Non-Christmas Game Music Perfect For The Holidays

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 10, 2024 16 Views 11 Min Read
Non-Christmas Game Music Perfect For The Holidays



The holidays are the perfect time for some video games, and the evidence of this is that there is never not a perfect time for some video games. And even when you’re not able to play for any number of obligatory reasons you couldn’t talk your way out of, you’ve still got their music to keep you company.

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But while there are plenty of video games with actual Christmas theming, that vibe shouldn’t have to be exclusive to it or any other holiday. Luckily, there’s a jolly sackload of game music that captures that festive, wintery northern hemisphere vibe all on its own for your cozy pleasure.

9

Frappe Snowland

Mario Kart 64

  • Perfect for a ride through the city
  • Classic feel

Most video game music set in a snowy area tends to contain repeated vibes and motifs, and Frappe Snowland from Mario Kart 64 does little to buck that trend. Sleigh bells and other peppy percussion saturate the sheet music here, painting a vivid and icy picture in your mind.

But for that reason, it works super well as a holiday season song. This track’s upbeat and pleasant tempo almost makes you feel like you’re on a fast-paced sleigh ride through the city. It’s like a royalty-free version of Jingle Bells that you’d still get sued for using, which is the most on-brand way of bringing Nintendo into your holiday.

8

Tundra

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

  • Plays up the uncomfortable aspects of winter
  • Makes you appreciate home even more
  • Listen to Tundra by Jeremy Soule

While most wintery songs in video games go for a more happy and chill (heh) feel, Tundra from The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim sloshes through the deep snow in the exact opposite direction, and it makes the whole thing oddly cozy.

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The strings instill a feeling of weariness and dreary weather hampering your journey, prompting you to appreciate your warm and comfy home setup all the more. Then, a hauntingly beautiful choir joins in, evoking an almost church-like quality. Wherever you find comfort in the harsh, snowy months, this piece will make you thankful for it.

7

Snowflakes

Persona 4 Golden

  • Encapsulates the game’s focus on characters and relationships
  • Feels like a Christmas pop song on the radio (but better)
  • Listen to Snowflakes by Shihoko Hirata

Snowflakes is the tune that plays during the winter months of Persona 4 Golden’s story. Despite only being heard during that short time and not even appearing in the original version of Persona 4, it makes one heck of an impact thanks to singer Shihoko Hirata and composer Shoji Meguro.

They perfectly capture the bonds and melancholy present between the characters throughout Persona 4. Plus, its steady piano and soothing vocals wouldn’t feel out of place next to any modern pop stars’ attempts to release their own hit holiday singles. But this one is from a video game, so it’s automatically better.

6

Freezeezy Peak

Banjo-Kazooie

  • What’s this? What’s this?
  • A bouncy Grant Kirkhope adventure through wonderland

How about Christmas by way of Danny Elfman without all that Halloween interference? Freezeezy Peak from Banjo-Kazooie gets probably as close as anybody to that feel without going full-on holiday thanks to composer Grant Kirkhope’s characteristically brilliant work.

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Naturally, it’s set in the snowy area of the game, and it still retains Kirkhope’s instantly recognizable sound. Synthesized versions of violins, sleigh bells, and bouncy low strings come together for a piece that would fit in rather well at Christmas Town if Kingdom Hearts was on the Nintendo 64.

5

Snow Mountain

Super Mario 64

  • Perfect for crowded holiday parties
  • You’ve never forgotten it

True, the Nintendo 64 may have saturated the market when it comes to the oddly specific genre of non-Christmas video game music that sounds like the holidays. But with a soundscape like that, it would almost be a waste if it didn’t.

You get introduced to the Snow Mountain track in one of Super Mario 64’s earliest stages, ensuring this song will remain stuck in players’ minds forever. But even without the nostalgia, the piece behind every snowy level does its job well and wouldn’t be out of place at any large holiday gathering.

4

Ice Cave Chant

Donkey Kong Country

  • A unique take on the winter sound
  • No sleigh bells allowed

Donkey Kong Country went against the grain a little with its colder level themes. Northern Hemispheres, the regular snow level theme, plays up the oppressive and unyielding nature of the cold. But another track, the overall happy-sounding Ice Cave Chant, does things a bit differently.

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Ice Cave Chant plays in only one level, the shockingly gorgeous Slipslide Ride, but its impact is immediate. The glass-like percussion sounds complement the shimmering ice and mineral crystals of the cave, creating a sound that’s distinctly winter-themed but in its own way. No sleigh bells here.

3

Snowdin Town

Undertale

Yes, Snowdin in Undertale has a Christmas tree. No, the music track that plays there is not Christmas-themed as a result. This piano and xylophone-centric song is about the town itself and the people who live there.

It keeps things wintery with high-pitched accented notes from the piano and xylophone, which seems to be everyone’s second favorite snow level trend behind sleigh bells. But it still stands on its own, playing a simple melody picturing a quaint town with quaint villagers like a rabbit lady walking a smaller rabbit on a leash.

2

Buried In The Snow

Final Fantasy 7

Cloud and company find themselves in the quiet town of Icicle Lodge while chasing Sephiroth in Final Fantasy 7. But while they quickly have to make their way through to the more memorable snowboard section (and after dodging a punch from Turk hothead Elena), the little time spent there is quite pleasant.

Much of this is thanks to the vibe provided by the beautiful snowy visuals and simple yet enjoyable town theme, Buried in the Snow. The synthesized strings almost seem to emulate steps through deep snow and a little powdery precipitation, while upper mallet instruments join in throughout (there’s that high-pitched percussion trend again).

1

Brink Of Time

Chrono Trigger

Brink of Time from Chrono Trigger is one of those interesting instances where the track’s vibe depends almost entirely on where you heard it first. For most, that’ll be at the End of Time, a secluded spot separated from time itself, serving as the main characters’ home base.

The track reflects that solitude and fleeting serenity. But if you hear it without that context, you’ll notice it has a remarkably similar feel to parts of My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music, a song that would go on to become an unofficial holiday staple due to its wintertime themes. Play that back-to-back with Brink of Time at your next Christmas party and see how many cool people notice.

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