The best coffee growers in the games: celebrating International Coffee Day

Coffee has also managed to find its place in the world of video games: these are some titles that pay tribute to this drink.

What would many of us do without our cup of coffee? This bitter as well as aromatic brew has established itself as our faithful battle companion, on which many of us depend to become functional adults. However, caffeine addiction is not something that occurs only in real life.

Coffee has also found its place in the world of videogames. While some titles only mention coffee in passing, others base their entire gameplay on it. Sometimes, it is simply a tribute. Be that as it may, grab a good cup and get ready to dive into these coffee video games.

Coffee Talk DOWNLOAD

Person 5

The plot of Persona 5 is not exactly focused on the cafe, but it does “star” in one of the key scenarios of our adventure: the Leblanc cafe. For our protagonist, Joker, it is his refuge and represents a safe place. As if that were not enough, in our free time we can also play at being baristas. As a golden brush, it is impossible not to mention its beautiful soundtrack, ideal for those moments where only you and that cup of coffee exist.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Although it had not been included out of the box with the game, Animal Crossing can also boast its own cafeteria. Thanks to the 2.0 update, players of Nintendo’s calm title stumbled upon the café, with Figaro in charge. For the modest price of 200 berries, you’ll be able to drink your coffee quietly there. And you don’t have to do it alone: sometimes you’ll run into neighbors from your island and even some old acquaintances.

Coffee Talk

The title says it all. If you are looking for a game that shows its love for coffee, Coffee Talk is what you are looking for. Your purpose is quite simple: you’ll have to serve a good, hot coffee to anyone who needs it. However, your clientele will be very peculiar: ogres, humans, elves, demons… there are as many beings as there are types of coffee. Coffe Talk is simple, but it leaves us with a good message: no matter what you are or where you come from, in the end we all want (and should) be heard.

Coffee Talk DOWNLOAD

The Best Christmas Gifts for Gamers

Christmas is right around the corner. While 2020 has been the most atypical year (and frankly, one we’d sooner forget), some things never change. There’s a festive atmosphere in the streets, and your colorful string lights and Christmas tree are just begging you to take them out of the closet. But at this magical time of year, there is one activity that strikes fear into the hearts of all gamers: buying last-minute gifts!

If you’re the kind of person who waits until the last minute to do all your Christmas shopping, don’t worry… you’re in good company! But with the sheer number of great video games that have hit the market this year, you might feel a bit overwhelmed when deciding what to buy. There are so many fun titles out there that it’s hard to choose between them.

To make life easier, in today’s article we have a roundup of the best gifts for gamers this Christmas. Whether you’re looking for a present for your nephew, or a gift to treat yourself for surviving 2020 like a champ, read on for our list of the best titles of the year. Time is running out, so be sure to buy them soon!

Ghost of Tsushima

Exclusive on Sony consoles, Ghost of Tsushima marks the return of Sucker Punch with what many already consider to be its masterpiece. Set in feudal Japan and a tribute to Akira Kurosawa’s films, Ghost of Tsushima puts us in the shoes of Jin Sakai, a samurai who breaks his own code in order to save his people from a Mongol attack.

This open-world adventure game combines superb art direction with fast-paced action sequences developed with input from martial arts and samurai experts. In addition to the epic main story, the game contains a large number of side quests that add depth and folklore to the island of Tsushima. Unlike similar titles, the secondary missions in Ghost of Tsushima move away from typical quests like going to a certain place and obtaining a certain object. All of them tell a complex story with its corresponding intro, middle and ending.

Finally, it should be noted that along with the main campaign, Ghost of Tsushima has a fun multiplayer co-op mode called Legends. If you’re lucky enough to own a PS5, you’ll be pleased to know that this title offers Game Boost, with much faster loading times and the option of playing at 60 fps. Don’t miss it!

-33%
Ghost of Tsushuma

From: Amazon

39,95$ 59,99$

The Last of Us Part II

The Last of Us Part II has been one of the most talked-about games (for better or for worse) of the year. Love it or hate it, the long-awaited sequel to one of Naughty Dog’s most beloved titles hasn’t left anyone indifferent. Of course, the fact that it has won so many awards and has so many fans and detractors leaves no room for doubt: it’s a title you simply must play to form your own opinion.

In the second installment of The Last of Us, we’ll catch up with Joel and Ellie years after the events that we all know well. The world remains in the grips of a pandemic that turns people into horrible monsters. But in The Last of Us Part II, it’s patently clear that the real danger and terror come from the people rather than the infected, a message that was already transmitted in the first edition.

With heart-stopping graphics that push the power of PS4 to its limits, The Last of Us Part II puts you in the shoes of Ellie on her bloody journey to avenge the death of a loved one. Delivering hours of pure story and sequences you won’t soon forget, The Last of Us Part II is perfect for anyone who wants to find out what became of Joel and Ellie. That said, keep in mind that it’s not an uplifting game and that it tends to provoke strong feelings: you’ll either love it or hate it.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

During the pandemic, few games have made lockdown as fun as Animal Crossing: New Horizons. If you still haven’t gotten your hands on little gem from Nintendo, don’t hesitate to buy it for someone (or as a treat for yourself) this Christmas. Because in the end, what could be more fun than spending the day relaxing on your own desert island?

Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a new twist on an old formula, inviting you to become one of the first residents of an island. Of course, the one who gives you this juicy opportunity is Tom Nook, the greedy yet adorable raccoon to whom you’ll be in debt up to your eyeballs all throughout the game. Your island is fully customizable: you can give it a name, create a national anthem, a flag and of course, decide the location of the shops and houses of your future neighbors. In just a few days, you’ll see your island grow from a virgin paradise into a small metropolis completely forged to your liking.

If you’re familiar with the Animal Crossing franchise, you’ll be pleased to see most of its characters return, including the endearing Isabelle. On your island, you can create furniture, tools and buildings, decorate your home, and for the first time, change the course of rivers and mountains to your liking. As for gameplay, in Animal Crossing the only thing that matters is having fun and enjoying your neighbors’ company. With a number of events scheduled for Christmas, there’s no better time to seek out New Horizons. Want to check it out?

-17%
Animal Crossing: New Horizons

From: Amazon

59,90$ 69,90€

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft is back for another year with its longest-running franchise and one of the most beloved by gamers: Assassin’s Creed. This time, you’ll travel to Nordic lands, specifically back to the year 873 BC, and play the role of Eivor, descendant of the leaders of a Viking clan who will seek revenge after his death. However, instead of Norway, the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla story will be centered in England, where the Vikings will go to conquer new lands.

Valhalla has many similarities to the previous installment. Its open world is large and vast, with a wide variety of landscapes between the cold Nordic lands and the green pastures of England. As was the case in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, you can choose Eivor’s gender when you start your adventure, so the main character can be either male or female. The experience and levels system introduced in Odyssey also returns, along with the mission of investigating your adversaries one by one until you find the head of the organization, whom you must hunt down and capture. And of course Layla also returns, forming a bridge between past and present and gradually unraveling the mysteries of the Animus.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a perfect title for fans of the franchise, especially if they enjoyed Odyssey. This game has hours of adventure, secondary missions, action, romance and a huge map to explore. What better time to check it out than this Christmas?

-25%
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla

From: Amazon

44,90$ 59,90$

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is one of those games that needs no introduction. Since it was announced eight years ago, the new CD Projekt RED title has built up lots of anticipation among gamers. After so many years and postponements, many of us thought it would never go on sale. But now it’s here, and believe us, it was well worth the wait!

Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure game based on the universe of the board game of the same name created by Mike Pondsmith. In it you’ll play V, a young man who is tasked with stealing the immortality chip from the headquarters of the Arasaka corporation. Set in the dystopian Night City, Cyberpunk 2077 offers hours of non-stop fun and a story full of intrigue that will delight sci-fi fans.

While Cyberpunk 2077 has many similarities to The Witcher franchise in terms of narrative quality and fun, it’s a very different game. This title is played in the first person and has much more frenetic action that will delight shooter fans. You can even modify V’s appearance and gender to your liking. If you love science fiction and are looking for a good title to enjoy for years to come, don’t think twice. Cyberpunk 2077 is the game for you!

We hope you liked our selection of gifts for gamers this Christmas. Is there any other game that you’d like to recommend to our readers? Tell us about it in the comments section!

The Longest New 2020 Video Games To Play Now

This has been an atypical and rather chaotic summer due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Under normal circumstances, we would be packing our suitcases and enjoying some well-deserved days of rest and relaxation all over the world. However, due to new outbreaks and fears about infection, most of us have decided to stay home with limited opportunities to go out and have a good time. You may not be able to travel, but that doesn’t mean your “staycation” has to be boring. Fortunately, there are always video games to keep you entertained!

Mandos de PlayStation 4

The first half of 2020 didn’t bring as many new releases as we would have liked (there were many delays and postponements), but it did see the launch of a nice selection of video games that are perfect for your “virtual vacation.” While some are only good for a few hours of entertainment, others are so juicy that you could lose yourself in them for days on end. So why not make it your goal to finish them and enjoy a fun-filled vacation?

In today’s article, we have a roundup of the longest video games to be released in the first half of 2020. We hope you find it helpful!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons couldn’t have arrived at a better time. This new release from Nintendo’s well-known franchise hit the stores just as confinement was announced, and for many, it has been the only escape during some challenging months. If you haven’t played it yet, what are you waiting for?

Instead of a house, in this new Animal Crossing edition for Nintendo Switch, you’ll become the owner of a beautiful desert island. Of course, you’ll receive it courtesy of the ultimate video-game cheapskate, Tom Nook, so as you can imagine, you’ll be up to your eyeballs in debt to the charismatic raccoon. Unlike in the other editions, you’ll be able to shape the island environment to your liking, creating a true paradise made to measure.

As you improve the island, new shops and locals will become your neighbors and, as usual, friends from all over the world can visit you in multiplayer mode. Animal Crossing: New Horizons could be described as an endless game, so it’s a great choice if you want a sun-and-beach vacation (albeit a virtual one).

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town

SoS: Friends of Mineral Town

If you like farm simulators, you’re probably well-acquainted with the popular Harvest Moon franchise. After Marvelous Entertainment’s separation from Natsume, Harvest Moon changed its name to Story of Seasons, and following several releases for Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch, it has become a favorite of fans of the genre. The latest edition, Friends of Mineral Town, is a gift to all franchise devotees, as it revives the emblematic Game Boy Advance title.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a remake of the classic Friends of Mineral Town with new graphics, new characters, and many improvements. And of course, it maintains all the classic’s charm and playability. In it you’ll become a farmer who has just arrived in Mineral Town with the dream of restoring your farm to its former glory. To do so, you’ll have to care for your crops and animals and befriend the friendly inhabitants of the town.

Like any good farm and life simulator, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town can be considered an endless game. You can do whatever you want, from planting a pineapple orchard and letting your pink cows graze in the pasture to taking a walk with your best friend, getting married and having children. We highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a quiet game that, unlike Animal Crossing, is not linked to the console’s internal clock.

Death Stranding

Death Stranding

Although it has been on PS4 since last November, Hideo Kojima’s controversial title reached PC in mid-2020, and it’s definitely one of the longest games you should play this summer. In it you’ll become Sam Porter Bridges, a delivery man in a world on the brink of extinction. His mission will take him from coast to coast of the United States as he attempts to prevent the human race from disappearing.

If you know the game and followed its release, you may wonder if Death Stranding is really worth it. The answer is a categorical yes. This title has a superb storyline, stunning graphics, and gameplay that’s both relaxing and challenging. The characters and complex plot will hook you in a heartbeat, and we promise it won’t ever disappoint you. But keep in mind that although it’s a Kojima game, it’s not another Metal Gear.

Dealing with profound issues such as family, death, fatherhood, and the destructiveness of social media, Death Stranding is a title whose story and gameplay leave nobody indifferent. You’ll either love it or hate it. We love it! Do you?

Death Stranding DOWNLOAD
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Nioh 2

Nioh 2

Team Ninja is back with the sequel (or should we call it a prequel?) to its acclaimed role-playing action title Nioh. In it you’ll play Hide, a warrior whose Yokai blood gives him the ability to absorb the powers of Japanese spirits. Set during the Sengoku period, Nioh 2 serves as the starting point for the first game, showing us the events that occurred before we meet Edward for the first time in jail.

As fun and challenging as the first game, Nioh 2 has interesting improvements that will dazzle the most demanding gamers. First of all, you can create your own character and thus choose the aspect you like the most. In addition, due to his Yokai blood, Hide can absorb the powers of other spirits thanks to their soul cores. That’s why gameplay is much more challenging than in the first title, because knowing how to absorb the skills of certain Yokai and master them will be key to finishing your adventure.

Already a long game (about 100-120 hours for veterans of the first Nioh and about 150 if you’re new to the franchise), Nioh 2 has a new mode that makes it exponentially harder and changes the location of all its enemies. If you like very difficult games set in feudal Japan, don’t miss your chance to get your hands on it.

-15,30€
Nioh 2

From: Amazon

29,90€ 45,20€

Ghost of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima

The studio behind the Infamous series, Sucker Punch, presents Ghost of Tsushima, an epic open-world adventure set in feudal Japan. In Ghost of Tsushima, you’ll play Sakai Jin, a samurai who loses all his companions while trying to protect his native island from an attack by the Mongols. During a fierce battle, Jin is taken for dead and his uncle becomes a prisoner of the Mongol leader Khotun Khan. It is then that the samurai decides to travel around the island in search of help and rescue his family from a certain death.

Beautiful, fun and highly varied, Ghost of Tsushima will delight fans of Japanese culture and gamers alike. This title features large, vibrant, colorful settings to explore, hundreds of side quests, and a story that hooks you from the get-go. To top it all off, its katana combat system is challenging and beautiful, even earning the seal of approval of samurai historians across Japan.

If you’re looking for a good open-world adventure title loaded with action, missions, and a vast map to explore, we recommend checking out this game. You can finish it in about 60 hours (with secondary missions included), although if you like challenges, you have the option of playing in the classic New Game + mode. Don’t miss it, it’s worth your while!

Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal

Our final pick is the updated and extended version of one of the most acclaimed JRPGs of recent times, Persona 5. Whether you have played the original or have yet to try this little gem, Persona 5 Royal is truly worth your while. In it you’ll play Joker, a young student who, by a twist of fate, discovers that he is capable of entering parallel worlds created by the human mind called Palacios. From them, he has the power to change people’s minds, which he uses to catch criminals and solve injustices and dangerous situations. Together with his group of friends, the Phantom Thieves, Joker and company will begin their adventures with the aim of saving their compatriots from danger.

As we mentioned, Persona 5 Royal is the extended and improved version of this already lengthy game. You’ll have new activities, three new characters (including a new member of the Phantom Thieves), a new Palace to explore, a new semester full of adventures, and even the possibility of seeing Morgana transformed into a human.

If you like JRPGs and are looking for the perfect game from the technical and plot perspective, don’t hesitate to give Persona 5 Royal a try. We promise you’ll love it!

We hope you have enjoyed our roundup of the best games for hours of fun this summer. What are you playing these days? Tell us about it in the comments section!

How to play Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a piece of prime real estate on your phone!

Animal Crossing

The Animal Crossing series is a super popular collection of games for Nintendo consoles. You play as a human in a world of animal friends who all live their lives decorating, playing, fishing, planting, and helping each other become what we believe could be the cutest characters in a game ever.

The art style is adorable and the games are a lot of fun, and with news of the release of the next game in the series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons coming next year many people who haven’t played are wanting to try, especially since seeing the preview at E3.

If you’re in that category and aren’t sure you want to splurge on the game for your Nintendo Wii yet, we suggest trying the free-to-play lighter version for your mobile device, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp!

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp DOWNLOAD FREE ►
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How to play Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Animal Crossing

Getting started

Once you’ve downloaded the app, start by creating your character. You can change your appearance at any time. Options are basic: gender, hairstyle and color, a few different skin tones, and eye color.

Next, are the controls. To move your character, just tap the area on the screen that you want to go to, or drag your finger and they will follow. The first character that you will officially meet is Isabelle. Yes, that Isabelle from Super Smash Bros.

She believes that you’re the new camp manager and, at this point, you’ll choose your nickname, which other players will be able to see. Then, you can choose the style of your campsite – natural, cute, sporty, or cool. Even with a specific theme, you can still use all of the items available for each of the campsite styles. Isabelle then asks you to travel to Breezy Hollow and look around for other animals that might need help.

Animal Crossing

The main goals of the game are to decorate your campsite, make friends, and travel in your camper to give them things that you’ve collected that they need.

Animal Crossing

Crafting and collecting

As you move around the map, you can collect items like fruit, crafting materials, insects, and other supplies by tapping on them.

Sometimes items are just lying around, and other times you’ll have to gather them by picking them, fishing, or shaking trees. Once you’ve gathered an item, you’ll have to wait (usually a few hours) for them to replenish.

Crafting materials like cotton and steel can be used to make furniture to decorate your campsite. For furniture, take your materials to Cyrus and Reese’s workshop (Re-Tail on the Road) and they make pieces for you. They’ll let you know when your order is ready.

To check out what’s available to craft, look at the craft catalog in the menu bar at the bottom of the screen. Along with the materials that you gather, you’ll also need to spend a few Bells for the labor. If you don’t want to wait, you can speed up the crafting process with Leaf Tickets.

Decorating, trading, and making friends!

To decorate, tap on the grid icon. There, you can place new furniture and move everything around that you already have. If you want to switch out furniture, tap ‘put away’ and then select the items that you want to send to storage.

Animal Crossing

As you trade items and help characters, you’ll level up your friendship with them and get Bells and other gifts in return. You can also level up by inviting characters to your campsite.

Do this by tapping on the ‘contacts’ tab, which will list all of the friends you’ve made. Then just tap invite, and a cute video will play of you two just hangin’ out. From this point on, that character will be able to visit you freely. You can also plant flowers in your garden and harvest them to sell for Bells.

Wrapping up

Occasionally, the game will need to download data to your device. They make the loading time worth the wait by throwing in an adorable game where you can tap to make your camper jump to collect Bells as it travels along a scenic route. Find those collected Bells in your mailbox.

Every day when you log in to the game there’s a chance for you to get more Bells and other fun items as well. Remember to check your mailbox and collect items there from time to time. It can hold 2,000 items, and once you reach capacity, things will begin to disappear.

All in all, Pocket Camp is a great light version of the full console game. It works over data and on Wi-Fi, but it does have loading screens every time your character travels to a new area on the map. Fortunately, loading screens are not very long, lasting around 3-5 seconds and they show helpful gameplay tips.

We recommend downloading Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp as it’s a fun and really cute way to pass the time. It is available for iOS and Android.

Nintendo’s biggest announcements from E3 2019

Animal Crossing: New Horizon and No More Heroes 3 are coming to the Switch!

Bowser

Microsoft can keep Halo: Infinite, and Sony can have Death Stranding because Nintendo definitively won E3 2019 without either of them.

In Nintendo’s first day at E3, we learned about new characters coming to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a sequel to Breath of the Wild, and we even caught a glimpse of some new Pokémon! In less than 45 minutes, Nintendo broke the internet.

However, Nintendo revealed so much more than what just said. New games, remakes, and new features were unveiled, and we picked out the best of the best! Here are our favorite reveals from Nintendo at E3.

Nintendo E3 key takeaways

Animal Crossing New Horizons is coming March 2020

We’ve known that a new Animal Crossing game was coming to the Nintendo Switch for a while. However, when we finally got to see it today, our expectations were blown out of the water.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons takes place on a tropical paradise. Here you can build up your new home along with all the colorful characters you have learned to love.

Initially, Nintendo announced that this game was going to come out around Christmas 2019. However, today’s trailer pushed the game back to March 2020. At the end of the day, we’re really not all that upset; we’re just happy we got a trailer!

By the way, where was Reggie during all of this?

Ah, makes sense.

No More Heroes 3 is happening

We don’t think anyone was expecting to see this trailer, but we are so glad that we did.

No More Heroes was one of the hidden gems of the Nintendo Wii. The game stars Travis Touchdown – an assassin who hacks and slashes every bad guy he comes across with his beam sword. 

Travis is also a complete nerd. His apartment is filled with loads of pro-wrestling and anime collectibles. Basically, he’s one of the most identifiable video game protagonists ever. The only issue is that we haven’t seen Travis since the sequel in 2010, Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes. 

However, in 2020 we will finally reunite with Travis, in what will surely be one of the top titles of the year.

Now that this is out of the way, please Nintendo, put Travis in Smash. 

Super Mario Maker 2 will have online multiplayer

Mario Maker 2

As hyped as fans were for Super Mario Maker 2 when we learned that the game was not going to have online multiplayer we thought “What’s the point then?”

Luckily, Nintendo confirmed in a tweet today that Super Mario Maker 2 will have online multiplayer in a future update.

Basically, the game will not have it at launch, but Nintendo has seen the error of their ways and will include it later.

Trials of Mana is getting an HD remake!

If you put 100 gamers in a room together and ask what are the best classic RPGs, almost all of them will mention the Secret of Mana series.

The games have all of the feel of the Final Fantasy series, but with even more whimsical charm and nature. That charm looks like it is at the forefront in the new trailer for the HD remake of Trials of Mana.

The game has the same charm of the original, but with a much-needed cosmetic upgrade.

The game is set to come out in early 2020. However, Nintendo also announced that you can play all three games in the Secret of Mana library right now on your Nintendo Switch!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming to Switch

Nintendo has already brought some amazing games from the past decade to the Switch. This includes Saints Row: The Third, L.A. Noire, and now The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. 

The game along with all of its DLC will be available to play later this year. However, you can preorder it now!

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming soon

Luigi’s Mansion has gone from being a cult-classic to one of our favorite Nintendo series out there.  The new trailer for Luigi’s Mansion 3 looks like more of the spooky adventures we love.

In the games, Luigi is basically a Ghostbuster who uses a vacuum cleaner to capture ghosts as he tries to find his lost brother. Here, Luigi brings a few new tricks including a new gooey Luigi and new attacks. However, the best thing that Luigi is bringing is both local and online multiplayer. Now, you can prove to your friends that you ain’t afraid of no ghost as you dominate the competition.

We don’t have to wait that long to try them out ourselves since the game is set to come out later this year!

Wrapping up

What were your favorite games Nintendo unveiled at E3? Did you see everything you wanted, or are you thirsty for more! Let us know in the comments below!

5 best winter levels in games

Stay cool with these classic winter levels.

There’s no better way to wrap up the holidays than by revisiting gaming’s best winter levels (there are probably better ways, but let’s forget about those for now). Many games over the years have tried to capture the spirit of the holiday season, but these five games showed the greatest holiday cheer.

5 best winter levels in video game history

5. Cool Cool Mountain – Super Mario 64

So cool, it had to be said twice, Super Mario 64’s Cool Cool Mountain was the first time gamers got to see a well-done winter level in 3-D. This iconic winter romp has Mario fighting snowmen and searching the mountain for lost penguin babies. The challenge that most gamers probably remember is the intense slide race against the giant mama penguin. You can slide into a certain spot on the wall to skip half the course, but the penguin will see through your treacherous ways and scold you for cheating. In retaliation, you can hurl her precious baby off of a cliff.

I’m sorry, little one

You can listen to Cool Cool Mountain’s iconic music below, but it’s not quite the same without the ear-piercing shrieking of the baby penguins.

4. Ice Cap Zone – Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Many fans consider Sonic 3 to be the best in the trilogy (yes, trilogy. There never was a Sonic 4). The game expands upon the fast-paced, momentum-based platforming of previous entries by adding plenty of power-ups and more complex, explorable levels. Ice Cap Zone is a particular standout. The level ramps up the attitude right away by putting Sonic on a snowboard.

Back in the ’90s, Sonic’s cocky attitude let him stand out against other video game mascots and putting him on something as tubular as a snowboard solidified him as the coolest of the cool. Sure you’re forced to crash the snowboard pretty quickly, but it’s still pretty awesome. Oh, and we need to discuss the music:

The game’s soundtrack had input from none other than Michael Jackson. For the Ice Cap Zone, in particular, Jackson brought in Brad Buxer, keyboardist of The Jetzons. While some have said that Ice Cap Zone contains interpolations/samples of MJ’s Smooth Criminal, there is no doubt that the song is a repackaging of The Jetzons song “Hard Times”.

“Hard Times” didn’t actually get a formal release until 2008 as part of a Jetzons compilation record. Both versions of the song sound amazing, and Sonic’s connection to Michael Jackson is definitely one of the more mysterious pieces of gaming trivia.

3. Snow Barrel Blast – Donkey Kong Country

This list entry is a little bit different, as I don’t actually like this level at all. In fact, I despise Snow Barrel Blast with every fiber of my being, and now I finally have a chance to talk about it. The slippery ground and the barely-controllable barrel cannons were the bane of my existence when I was 8 years old, and it still took me like 20 tries to beat this level as a grown-ass man.

The Donkey Kong Country games are amazing, but they are filled with absolutely brutal levels. Even among all the other BS levels, Snow Barrel Blast stands out as a Herculean test of patience and rage control. There is nothing more soul-crushing than seeing your helpless Kong fly into the freezing abyss because you missed one barrel cannon shot out of 25109837. I wish I could meet the designer of this level so I could rip their cold, black heart out of their chest with my bare hands.

Music’s pretty great though.

2. Your Town – Animal Crossing

This entry may not technically be an actual level, but the Animal Crossing games handle winter so well there’s no way I could leave them off the list. The Animal Crossing games run in real time, so the in-game seasons reflect the real-life ones. Various festive items pop up around your town in winter. Pine trees suddenly become covered in Christmas lights. Snowmen heads appear, requiring you to roll them an appropriate body. Villagers build igloos where they host cozy minigames and cook delicious chowder.

The whole winter season culminates in Toy Day, a non-denominational winter celebration that features a reindeer named Jingle dressed as Santa. In New Leaf, Jingle lets the player dress as Santa and deliver the presents directly to their neighbors, giving them the perfect way to spread holiday cheer.

The chowder song soothes my soul and it’ll probably soothe yours too.

1. Freezeezy Peak – Banjo-Kazooie

The best winter level of the 64-bit era, Freezeezy Peak is a masterpiece of theming and level design. The level features a friendly giant snowman that you can climb and slide down, in addition to several very unfriendly snowmen who chuck snowballs at you with unflinching accuracy. Seriously, those snowy bastards could hit a gnat’s eye three miles away while blindfolded, and it doesn’t help that you constantly hear their evil laughter echoing throughout the level.

In addition to snowmen, the level also features defenseless talking Christmas lights, sliding walruses, and sledding polar bears. The level absolutely nails the Christmas atmosphere, which is really impressive considering the limitations of early 3-D game design. As with most levels in Banjo-Kazooie, the level feels more like a lived-in world than a 3-D playground, giving the game plenty of character. Freezeezy Peak is gaming’s standout winter level even with all of those hellish snowmen.

Plus, the music sounds like something out of a stop-motion Christmas classic.

Any festive levels we missed? Let us know!