If you’re on a holiday break, you might be hitting the Winter sale to buy some games as a present to yourself or catching up on your backlog of titles. But gaming throughout the Christmas season doesn’t have to be lonely.
The winter holidays are the perfect time to gather friends and family around the screen and have fun together with cozy co-op adventures or chaotic multiplayer favorites. With that in mind, here are the eight best video games to play with friends and family during the winter holidays.
8. Dinkum
Considering unwinding with a cozy multiplayer game? Dinkum is a hidden gem. This life-sim blends farming, crafting, fishing, and town-building in a laid-back shared world inspired by the Australian outback. You can work together with your friends to build your town at your own pace. It’s a great pick for long gaming sessions where relaxation matters more than competition.
7. Split Fiction
For a more story-driven co-op game, Split Fiction is designed for two players. The game emphasizes collaboration, communication, and narrative choices between you and the other player. You’ll love how the game challenges what co-op gameplay means today, especially when playing it with a sibling or close friend with whom you want to share an immersive gaming experience.
6. PEAK
Fast-paced and chaotic are two words to describe PEAK. It’s a party-friendly multiplayer game that thrives on laughter, teamwork, and competition. Your only goal in the game is to climb to the peak of a mountain. It’s simple, but the terrain, environment, and even creatures can make it hard for you and your friends. PEAK also has a recent update where the game is donned in a Christmas theme, making climbing more festive in-game.
5. Mario Kart World
No holiday game list is complete without a Mario game. Mario Kart World delivers its classic racing fun for players of all ages. You can customize races to be short or long, see familiar characters, and change up the controls to make the game an easy go-to for Christmas game nights with some friendly rivalry.
4. Unrailed: Back on Track
Teamwork turns into controlled chaos in Unrailed: Back on Track. This co-op gameplay requires some strategic quick thinking and chemistry between you and fellow players when building your train’s railroad tracks. Additionally, what makes this game fun is that you can experience each biome in a new way every gaming session, so each experience isn’t like the last.
3. Super Mario Party
One of the best multiplayer games to play with friends and family, Super Mario Party combines board-game mechanics and quick mini-games. Whether you’re having dinner or catching up with friends, there’s no pressure to play this game because of how chill yet exciting it is.
2. Jackbox
An iconic holiday video game to bust out is Jackbox. The Jackbox Party Packs bring in a variety of games to choose from, challenging your family, friends, and even getting to know them better. There’s no need for controllers to play this since you can easily play on your mobile device. From trivia to drawing to performances, Jackbox has a game for everyone.
1. Overcooked: All You Can Eat
Last is another fun and chaotic co-op game, Overcooked: All You Can Eat. Befitting the time of making Christmas dinner, the game offers hours on end of frantic kitchen action that also thrives on teamwork, communication, and strategy. It’s one of the best video games to play together on the couch or online when you’re celebrating with friends from across the world.
Overall, playing video games together is one of the easiest ways to stay connected during the holidays. These titles offer something for every group, skill level, and mood. No matter which one you pick up, the best part about playing together is the shared moments and memories you’ll carry long after the holiday season ends.