12 Christmas and New Year games: run, match, decorate and draw
Christmas games online are not one genre; the December theme turns up almost everywhere. This list has twelve games, and what ties them together is the setting: Santa, wrapped presents, snow, baubles and fairy lights. Everything else varies. In some you run and jump, in others you match ornaments, paint nails or draw a glowing picture, and one is a two-player duel on a single screen. Eleven of the twelve work on a phone, and none need installing; they all run in the browser on Oyun Köşesi, from Advent right through to New Year's Eve.
How we put the list together
If the only filter had been a Christmas theme, the list would be a row of near-identical runners. Instead we kept the theme fixed and varied the type of play: games that keep you moving, games that make you think, games where you decorate or draw, and a game for two. That way one evening can cover a child's colouring session and a grown-up rematch on the same laptop. Each entry notes the controls, how many players it takes and whether it runs on a phone.
Run and jump: Santa on the move
In these five you steer the character, and one mistake ends the run or the level. Short rounds that are easy to restart.
Run Santa
Santa sprints from rooftop to rooftop and one click makes him jump. You clear the gaps between houses and drop a present down each chimney as you pass over it. Clipping a chimney slows you down; falling icicles and gaps end the run. Jumping right above the chimney lands the gift and avoids the bump in one move. On a phone you tap the screen. Single player.
Santa Run
Presents are scattered along the road, and you slide your runner left and right with the mouse or a finger to scoop them up. Bump into the figures blocking the way and the run is over, while the pace slowly rises. Switching lanes for a single gift rarely pays off. With no buttons to press at all, this is the easiest runner here for young children.
Run Santa Run
Santa has fallen off the sleigh and the reindeer have bolted, so he delivers what is left on foot. Left and right arrows, or a tap on either side, switch lanes. Hitting an obstacle ends the run, and as speed climbs your time to decide shrinks. The lane with a line of gifts is usually the safe one. If you like chasing a high score, the ideas in our endless runner tips carry over here.
Jingle Jetpack
The gift-delivering hero wears a jetpack. Hold to rise, let go to drop; threading between lasers, electric fields and missiles is the whole game. Coins you collect unlock new boosts and outfits in the shop. Short taps are safer than long presses. On a phone you hold a finger on the screen.
Super Santa Adventures
The one classic platformer on the list. You walk Santa through snowy levels, jump between platforms, grab the presents and reach the exit. The pace is calm and it is easy to pick up. Snowy ground is a little slippery, so aim to land a step short of where you want to be. It uses the arrow keys and Space, and it is the only game here that is not comfortable on a phone.
Games that make you think: matching and filling
Worn out by running? These three take the rush away. Instead of a clock you are managing moves or a limited number of balls.
Christmas Block Collapse
Click groups of identical Christmas ornaments that touch side by side or above one another to clear them. Two is the minimum, but the real reward comes from clearing seven or more in a single move. The goal is an empty board, and lone ornaments with no neighbours can leave you stuck. Starting from the bottom rows lets falling ornaments form new groups. Tap to play on a phone.
Xmas Match Deluxe
A classic match-three with a twist: each level asks for a set number of one type of gift, and your moves are limited. Swap two neighbouring presents to line up three or more; pop more than five at once and a special box appears that clears a wide area. Chasing only the gift named in the target saves moves. New to the genre? The matching games guide is a good start.
Santa Ball Fill 3D
A calm filling puzzle. Drag the ball to the drop point and release it at the right moment; it rolls down sloping tracks towards a bottle. You only get so many balls, so every one that escapes over the edge matters. Treat the first ball as a test shot to see where the track carries it. A full bottle brings a new contraption. Played with a finger on a phone.
Decorate, draw and colour
Little or nothing to lose in these three; you are making something. For younger players this is the most relaxed corner of the list.
Christmas Nail Salon
You run a festive nail salon. First comes the cleaning, filing and base coat, then the polish, and finally you drag snowflakes, stars and glitter stickers onto each nail. When the client is happy, the next one walks in. Snowflake patterns stand out most on dark navy or red. If you enjoy the style, our nail art games list has options beyond Christmas.
Draw Glow Christmas
You draw Christmas pictures step by step by tracing a guide line on screen. The brushes sparkle, so the finished picture glows against a dark background. There is no timer and no way to lose; rub out a part you do not like and trace that step again. Start each guide line from its beginning, because joining it halfway does not count the step as done.
Drawing Christmas For Kids
An activity made for preschoolers. Join the numbered dots in order to draw a character, then tap areas to colour them in. Once every area is filled, the character comes to life in a short animation; leave a gap and it stays still, so the reward is finishing the picture. For more, see our coloring games and the preschool games page.
Two players, one screen: a festive duel
Xmas Rooftop Battles
Two comic characters face off on a snowy roof. Player one jumps and fires with W and E, player two with O and P; on a phone each player taps the buttons on their own side. Firing kicks your character backwards, so you push your rival and get thrown about yourself. Knock the other one off the roof to win the round. With only two keys each, it is quick to explain to a guest at a Christmas get-together. For more, see 2-player games on one phone.
Which game suits whom
- Preschoolers: Drawing Christmas For Kids, then Santa Run.
- Primary school age: Run Santa, Draw Glow Christmas, Santa Ball Fill 3D.
- Adults after a short break: Christmas Block Collapse or Xmas Match Deluxe.
- Two people, one device: Xmas Rooftop Battles.
- At a keyboard, gentle pace: Super Santa Adventures.
Where to start
Not sure? Start on your phone with Run Santa: it plays with a single tap and shows off the present-delivery theme best. Two of you at home? Xmas Rooftop Battles opens on one screen straight away. Looking for something calm for a child? Pick Drawing Christmas For Kids. Want to use your head? Xmas Match Deluxe and its move limit make it the most thoughtful game here. More runners are waiting in the running games category.
Frequently asked questions
Are these Christmas games free?
Yes. All twelve open free in the browser with no download and no sign-up.
Which ones work on a phone?
Every game except Super Santa Adventures works on a touch screen. That one uses the arrow keys and Space, so a computer is more comfortable.
Is there a Christmas game we can play together?
Xmas Rooftop Battles is for two players on the same keyboard or the same phone. The rest are single player; the runners work well for taking turns and comparing scores.