It’s the big countdown! Just as you pull out your advent calendars to count down the 24 days to Christmas, so too are we going to count down in our own way, by highlighting 24 games that you could play this month to get into the spirit of the season.
Christmas means different things to different people, but we see it as a time to get together with family and friends, relax after a long year’s hard work (and, given this is 2020, it was an especially hard year), enjoy good food and good company. It’s a good time to knock off that epic RPG you’ve had sitting in the backlog, or crack open the beers (or eggnog) and get stuck into the local multiplayer battles.
Each day we’ll highlight one game that you could have a great time playing over the Christmas season. It’s not a countdown, nor is it a “best of” list. It’s not highlighting new games, nor old. It’s just 24 games, one per day, that we love the idea of breaking into over the season. Have a great and happy season, everyone!
Game #8: Paper Mario: The Origami King
(Read our review of the game here)
Like a bicycle gifted to a sedentary child, Paper Mario: The Origami King is that one unforeseen present I shouldn’t love…but I do. Having been let down twice by the most recent Paper Mario outings, approaching it was an act fueled by obligation and filled with trepidation. While it wasn’t the “gaming laptop” on my hypothetical Christmas list (said laptop being a true sequel to the legendary GameCube game), the sense of freedom and adventure that bike offered overruled my aversions.
Through some premature Christmas miracle, it actually turned out better than titles I’d been eagerly awaiting. The soundtrack blew me away, the new combat system enabled unique boss fights, the exploration was consistently engaging, and the zany scenarios never let up. Most importantly, Origami King’s script made me smirk and laugh out loud more times than I can recall. Almost every box of dialogue contains some clever quip, dad joke, or dry humour. I encourage you to have a hearty guffaw with your loved ones nearby so you can all bask in that Christmas cheer.
– Clark A.
News Editor
