Ahh the holidays... It's the most wonderful time of the year! But it can also be the most stressful. So take a break, and let go of that blouse... really the other lady had it first... snag a steaming cup of cocoa (extra marshmallows with maybe just a dollop of whipped cream), and snuggle up to these holiday goodies, as we go through the Top Five Games to Ring in the Holidays with this year.
There's nothing like the holidays to put you in a murderous rage where all you want to do is punch every person that has shoved their way past you, snagged the last item in a bin when you clearly had your hand reached out, or slammed you in the head with their excess pile of shopping bags.
And that wasn't even on a weekend. Really, how all you people can go out on Black Friday is beyond me. I make it a point to stay in my most comfiest pajamas on that day and take lots of excess naps while eating tons of leftovers.
However, if I want to get my family anything for Christmas, I eventually have to brave the shops. And, because we live so close to Disney World, that usually means hitting the parks as well for gifts for all the kids. Do you know what the parks look like right now??? It's not pretty.
And, of course, the kids can't just want something easy, like Mickey Mouse dolls, which you practically stumble over every two feet on property. The age ranges I have to shop for are too vast. One likes LEGOS, so we went down to the LEGO store. Another likes the Muppets, so we had to go to the Disney Studios. Another likes Totoro, so that meant going to Epcot in the Japan Pavilion. By the time it was all over, all I wanted to do was throw myself on my bed and never, ever move again.
I hate feeling like that during the holidays. So to make myself feel better, I decided to find the most obnoxiously cheery, most exciting, holiday games I could find, which turned out to be quite the challenge.
Most holiday games tend to be throw away games... just developers trying to get on the holiday band wagon and take advantage of the holiday gung ho. But there are a few out there that are truly fun to play, although I did have to go back a few years to get all five games on this list.
So without further ado, here they are in no particular order:
I continue to be amazed by Christmas Stories Nutcracker. It's a drop dead gorgeous hidden object adventure game that's just right for the holidays. This game was definitely not slapped together. The story takes full advantage of the classic Christmas tale and immediately enchants you with its loveable characters, (I can't get enough of those adorable cats!), beautiful scenery, and smooth gameplay.
This one is a great choice to gather round the kiddies and have a fun night snuggled up by the computer as you help the Nutcracker save Princess Mary from the Rat King.
This little gem came out last year, but if you're a time management fan, Amelie's Cafe Holiday Spirit is definitely worth pulling out of the old Christmas bin and firing it up for some great holiday cheer.
There's not too much story to the game, but it's a fun way to get in the holiday spirit with some fast paced, classic serving style, time management gameplay, as you help Amelie serve up delicious holiday grub for the season.
There really is something for everyone this year. Christmas Mahjong was just released, and it's a nice, calm, relaxing game of mahjong that just happens to have a holiday theme. Soft, soothing holiday music is piped in as you match up Christmas trees, reindeer, presents, and decorations.
For puzzle and mahjong fans, Christmas Mahjong is a great game to just leave up on the computer for anyone who needs a few minutes to unwind.
For all you gamers who love your traditional hidden object games without the adventure, Christmas Wonderland 2 is a holiday dream come true. This game is all about finding hidden objects and that's it. There's no running around adventuring and getting lost. Just gorgeous holiday scenes packed full of fun stuff to find.
Christmas Wonderland 2 is another great game that I tend to just leave up on the computer so the whole family can play. Whenever someone feels like it, they can just sit down and find an object or two, and then go about doing whatever they were doing. It really is a fun way to play together without having to gather everyone around and make a big deal out of it.
Chicken Invaders Ultimate Omelette Christmas Edition
Chicken Invaders Ultimate Omelette Christmas Edition is for all those holiday guests or family naysayers who say that casual games aren't fun or challenging or for the whiny teenagers in your life who say these games are boring.
Challenge them with this game and see how long they can last against the onslaught of chickens hurling Christmas decorations at them. I guarantee you'll have them furiously clicking as they shoot hordes of chickens through endless levels of holiday fun in no time!
And there you have it! The Top Five Games to Ring in the Holidays with this season! With all the family get togethers and last-minute shopping, be sure to keep this on your playlist whenever you need to unwind.
Did I miss one of your favorite holiday games? Let me know by commenting below. Happy Holidays everyone!