The holidays are awesome. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Festivus, there’s bound to be a few traditions you find yourself enjoying every year. For me, it’s always been playing games with either a holiday or winter setting. Christmas NiGHTS Into Dreams for the Sega Saturn is one of the few Christmas-themed games out there (expect reviews of a few others this month as well), and it captures everything about what makes the holiday season so great.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, Sega gave away Christmas NiGHTS with select games and magazines in the US and the UK, and in a console bundle in Japan. It really only consists of two different levels, but just like a fruit cake, there’s tons of fun stuff baked right in. At the end of each level there’s a boss, after which you’re given the chance to flip cards to try and find pairs. For every pair, you unlock a “present”. Presents consist of artwork, music, a karaoke mode, videos, and the ability to play the game as Sonic. The game doesn’t control all of that well when you’re Sonic, but it’s still a really neat addition.

Nothing says Christmas like decorated trees in the sky

Christmas NiGHTS functions based on the internal clock of the Sega Saturn. If played in November or January, the title screen says “NiGHTS: Limited Edition” and the levels are covered in snow. On April Fools, the main antagonist of the series, Reala, becomes a playable character. On Valentine’s Day, hearts will appear. In December, the game becomes Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, and on Christmas day Santa appears. If it isn’t December and you’re still in the mood for some holiday cheer, the option to switch the game to Christmas mode is available as an unlockable.

Sans the Christmas décor, there is no real difference between how this game and the regular NiGHTS into Dreams plays. In fact, both levels included come from the original game. As NiGHTS, you fly through pseudo-3D realms as you gather orbs, pass through rings, and try to get the highest score you can. The only true difference here is that you’re now making your way through Christmas-y levels covered in snow, ornaments, elves, wreaths, bells, and more. It’s over the top in the greatest way, and unlocking presents is addicting enough to have you playing the same two levels as many times as it takes.

This is a screenshot from Christmas NiGHTS for the PS2, which was included with the re-release of Nights into Dreams.

This game is the utter antithesis of everything The Grinch stands for. If you find yourself a hater of all things Christmas, then this game will probably have you gagging before the first level even begins. For all of the holiday lovers, though, there’s really no game that captures the feel quite as well as Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams.

Is there a certain game you like to play around Christmas time? If so, post it in the comments!

Still Gaming: Christmas NiGHTS

By Dena Natali

It's 2006, it's Still Gaming, it's Christmas NiGHTS!