Big Blockbusters for Holiday Marathons
If you want one or two huge games to dominate your holidays, December 2025 and this year’s awards season give you plenty of choices. These are the “turn off your phone, disappear for a week” kind of experiences.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Fresh off winning Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2025, plus multiple other awards, this French turn-based RPG blends painterly Parisian surrealism with fast, timing-based combat and a heavy, apocalyptic story about a cursed paint stroke that kills every year. It’s also sweeping Golden Joysticks and indie awards, so if you play only one game this holiday, this is the one everyone will be talking about.
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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo’s flagship December release, a massive first-person sci‑fi adventure for Switch and Switch 2 that pushes exploration, scanning, and boss encounters further than any previous Prime. Perfect if you want that classic “one big Nintendo epic” for the break.
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Octopath Traveler 0 – A new HD‑2D JRPG with multiple protagonists, layered turn-based combat, and gorgeous visuals, ideal for players who want deep systems and lots of side stories to chew through over the holidays.
Story-Focused Games to Finish Before New Year
Prefer something you can realistically start and finish before work or school resumes? These releases offer strong narratives without demanding 100+ hours.
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Sleep Awake – A psychological horror/adventure highlighted in December countdowns, built around dreamlike environments and short, intense sessions. Great for late-night holiday gaming.
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Terminator 2D: No Fate – A side-scrolling action game that lets you play as Sarah Connor and the T‑800 in an arcade-style campaign, recommended in multiple “best December” lists as a nostalgic but modern-feeling shooter.
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Unbeatable – A rhythm-action adventure with anime aesthetics and a strong story hook, frequently cited as a standout December indie for players who love music and narrative combined.
Co-op and Live Service Picks for Playing With Friends
Holidays are prime time for co-op and live service grinds when friends finally have matching free time. These games shine when you’re in voice chat rather than playing solo.
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Elden Ring: Nightreign – The Forsaken Hollows (DLC) – A major co-op focused expansion that adds a brutal new region, bosses, and fresh builds on top of Nightreign, recommended in December “must play” videos as a top pick for groups.
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Marvel Cosmic Invasion – A flashy beat’em up that throws multiple Marvel heroes into frenetic co-op stages, ideal if you want something less demanding than a Soulslike but still kinetic and social.
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Switch 2 edition) – The Feudal Japan AC that now runs on Switch 2, making it a strong holiday pick for players who want open-world stealth/action on a portable console.
Short, Snackable Games for Busy Holidays
If your holidays are chaotic—family visits, travel, limited time—short-session games are the safest bet. These fit perfectly into 15–30 minute windows.
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Dadish 4 – A tight, funny 2D platformer out this month primarily on mobile, built around short, precision-focused levels that are perfect for quick breaks or couch play.
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Routine – A space horror game called out in end-of-year lists; its slower, atmospheric pacing and contained structure make it ideal for a couple of focused evenings instead of a long grind.
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Smaller Steam indies – December’s Steam calendar is packed with compact experiences like Anxiety Puppy (interactive narrative about anxiety) and Milano’s Odd Job Collection (retro slice-of-life sim), easy to complete before January hits.
“Catch-Up” GOTY-Level Games You Might Have Missed
December is also the perfect time to catch up on 2025’s critical juggernauts alongside Expedition 33. If your backlog is open, these are prime candidates.
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Hollow Knight: Silksong – A constant presence in GOTY lists and award discussions, with free DLC like Sea of Sorrow already announced for 2026, making it a smart time investment for Metroidvania fans.
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Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – One of 2025’s most ambitious and divisive games, praised for direction, storytelling, and audiovisual design, especially in awards coverage.
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Ghost of Yōtei – An acclaimed action‑adventure that has picked up major awards and shows up in “best Xbox/PlayStation titles of 2025” lists, ideal if you want a polished, atmospheric single-player journey.
This mix lets you tailor your holiday gaming: one big epic like Expedition 33, one focused story, something co‑op, and a couple of short indies to fill the gaps.
