12-23-2018, 08:36 PM
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Christmas? (Special Edition)
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<p><em>As regular readers will know, each Saturday we all get together to discuss our weekend gaming plans and see what our fellow community members are up to. This week is a little different, however, with many of us taking a little time away to celebrate the holidays and enjoy time with friends or family, or even taking some much-needed alone time for a bit of peace and quiet.</em></p>
<p><em>As such, this week’s ‘What Are You Playing?’ feature is dedicated to the holidays, all wrapped up in a super-special bumper edition. Feel free to read through the Nintendo Life team’s entries, and then tell us about your own plans via the poll and comments below. Enjoy!<br /></em></p>
<h2>Darren Calvert, operations director</h2>
<p>As Christmas is a time for spending with the family, I’m sure I’ll be having lots of games of <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/super_smash_bros_ultimate">Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</a></strong> with my munchkins aged 7 and 10. They’ve been practising tirelessly since it came out on the Switch earlier this month, so I’m sure I will get beaten mercilessly as I resort to button-mashing to survive.</p>
<p>When the wider family come over, I’m sure we’ll be having a few games of <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/super_mario_party">Super Mario Party</a></strong> to pass the time with the kids. It’s a lot more fun than Monopoly anyway. I’m hoping we can find time for lots of races together in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/mario_kart_8_deluxe">Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</a></strong> also, I’m quietly confident of holding my own in Mario Kart still. After a few laps of Sherbet Land we’ll all be in the festive mood. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!<em><br /></em></p>
<h2>Dom Reseigh-Lincoln, reviewer</h2>
<p>This Christmas I’ll be taking a well-earned break, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be catching up or completing some of the games I’ve missed on Nintendo Switch. So I’ll be finishing up <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/manticore_galaxy_on_fire">Manticore: Galaxy on Fire</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/attack_on_titan_2">Attack on Titan 2</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/armello">Armello</a></strong>. I’ll likely be returning to my two portable loves – <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/paladins_-_founders_pack">Paladins</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/warframe">Warframe</a></strong> – while continuing to shoot hoops and grind for VC in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/nba_2k19">NBA 2K19</a></strong>. I’m nothing if not productive. Merry Christmas, all!</p>
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<h2>Gavin Lane, contributing writer</h2>
<p>Christmas used to be a time to sit down with something shiny and new, but now it’s my chance to flush the backlog and catch up with things I missed throughout the year – Switch has made that list <em>quite substantial</em> in 2018! So, while I’ll be dipping into <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/overcooked_2">Overcooked 2</a></strong>’s free DLC with the family, I’ll hopefully get to chill the beans with <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/firewatch">Firewatch</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/abzu">ABZU</a></strong> once everyone is snoozing after overindulging on mince pies. I’m also determined to start <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/wolfenstein_ii_the_new_colossus">Wolfenstein II</a></strong> so I can polish off those spoiler-filled GOTY podcasts that have been languishing unplayed on my phone since 2017 before tucking into this year’s editions!</p>
<p>Have a great one everybody!</p>
<h2>Glen Fox, guides editor</h2>
<p>So I haven’t had much chance to play my Switch the past few months, as I’ve been an absolute heathen and have been mildly addicted to <strong>Black Ops 4</strong>, <strong>Elder Scrolls Online</strong>, and <strong>Guild Wars 2</strong>. I’m going away for Christmas though, so will have my trusty Switch to keep me company.</p>
<p>I’ve missed a couple of gems that I’d like to dig into, like <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/pokemon_lets_go_pikachu_and_lets_go_eevee">Pokémon: Let’s Go</a></strong>, <strong>Warframe</strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/hollow_knight">Hollow Knight</a></strong>. No, I simply don’t like <strong>Smash Bros.</strong> so I won’t be playing that – it’s just the way it is. No doubt I’ll double-dip into <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/splatoon_2">Splatoon 2</a></strong> and stuff like that too.</p>
<p>This is also my last one of these as I’m leaving Nintendo Life in January to pursue a different line of work. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the supportive and lovely staff, and to the readers who make this site and community as awesome as it is. It’s been a pleasure writing for you all and I’m sure you’ll see my name crop up occasionally as freelance. Merry Christmas and a happy new year!</p>
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<h2>Gonçalo Lopes, contributing writer</h2>
<p>As 2018 comes to an end, you will find me doing the most cliché possible Nintendo thing one would expect: plugging in my SNES Classic and enjoying some sweet retro-gaming sessions for the holidays. The Super Nintendo reminds me of simpler times, exquisite memories, family and friends who are no longer among us. I honour all of those with a big smile from ear to ear you will rarely find among adults nowadays, caused by such simple pleasures as completing <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/legend_of_zelda_a_link_to_the_past">The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</a></strong>, finishing <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/f-zero">F-Zero</a></strong> on Master difficulty, enjoying the soundtrack in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/secret_of_mana">Secret of Mana</a></strong>, turning Dracula do dust in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/super_castlevania_iv">Super Castlevania IV</a></strong> or just replaying the ice levels of <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/donkey_kong_country">Donkey Kong Country</a></strong> over and over again. Oh yes, I will also re-watch <em>Die Hard</em> between SNES gaming sessions! Maybe this time Hans gets away with it…</p>
<p>This was yet another incredible year as part of the Nintendo Life crew, one I could never have imagined in my wildest optimistic expectations. I do not know what the future holds in 2019 (hopefully a new F-Zero to go along with <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/metroid_prime_4"><strong>Metroid Prime 4</strong></a>), so allow me to take this opportunity to wish YOU, fellow gamer reading these humble words: Happy Holidays, tons of awesome video games, and all the joys this life has to offer.</p>
<h2>Liam Doolan, news reporter</h2>
<p>This Christmas I intend to play a lot of <strong>Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</strong> and <strong>Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!</strong>. When I’m not in either of these games, I’ll be attempting to wrap up multiple other titles before 2018 comes to an end. This includes <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/diablo_iii_eternal_collection">Diablo III: Eternal Collection</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/katamari_damacy_reroll">Katamari Damacy Reroll</a></strong> and my most recent eShop purchase, <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/shantae_half-genie_hero">Shantae: Half-Genie Hero</a></strong>.</p>
<p>As none of these games are actually Christmas-themed, I’ll have to go elsewhere for my appropriately-themed fix. Maybe <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/rocket_league">Rocket League</a></strong>’s Frosty Fest will be able to help me out. Else I’ll build a snowman in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/minecraft">Minecraft</a></strong>.</p>
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<h2>Ryan Craddock, staff writer</h2>
<p>As horrifying as the concept sounds, I’ll likely be spending the majority of my Christmas break away from games for once – even working here at the Nintendo Life Factory of Dreams and Magic™ can take its toll after a while. Having said that, I have been working towards unlocking as many <strong>Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</strong> characters as possible for any potential games with family when I go to visit, so I doubt my gaming break will last for long.</p>
<p>Similarly, I’ve already planned to pack <strong>Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</strong>, <strong>Super Mario Party</strong>, and maybe even <strong>Pokémon, Let’s Go, Eevee!</strong> for the odd multiplayer session (or in Pokémon’s case, just to show off my collection). Now that I think about it, it doesn’t sound like I’m having a break from gaming at all, does it? Ah well… Happy holidays, everyone!</p>
<h2>Steve Bowling, US editor</h2>
<p>The holiday means we have a long break ahead and things will be a little quieter than usual. For me, that means it’s time to sink my teeth into some of the Switch’s more time-consuming games. Over the holiday I’ll be playing <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/octopath_traveler">Octopath Traveler</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/valkyria_chronicles_4">Valkyria Chronicles 4</a></strong>. I’ve been curious about Octopath since its reveal and have somehow managed to remain spoiler free so far, but I have a feeling I’ll be working on both of these games well into the new year.</p>
<div id="poll-22dec-18-tpweekend" class="poll">
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<h3 class="heading">Which games are you playing over Christmas? (513 votes)</h3>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="118 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">23%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Super Mario Party</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="27 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">5%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="53 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">10%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Manticore: Galaxy on Fire</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="0 votes">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Attack on Titan 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="1 vote">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Armello</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="1 vote">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Paladins</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="3 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Warframe</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="11 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">NBA 2K19</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="3 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Overcooked 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="9 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Firewatch</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="8 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">ABZU</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="2 votes">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Wolfenstein II</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="5 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="40 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">8%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Hollow Knight</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="10 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Splatoon 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="26 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">5%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="8 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Secret of Mana</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="6 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Super Castlevania IV</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="4 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Donkey Kong Country</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="7 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Diablo III: Eternal Collection</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="35 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">7%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Katamari Damacy Reroll</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="9 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Shantae: Half-Genie Hero</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="7 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Rocket League</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="10 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Minecraft</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="6 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Octopath Traveler</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="21 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Valkyria Chronicles 4</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="9 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Something else (comment below)</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="70 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">14%</span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="empty">Please <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/login">login</a> to vote in this poll.</p>
</div>
<p><em>As always, thanks for reading! Make sure to leave a vote in the poll above and a comment below with your gaming choices over the holidays. Whatever you plan to do this year, we hope you have a wonderful time!</em></p>
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<div><div class="media_block"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/5585a880cdbf1/large.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/5585a880cdbf1/small.jpg" class="media_thumbnail"></a></div>
<figure class="picture strip"><a title="Mario" href="http://images.nintendolife.com/5585a880cdbf1/mario.original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/5585a880cdbf1/mario.900x.jpg" alt="Mario" /></a></figure>
<p><em>As regular readers will know, each Saturday we all get together to discuss our weekend gaming plans and see what our fellow community members are up to. This week is a little different, however, with many of us taking a little time away to celebrate the holidays and enjoy time with friends or family, or even taking some much-needed alone time for a bit of peace and quiet.</em></p>
<p><em>As such, this week’s ‘What Are You Playing?’ feature is dedicated to the holidays, all wrapped up in a super-special bumper edition. Feel free to read through the Nintendo Life team’s entries, and then tell us about your own plans via the poll and comments below. Enjoy!<br /></em></p>
<h2>Darren Calvert, operations director</h2>
<p>As Christmas is a time for spending with the family, I’m sure I’ll be having lots of games of <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/super_smash_bros_ultimate">Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</a></strong> with my munchkins aged 7 and 10. They’ve been practising tirelessly since it came out on the Switch earlier this month, so I’m sure I will get beaten mercilessly as I resort to button-mashing to survive.</p>
<p>When the wider family come over, I’m sure we’ll be having a few games of <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/super_mario_party">Super Mario Party</a></strong> to pass the time with the kids. It’s a lot more fun than Monopoly anyway. I’m hoping we can find time for lots of races together in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/mario_kart_8_deluxe">Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</a></strong> also, I’m quietly confident of holding my own in Mario Kart still. After a few laps of Sherbet Land we’ll all be in the festive mood. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!<em><br /></em></p>
<h2>Dom Reseigh-Lincoln, reviewer</h2>
<p>This Christmas I’ll be taking a well-earned break, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be catching up or completing some of the games I’ve missed on Nintendo Switch. So I’ll be finishing up <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/manticore_galaxy_on_fire">Manticore: Galaxy on Fire</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/attack_on_titan_2">Attack on Titan 2</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/armello">Armello</a></strong>. I’ll likely be returning to my two portable loves – <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/paladins_-_founders_pack">Paladins</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/warframe">Warframe</a></strong> – while continuing to shoot hoops and grind for VC in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/nba_2k19">NBA 2K19</a></strong>. I’m nothing if not productive. Merry Christmas, all!</p>
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<h2>Gavin Lane, contributing writer</h2>
<p>Christmas used to be a time to sit down with something shiny and new, but now it’s my chance to flush the backlog and catch up with things I missed throughout the year – Switch has made that list <em>quite substantial</em> in 2018! So, while I’ll be dipping into <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/overcooked_2">Overcooked 2</a></strong>’s free DLC with the family, I’ll hopefully get to chill the beans with <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/firewatch">Firewatch</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/abzu">ABZU</a></strong> once everyone is snoozing after overindulging on mince pies. I’m also determined to start <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/wolfenstein_ii_the_new_colossus">Wolfenstein II</a></strong> so I can polish off those spoiler-filled GOTY podcasts that have been languishing unplayed on my phone since 2017 before tucking into this year’s editions!</p>
<p>Have a great one everybody!</p>
<h2>Glen Fox, guides editor</h2>
<p>So I haven’t had much chance to play my Switch the past few months, as I’ve been an absolute heathen and have been mildly addicted to <strong>Black Ops 4</strong>, <strong>Elder Scrolls Online</strong>, and <strong>Guild Wars 2</strong>. I’m going away for Christmas though, so will have my trusty Switch to keep me company.</p>
<p>I’ve missed a couple of gems that I’d like to dig into, like <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/pokemon_lets_go_pikachu_and_lets_go_eevee">Pokémon: Let’s Go</a></strong>, <strong>Warframe</strong>, and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/hollow_knight">Hollow Knight</a></strong>. No, I simply don’t like <strong>Smash Bros.</strong> so I won’t be playing that – it’s just the way it is. No doubt I’ll double-dip into <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/splatoon_2">Splatoon 2</a></strong> and stuff like that too.</p>
<p>This is also my last one of these as I’m leaving Nintendo Life in January to pursue a different line of work. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the supportive and lovely staff, and to the readers who make this site and community as awesome as it is. It’s been a pleasure writing for you all and I’m sure you’ll see my name crop up occasionally as freelance. Merry Christmas and a happy new year!</p>
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<h2>Gonçalo Lopes, contributing writer</h2>
<p>As 2018 comes to an end, you will find me doing the most cliché possible Nintendo thing one would expect: plugging in my SNES Classic and enjoying some sweet retro-gaming sessions for the holidays. The Super Nintendo reminds me of simpler times, exquisite memories, family and friends who are no longer among us. I honour all of those with a big smile from ear to ear you will rarely find among adults nowadays, caused by such simple pleasures as completing <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/legend_of_zelda_a_link_to_the_past">The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</a></strong>, finishing <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/f-zero">F-Zero</a></strong> on Master difficulty, enjoying the soundtrack in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/secret_of_mana">Secret of Mana</a></strong>, turning Dracula do dust in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/super_castlevania_iv">Super Castlevania IV</a></strong> or just replaying the ice levels of <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/snes/donkey_kong_country">Donkey Kong Country</a></strong> over and over again. Oh yes, I will also re-watch <em>Die Hard</em> between SNES gaming sessions! Maybe this time Hans gets away with it…</p>
<p>This was yet another incredible year as part of the Nintendo Life crew, one I could never have imagined in my wildest optimistic expectations. I do not know what the future holds in 2019 (hopefully a new F-Zero to go along with <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/metroid_prime_4"><strong>Metroid Prime 4</strong></a>), so allow me to take this opportunity to wish YOU, fellow gamer reading these humble words: Happy Holidays, tons of awesome video games, and all the joys this life has to offer.</p>
<h2>Liam Doolan, news reporter</h2>
<p>This Christmas I intend to play a lot of <strong>Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</strong> and <strong>Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!</strong>. When I’m not in either of these games, I’ll be attempting to wrap up multiple other titles before 2018 comes to an end. This includes <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/diablo_iii_eternal_collection">Diablo III: Eternal Collection</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/katamari_damacy_reroll">Katamari Damacy Reroll</a></strong> and my most recent eShop purchase, <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/shantae_half-genie_hero">Shantae: Half-Genie Hero</a></strong>.</p>
<p>As none of these games are actually Christmas-themed, I’ll have to go elsewhere for my appropriately-themed fix. Maybe <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/rocket_league">Rocket League</a></strong>’s Frosty Fest will be able to help me out. Else I’ll build a snowman in <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/minecraft">Minecraft</a></strong>.</p>
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<h2>Ryan Craddock, staff writer</h2>
<p>As horrifying as the concept sounds, I’ll likely be spending the majority of my Christmas break away from games for once – even working here at the Nintendo Life Factory of Dreams and Magic™ can take its toll after a while. Having said that, I have been working towards unlocking as many <strong>Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</strong> characters as possible for any potential games with family when I go to visit, so I doubt my gaming break will last for long.</p>
<p>Similarly, I’ve already planned to pack <strong>Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</strong>, <strong>Super Mario Party</strong>, and maybe even <strong>Pokémon, Let’s Go, Eevee!</strong> for the odd multiplayer session (or in Pokémon’s case, just to show off my collection). Now that I think about it, it doesn’t sound like I’m having a break from gaming at all, does it? Ah well… Happy holidays, everyone!</p>
<h2>Steve Bowling, US editor</h2>
<p>The holiday means we have a long break ahead and things will be a little quieter than usual. For me, that means it’s time to sink my teeth into some of the Switch’s more time-consuming games. Over the holiday I’ll be playing <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/octopath_traveler">Octopath Traveler</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/valkyria_chronicles_4">Valkyria Chronicles 4</a></strong>. I’ve been curious about Octopath since its reveal and have somehow managed to remain spoiler free so far, but I have a feeling I’ll be working on both of these games well into the new year.</p>
<div id="poll-22dec-18-tpweekend" class="poll">
<div class="results">
<h3 class="heading">Which games are you playing over Christmas? (513 votes)</h3>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Super Smash Bros. Ultimate</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="118 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">23%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Super Mario Party</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="27 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">5%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Mario Kart 8 Deluxe</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="53 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">10%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Manticore: Galaxy on Fire</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="0 votes">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Attack on Titan 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="1 vote">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Armello</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="1 vote">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Paladins</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="3 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Warframe</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="11 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">NBA 2K19</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="3 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Overcooked 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="9 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Firewatch</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="8 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">ABZU</h4>
<p class="votes"><span class="bar accent-bg no-votes"> </span> <span title="2 votes">0%</span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Wolfenstein II</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="5 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="40 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">8%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Hollow Knight</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="10 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Splatoon 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="26 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">5%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="8 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Secret of Mana</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="6 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Super Castlevania IV</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="4 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Donkey Kong Country</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="7 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Diablo III: Eternal Collection</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="35 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">7%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Katamari Damacy Reroll</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="9 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Shantae: Half-Genie Hero</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="7 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Rocket League</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="10 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Minecraft</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="6 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Octopath Traveler</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="21 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Valkyria Chronicles 4</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="9 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Something else (comment below)</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="70 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">14%</span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="empty">Please <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/login">login</a> to vote in this poll.</p>
</div>
<p><em>As always, thanks for reading! Make sure to leave a vote in the poll above and a comment below with your gaming choices over the holidays. Whatever you plan to do this year, we hope you have a wonderful time!</em></p>
</div>