The best Christmas game depends on who is playing and what you have available: a couch-friendly racing game, a cooperative adventure, a gentle solo world, or something with unmistakable winter-season flavor. This list groups 13 options by the kind of holiday session they suit, with platform and multiplayer details where the cited sources establish them. It is a guide to matching a game to your gathering, not a head-to-head ranking.
How to choose a Christmas game
Start with the people and hardware in the room. “Multiplayer” might mean several people sharing one screen, separate consoles nearby, or online play; those setups are not interchangeable. Check the current edition’s platform listing, player setup, controller needs, and any online requirements before making plans. A game also does not need snow or holiday decorations to fit: a long adventure or cozy game can be ideal when everyone finally has time to settle in.
- For a quick group session: look for short rounds and simple ways for people to take turns or join in.
- For teamwork: choose a cooperative game if the group would rather solve problems together than compete.
- For a quieter break: a solo game can be a better fit than trying to involve every visitor at once.
- For seasonal atmosphere: prioritize winter scenery or an explicitly winter-themed mode.
Best Christmas games for groups and parties
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — best for couch racing
For a group that wants a familiar, competitive game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch is a strong fit. Nintendo’s UK holiday guide says one Switch system supports up to four players in split-screen and lists 48 courses. Nintendo’s winter-break guide also describes local wireless and online options, as well as Smart Steering for newer racers. If everyone will share one system, the split-screen option is the relevant one; other multiplayer modes have different setup needs.
2. Nintendo Switch Sports — best for active family play
Nintendo Switch Sports is a movement-oriented choice for a group ready to stand up and play. Nintendo’s seasonal guide lists seven sports: Tennis, Bowling, Golf, Football, Volleyball, Badminton, and Chambara. Because play relies on motion controls, confirm the edition and controller setup for your players before the gathering.
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3. Super Mario Party — best for a board-game-style session
Super Mario Party mixes a dice-based board with events, minigames, coins, and Stars. It suits a group that wants a shared, multi-part session rather than a single quick race. Check the product listing for player setup and controller requirements for the edition you own.
4. Just Dance — best for a music-and-movement party
Just Dance is a natural party option when the group wants music and movement more than a traditional competitive game. Nintendo includes the series among its seasonal party suggestions, but that guide does not establish which edition or song catalog is current. Check the listing for the edition available in your region and the songs it includes.
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- Play your way: Bring your friends and enjoy the mayhem in couch multiplayer or with cross-platform online multiplayer for up to 4 players. Whether it's competing for the perfect score in Rocketball, practicing against that pesky kraken in Kraken Up or boogieing down in Dance Off, you can enjoy LEGO Party! together or solo!
- Go for the gold: In LEGO Party! you have one goal: to become the player with the most Golden Bricks! Use power-ups to gain the advantage and set up traps to sabotage your opponents across a range of customizable LEGO themed Challenge Zones.
- Everything is awesome: Put your speed, wits, and LEGO expertise to the test across a variety of crazy minigames. Race to make dinner for aliens, run through collapsing tombs and skid round the track in rally races and so much more across 60 different wildly fun minigames.
- You do you: With over 1 billion minifigure combinations from iconic LEGO sets, you can go with a classic look or design your own unique and outlandish minifigure. Show off your creation at the next party!
- Languages: In-game voice - English, French, German, Spanish (EU). In-game text - Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Spanish (EU), Spanish (LATAM), Traditional/Simplified Chinese.
5. Mario Party Superstars — best for another board-and-minigame option
Mario Party Superstars is another Nintendo-recommended choice for a group looking for board-game-style play and minigames. It gives households an alternative to Super Mario Party; compare the editions and player setup in the relevant listing rather than assuming their features are identical.
6. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — best for competitive matchups
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate brings a competitive fighting-game option to a party. Nintendo lists it among its group-game suggestions. Before choosing it for a mixed-age or first-time group, check the product page for player setup and consider whether the pace and controls suit everyone playing.
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- Bring the party on 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 Mario Party games
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- All game modes can be played online
- Matches with friends in board game mode are saved after each turn both locally and online—pick up where you left off
- Play using a single Joy-Con controller, two Joy-Con with the Joy-Con grip accessory, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, or Nintendo Switch Lite system
7. Overcooked! 2 — best for cooperative holiday chaos
Overcooked! 2 turns cooking into a timed teamwork challenge. Xbox Wire describes both in-person and online play, making it an option for groups that enjoy communicating under pressure. Its appeal is cooperation, though the time limits can make the session hectic rather than relaxing.
8. The Jackbox Party Pack 10 — best to consider for a phone-in-hand party
Nintendo’s seasonal party suggestions include The Jackbox Party Pack 10. It is a candidate for a gathering where people want to join party games without everyone using a conventional controller. Check the current platform listing and the player-device requirements before choosing it: the cited seasonal guide does not spell out the setup for a particular household.
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Best Christmas games for a calmer or longer session
9. Animal Crossing: New Horizons — best for gentle island visits
Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a quieter way to share time in a game world. Nintendo’s winter-break guide says local wireless visits do not require internet, but each visitor needs their own Switch system and game. Visitors can meet, shop, play, and message in-game. That makes it a different kind of gathering game from one-console party titles: plan for a system and copy of the game per visitor.
10. Kirby and the Forgotten Land — best for a same-system co-op adventure
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an adventure option for two people who want to play together on one system. Nintendo says player two can join or leave at any time as Bandana Waddle Dee, and both players need a Joy-Con controller. Its drop-in setup can work well when one player wants to explore alongside a more experienced player.
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11. Minecraft — best for a shared building project
Minecraft can turn a holiday session into a shared building or exploration project. Xbox Wire describes split-screen co-op and suggests starting a new world for a holiday session. The right edition and hardware matter, so check the listing for the platform you plan to use before counting on split-screen.
12. Stardew Valley — best for a cozy, longer-running game
Stardew Valley is built around farming, crafting, developing skills, and forming friendships in a small community. Xbox Wire describes co-op supporting up to eight players, but the player cap should be confirmed for the specific platform and edition before organizing a larger group. It is a better choice for people who want a continuing world and a relaxed pace than for a short party round.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Best explicitly winter-themed Christmas game
13. Winter Games Collection + Advent Calendar — best for daily seasonal minigames
Winter Games Collection + Advent Calendar is the most directly seasonal pick in this list. The Nintendo of Canada listing describes 25 winter minigames, multiplayer for up to four, and an Advent mode that reveals one game each day from December 1 through Christmas. The cited Canadian listing labels it a Nintendo Switch digital edition and says Switch 2 compatibility is supported; it does not establish a physical-cartridge edition.
Match the pick to your setup
| Game | Best fit | Play setup established by cited sources | Seasonal connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | Couch racing | Up to four split-screen players on one Switch; Nintendo also describes local wireless and online options. | Good for holiday group play; not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Nintendo Switch Sports | Active group play | Motion-control setup; confirm the intended edition and controller needs. | Seasonal recommendation, not explicitly Christmas-themed. |
| Super Mario Party | Board-game-style group session | Dice-based board play and minigames; check the listing for setup specifics. | Party-friendly, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Just Dance | Music and movement | Current edition and song catalog are not established by the cited seasonal guide. | Party-friendly, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Mario Party Superstars | Board and minigames | Group option; check the edition listing for player setup. | Party-friendly, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Competitive fighting | Player setup and accessibility details should be checked against the current product page. | Group option, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Overcooked! 2 | Timed teamwork | Xbox Wire describes in-person and online challenges. | Cooperative party game, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| The Jackbox Party Pack 10 | Party games | Check current platform listing and player-device requirements. | Party option, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Gentle visits | Local wireless does not require internet; each visitor needs their own Switch and game. | Winter-break-friendly, not necessarily Christmas-themed. |
| Kirby and the Forgotten Land | Two-player adventure | Same-system co-op; both players need a Joy-Con controller. | Adventure for holiday downtime, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Minecraft | Shared building or exploration | Xbox Wire describes split-screen co-op; confirm the relevant edition and hardware. | Holiday project potential, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Stardew Valley | Cozy, longer play | Xbox Wire describes co-op up to eight; verify the cap on the chosen platform and edition. | Well suited to downtime, not specifically Christmas-themed. |
| Winter Games Collection + Advent Calendar | Daily winter minigames | Up to four players; cited Canadian listing is digital and notes Switch 2 compatibility. | 25 winter games and a December Advent mode. |
Availability, editions, compatibility, and online access can vary by region and platform. For the most useful last check, open the product listing for the exact console and edition you intend to play, then confirm its multiplayer setup and required controllers.
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