December is that magic month where everyone can get together, cozy by a fire, and get to really enjoy each other’s company. Gifts are given and appreciation is shared between your friends and family. So, in that vein, after recommending 5 spooky family-friendly games for Halloween, here are 5 more video games to play with the whole family for the holidays! A couple of caveats: they won’t all be holiday-themed this time around (Horror is a genre in the gaming industry, but sadly, Christmas is not!), and I wanted to go for lesser-known titles instead of the more obvious, bigger names. With that said, let’s begin!

Battle Chef Brigade

Available on: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch

In the land of Victusia, there exists an organization called the Battle Chef Brigade, who hunt monsters not only to protect the people, but to feed them. Who knew monsters were edible? Follow the young chef Mina, her friends, and their journey to join and fight with the brigade!

Battle Chef Brigade is a mix of 2D action-combat to gather ingredients with match-3 elements (think Bejeweled, Candy Crush, Puyo Puyo, or Tetris) to cook food that’s hotter than a burning fireplace or colder than a raging snowstorm. I never thought a game could fuse these different styles of gameplay so well, but it’s such an engaging experience, with both an incredibly fun and challenging campaign and an entertainment multiplayer mode. 

Nights into Dreams

Available on: PC, PSN (for PS3), XBL (for Xbox 360), Sega Saturn (in case you have one)

Claris suffers from stage fright during an important audition, and Elliot’s passion for basketball is deterred when some older upperclassmen ruin the game for him. It puts their abilities into question, and they dream with these doubts in their hearts. They arrive in the dream world of Nightopia, where they meet Nights and join the fight to save Nightopia from the evil ruler of Nightmare, Wizeman the Wicked.

NiGHTs into Dreams is an older title but one that’s endured in fans’ hearts with its unique gameplay and visuals. The game features a more arcade-like system where you fly around and collect orbs to gain points in order to progress and fight the bosses of each level. The more recent ports of the game also features a short, holiday-themed version called Christmas NiGHTS (perfect if you’re looking for some holiday cheer in your game). For anyone interested in a look at an older game from the past, feel free to take a gander at this one.

Golf with your Friends

Available on: PC

Golf With Your Friends is a game that’s still in Early Access on Steam, but has provided so much joy to my friends and I over the years that it had to go on this list. The concept is very simple – you are a golf ball, and you and your friends (up to 12!) will compete to complete (currently 10) mini-golf courses.

There is a ton of variety (multiple game modes) and customization in this title (you can change the shape of your golf ball, for example) that it’s still a blast to come back to, especially as new courses get created over time. A level editor has also been added, and with some great user-created courses, there’s a lot here to play with. The game has also gotten into the holiday spirit with its own snowy theme, and there are some cool winter-themed user-made courses to check out!

Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together!

Available on: Nintendo Switch

No story to tell here, just a lot of gosh darn cuteness to go around.

Snipperclips is an excellent, incredibly charming little bundle of entertainment for anyone to play.
It’s a puzzle game about cutting your characters up to complete certain objectives (match a certain shape, sharpen a pencil, throw a basketball into a hoop). The main campaign is for up to two players, but there are other modes for up to four players! This game is so unique and quirky, it’s an absolute must-recommend for anyone who hasn’t played it. There’s also an expanded edition called Snipperclips Plus with more puzzles and changes to enjoy, if you’re interested!

Rayman Legends

Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS Vita

Return to the Glade of Dreams as Rayman, Globox and his friends! Nightmares and Dark Teensies have threatened the land in the time that Rayman has been away, and it’s once again up to him and his friends to save the day!

Rayman Legends is a fantastic platformer that exudes so much energy and fun. The art style is vibrant and colorful and every single character shows so much personality. This is helped by the game’s great platforming design and the ability to play with up to four players can make for a great (if crazy) time. There’s also a mode called Kung Foot where you take the platforming mechanics and controls and turn it into a soccer game that’s amazing for party play.

So, there you have it! I hope that these recommendations can give anyone in the family a good time.

And, of course, I’d be remiss to not mention that we have a great family friendly video game for the Nintendo Switch called New Super Lucky’s Tale.  You can learn more about it at newsuperluckystale.com

Happy holidays, everyone!

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