) they will just make a loss without the sales on
If they go back to exclusive games it at least shows that they are finally getting it. They would be turning down immediate money for something that will potentially workout in the long term.
Only issue is they've already opened Pandora's box. A lot of their base has moved to PC or jumped to PS. So will be a long road to get back on track.
We have been saying this from day one exclusives are a must if you are going to be selling hardware look at Nintendo and Sony before Jim Ryan. That's the proven formula. You had some that were deluded and blinded by loyalty accepting that multiplat was the future and that MS was merely getting ahead of where the industry was headed, but at least they can finally see the light and agree with what everyone has been saying for a decade+
True, blame it on the rabid fanboys. MS can do no wrong and spinner this multiplatform move. While the actual fans moved on.
I feel like with the new Xbox coming they are hoping to bring back those old fans and then if it goes well. Bring back exclusives.
If the new console is performing like series x and one. Naw they staying multiplatform.
Actual fans dont move on... they can add to their hobby while waiting for the next new release. If you believe what you typed then I guess PS fans moved on too.... you know, since its been a Sahara for 1st party games this gen.
Funny world where Sony is pro consumer and Xbox is not? At least according to what you loyalists have been saying all this time 🤭
@itveds For how many years have you been doing this sad stuff? For how many years have you been creating fake accounts to troll? For how many years have you always been cl vnn
Pathetic incels with nothing better to do than argue over a box... Because they don't have any good games to play on theirs, obviously. If your precious box is so special, why don't you shut the fuck up and go play it?
I think it's too late, xbox sales were diving even before ABK, they got even worse since then even long before the full multiplatform push. I'd be surprised if they even went back to timed exclusivity at this point, Helix is basically a PC and is going to be expensive, they already struggle to sell cheaper xbox consoles, it will be low volume and they'll have a very small 'console' base to sell to, which has already been conditioned to just play via gamepass anyway.
I don't see them removing PC from the equation. Considering MS has a heavy enough investment in the PC market, it would be foolish to abandon them. I could see them taking away games from PlayStation or ensuring they are timed exclusives at the very least. Say what you will but if Call of Duty ends up becoming a timed exclusive to Xbox machines, that would hurt PlayStation, don't pretend like those games don't sell millions.
They would lose out on a lot of CoD sales tho. Doesn't PS make up most of the sales?
Their lifeline of solely the Xbox consoles is dry. Good-Great games on a 1st party scale can't be made at a loss so willingly - sent to the Xbox to only sell limited copies.
They invested billions scooping up studios and need to start making returns.
Sucks that nearly every company is publicly traded and have to be so shareholder biased but that's how it is.
Their words are strong but it'll take time to see what their actions accomplish. Lowering the cost of Game Pass and taking CoD off of it was a good clear start.
More like, allot of their base just played game pass. So now they need to encourage them to start buying again.
Despite all of that, it's clear that Microsoft's Xbox division is broken beyond repair.
PlayStation is currently draining money on flop after flop. It's Sony that needs to re-evaluate their strategy
Wonder how much money was lost on perfect dark, hellbalde 2, 300 million lost revenue
by putting cod on gamepass. The recent Jason schrier news that Xbox has cancelled dozens of projects, spent 70 billion just to see Xbox sales further collapse and gamepass see little growth.
The fact is this has been PlayStation's most profitable generation and they are making loads of money and selling plenty of consoles and games. While MS won't give you any sales figures or profit numbers for Xbox, says it all really.
It isnt. But I dont think they mean in 'games', rather, footprint.
They own the OS but as far as gaming is concerned, Steam dominate. I imagine the VAST majority of people who use the Xbox app/launcher are PC gamepass subs. No ones buying their 3rd party PC games through Xbox PC.
Insider Gaming writes: "Marathon was one of the best-selling video games in March 2026 in the United States. On Wednesday, Circna released the best-selling games of the month, and it featured six new releases along with two games returning to the top 20 after previously falling out."
Is it April fools day again?
The game is dead.
EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”
well it's not on Switch / Switch 2.. so their number would be zero.
The game had a decent launch however the userbase numbers are dwindling on Steam.
“ Is it April fools day again?
The game is dead.
EDIT: the numbers are fudged. “digital sales on Nintendo and Xbox weren’t included in the data”
Does it hurt you to hear a SONY game was BEST selling ?
You gotta let go of those OBCURED feelings 🤷🏿
I mean the only reason MLB was the best selling title was because it was multi-platform. Likewise with Marathon. Will ring true for MS games. Only Nintendo titles are truly flexing their muscles when they chart as they are only to be found there.
It's kinda funny how this Obscure guy lives rent-free in your head. lol
Does Phil also live there?
It's kinda funny how this Obscure guy lives rent-free in your head. lol
Does Phil also live there?
I’m sorry did you wrote something smart ?
Or are you trying to to be funny because you failed at both
Now kid run to mommy legs the grown ups are talking.
Don’t bother writing anything I will not respond to a bratty child like you
Yeah sure, yet the player count is no where near what they want for a AAA game with so much money behind it
Why people are trying to spin this game like it’s done overly amazing is baffling to me.
It won’t even be a blip on peoples radars by the end of the year .
You must me typically wrong cuz those Steam chart numbers (AKA where the game sold the MOST) is less than what Hunt has, and Hunt didn't cost $500 million to make lol
Where is the last of us bro ? :/