Best Retro Games to Play at Christmas

Christmas Retro Gaming: The Games Worth Breaking Out for the Holidays

Christmas and retro gaming have a specific relationship: many of the games listed here were originally received as Christmas gifts, and replaying them during the holidays connects the mechanical experience to seasonal memory. But beyond nostalgia, these games are specifically good for holiday gatherings because they accommodate mixed player groups — different ages, different skill levels, different gaming experience — better than most modern games.

The best Christmas retro games are primarily multiplayer, quick to understand, and enjoyable to watch even when you’re not playing. A family member who doesn’t play games can watch Mario Kart and understand what’s happening; can watch Smash Bros. and grasp the objective; can join a Contra run and contribute at their own skill level. These aren’t the deepest or most mechanically complex retro games — they’re the most social ones.

Mario Kart 64 — The Universal Racing Game

Mario Kart 64 (1996) is the most universally accessible racing game in gaming history. The 50cc difficulty allows inexperienced players to compete without advanced techniques; the item system provides catch-up mechanics that keep races exciting regardless of skill differences; the four-player battle mode is competitive without requiring technical expertise.

For holiday groups, Mario Kart 64’s specific appeal is its spectator entertainment: even players watching rather than participating can track what’s happening, root for familiar characters, and react to item hits. The game’s social dynamic — the rubber-band AI keeping races close, the late-game item inversions, the proximity mine ambushes in battle mode — generates conversation and reaction in the room.

Super Smash Bros. — The Fighting Game for Everyone

Super Smash Bros. (1999) solved fighting game accessibility for casual players: familiar Nintendo characters, simple button inputs (no quarter-circles), percentage-based damage that builds tension gradually, and platform-based knockback that sends players flying rather than whittling health bars. The game is immediately comprehensible to non-gamers while providing genuine depth for experienced players.

The original N64 Smash’s 12-character roster — all iconic Nintendo characters (Mario, Link, Samus, Pikachu, Kirby, DK, Fox, Jigglypuff, Ness, Captain Falcon, Luigi, Yoshi) — provides immediate recognition for anyone who has grown up in the Nintendo era. The four-player free-for-all format creates chaos that is entertaining to experience and watch simultaneously.

NBA Jam — Two-On-Two Basketball

NBA Jam (1994) is the best holiday party sports game because it combines sport recognizability (basketball) with arcade accessibility (2-on-2, no fouling, two buttons for all moves) and spectacular moments (“He’s on fire!”). Anyone who understands basketball’s basic premise — put the ball in the basket — can play and contribute. The on-fire mechanic rewards skilled play visibly and dramatically.

The two-player cooperative or versus format scales perfectly for holiday groups: two players per team, spectators rotating in after each game. The game length (4 2-minute periods) is short enough that groups cycle through quickly. NBA Jam generates more genuine laughter per session than most other retro games due to the announcer’s exclamations and the physically impossible dunks.

Kirby Super Star — The Accessible Co-op

Kirby Super Star (1996) is the most appropriate introduction to cooperative gaming for players who haven’t played before. Kirby’s floating removes the primary failure mode (falling into pits) for inexperienced players. The copy ability system makes each Kirby fight feel more powerful rather than more demanding as players advance. The eight separate adventures allow players to choose their challenge level.

For holiday groups with significant skill differences between players, Kirby Super Star’s cooperative mode is the most equalizing choice available. An experienced player can guide an inexperienced partner through any challenge without the gap feeling punishing for either player.