The Top 7... Christmas moments

From heartwarming to horrific, we count down gaming's most memorable holiday scenes

Words: GamesRadar US

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1. Animal Crossing (GameCube, 2002)
Whereas most of the games on this list halfheartedly touch on holiday themes, the first Animal Crossing absolutely buries you in gift-giving cheer. It uses the GameCube's internal clock to "know" the exact date down to the second - so, once winter rolls around, snow starts to fall, lights appear in trees and special "Christmas Remix" editions of the in-game music take over. Even the lovable townsfolk get into the act.

The best moment comes on December 24, when a present-toting reindeer arrives to deliver gifts. Find him in time and you stand a good chance of landing a fully playable NES game. Yep, Animal Crossing had close to 20 complete NES titles built in. When the Wii version finally arrives, don't expect the same good grace - you get to pay for them on the Virtual Console.

So, why no Animal Crossing: Wild World? It left out most of the real-world holidays, so there's no Christmas love to be had. Winter, yes, but you'll have to wait until New Year's Eve for a real sense of togetherness.

SECRET BONUS ROUND: Guild Wars (PC, 2005)
Oh, what the hell, it's Christmas. Here, have an extra one: