Freezeezy Peak – Banjo-Kazooie
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
Kicking off our list of awesome gaming Christmas bops is the legendary tune of Freezeezy Peak from Banjo-Kazooie . While all of these games don’t come right out and say Christmas-themed level, a lot of them – and especially Freezeezy Peak – may as well because it’s super obvious. In Banjo-Kazooie you’re essentially part of your very own “saving Christmas” special as you’ll be asked to protect the adorable Twinklies from evil Twinkly Munchers (both living holiday lights) as they journey in their mission to light up the Christmas tree. Also trying to ruin your holiday spirit are those DAMN Snowmen that throw snowballs at you. ARGGG they are so EVIL. Mock me with your laugh one more time, just wait until I get the Beak Bomb and we’ll see who’s laughing… probably still you because I’ll miss 90% of the time and go crashing into a wall.
White Park Zone Act 1 – Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
The rule for most Sonic games is regardless of the quality of the game, the music is almost guaranteed to be incredible. Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2, while being far from the worst Sonic game, wasn’t great. But no one is going to tell me that White Park Zone Act 1 is not awesome wintery Christmas music. Yeah sure, Ice Cap Zone is by far the best snow-themed level of Sonic, but if we’re talking music that reminds you of the holidays, White Park Zone comes out on top. Honestly, out of all the zones in Episode 2, White Park Zone is really the only one that stands out due to its fun/unique theme park design, and of course its memorable music. Hopefully SEGA decides to give players one more ride through White Park Zone in a future game.
Vanilla Lake – Super Mario Kart
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
While Super Mario Kart’s Vanilla Lake is certainly less in your face than some of the other entries on this list, it still has a nice upbeat tune that reminds you of cool snowy days outside with your pals. Hopefully your snow days were less violent than the atrocities that went down at Vanilla Lake.
Diamond Dust Zone Act 1 – Sonic 3D Blast
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
Here’s another crappy Sonic game with amazing music. There are a couple versions of this zone’s song, but the Saturn version is by far the best. It straight up sounds like a song that would play at the beginning of some corny Christmas special as some narrator sets the stage for the story that’s about to unfold. Enjoy the song but avoid Sonic 3D Blast like the plague, it really does not hold up well at all.
Snowball Park – Super Mario 3D World
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
Snowball Park is another song that almost too perfectly encapsulates its setting. This light and care-free tune not only fits the scenery of Snowball Park like a glove, but if you grew up playing in the snow as a kid with your friends, it will take you right back to those moments.
Shiver Star – Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
In a way, lots of Kirby songs – not even the winter-themed ones – kind of sound like upbeat holiday songs. They are all so fast-paced and cheerful. So obviously Shiver Star, the snow world from Kirby 64, is going to feel EXTRA Christmas-like.
Nintendo e-Shop on Christmas
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
There are a couple of general Nintendo holiday/Christmas tunes, but the one we have here is probably the best one. There aren’t many better songs that encapsulate the feeling of opening presents better than this. If Nintendo has its way, it’s a song that motivates you to go out and spend some of that Christmas cash on the e-Shop.
Ice Paradise Zone Act 1 – Sonic Advance 2
SEGA should just release some kind of “Very Sonic Christmas” album at this point if it doesn’t already exist. Between Sonic and Nintendo, there’s a host of just awesome snow/winter/holiday/Christmas (whatever you want to call it) themes that put you in a cheerful mood. I’m no musician and I’m running out of ways to describe them at this point, but I know a great tune when I hear one, and Ice Paradise Zone Act 1 is yet another example.
Starlight Celebration (AKA Jeuno Christmas) – Final Fantasy XI
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
While Final Fantasy XIV gets all the love these days, its older brother, Final Fantasy XI, has it beat when it comes to “Starlight Celebration” music. I used to subscribe around Christmas time if I wasn’t already a member just to be able to experience this awesome remix of the usual Jeuno music live and in-game. The city of Jeuno is very upscale and boujee, and this remix fits that atmosphere very well.
Click Clock Woods – Winter – Banjo Kazooie
The Best Video Game Music for Christmas
Finally we’ll bookend this list with another tune from the legendary Grant Kirkhope and Banjo-Kazooie. It has a slower pace and calmer beat to it than the other songs on this list, but it’s here anyway for how well it encapsulates the feeling of being stuck inside during a snowstorm. The wind whistling the snow around on top of the lighter version of the Click Clock Woods theme is just too much nostalgia to handle, especially around Christmas time.
Let’s cut this article off now before I start wasting my afternoon digging around my basement for my Nintendo 64.
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