Can you believe it’s that time of year again? How this year has flown by. I joined the LadiesGamers team back in April, so this is my first Christmas writing for the site, and I am beyond excited to write my first Christmas-related article.
Anni’s Favourite Christmas Gaming Memories
This year I’ve decided to write about my favourite Christmas gaming memories – both video games and board games (little miss “over 120 board games” over here. I might have a slight addiction.) So, with no further ado, let’s get down to business. Here are my favourite memories from Christmases past and present.
Consoles Under the Christmas Tree
The excitement starts the moment you see a larger-than-usual box neatly wrapped and sitting under the tree, perhaps with your name on it. The anticipation builds up as you tear away the wrapping paper to reveal the box beneath. It could be the latest PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo console, each one representing a portal to countless new adventures.
Growing up in poverty, I was always happy with what I received. I never expected much. I was a child who was happy with a new book or a new set of colouring pens.
However, one Christmas, when I was about 8 or so, I noticed a larger-than-usual present under the Christmas tree. Maybe those were some ginormous colouring pens? I did the shake test. The contents did, in fact, not shake. Whatever was in that box was secured pretty well. The smell test? Nope. It smelled like paper.
My mum wasn’t a “Christmas Eve wrapper.” She wrapped presents as soon as December pretty much hit. Imagine having an unusual box sat under the tree for 3 and a half weeks? Thanks for the torture, Mum.
Christmas morning came and I sat down ready to open my larger-than-usual present. I clawed at the wrapping paper (my mother wrapped those presents tight.) As soon as I peeled part of the wrapping paper away, I saw the letters PL. I slowly unwrapped. AY was uncovered. I quickly finished unwrapping the gift and then the title on the box hit me. PLAYSTATION! So, my love of gaming began in the December of 1995.
Raising Mini Gamers
Since I had my two children, I’ve dreamed of us all huddled around the TV on Christmas Day, each with a controller in hand and a desire to just enjoy playing together. My children are 12 and 9 years old, and over the years, they’ve developed the same love for video games that I have.
One particular occurrence comes to mind, though.
A couple of years ago, I tasked my children with browsing the Eshop for a game for us all to play together on Christmas Day afternoon. Expecting them to choose something like Mario Party or Moving Out, I felt safe in my little bubble. Boy, was I wrong!
“Muuuuuum, can we play Spiderheck?” Anything with “spider” in the title has me running in the opposite direction. “Um….isn’t there anything else you’d rather play?” I reply. “No, the spiders have lightsabers, mum! Come on!” my kids chirp back.
Okay, so Spiders wielding lightsabers does seem cool. Not in real life. That would be terrifying. In video game form though, it is a little different.
I put on my tough girl boots and relent. Expecting to be cowering behind my controller, my kids boot up the game. Okay, so far, so good. Bear in mind that we’re only on the logo. There’s still time for me to hide behind the sofa yet.
Fast-forward five minutes or so, and I’m pleasantly surprised. The aforementioned spiders are basic enough that they don’t send me into a chaotic panic, and spiders with laser swords are just hilarious. You can also arm them with chainsaws and the like, change level dynamics, and choose to play against each other or with each other by defeating waves of enemies.
That Christmas was the Christmas when I felt the fear, did it anyway, and what ensued was a good few hours trying to prove to my kids that I’m good at these games, I swear. I think that was also the Christmas when my kids discovered that I was, in fact, not good at these types of games and that I was a liability instead.
Our First Game Night With Friends
A few years ago, during COVID-19, after lockdown was lifted, we invited a friend over for an impromptu game night. It was the first ever game night with friends that we had hosted. It was on Boxing Day (that still counts as Christmas, right?) It was absolutely freezing, and I remember our friend knocking on the door in just a hoodie. I still don’t know how he wasn’t frozen on that day, but I digress.
The first game we played on that first-ever game night was a game called Wavelength. Wavelength is a social guessing game where players try to read each other’s minds. One player, the “Psychic,” is tasked with giving a clue that will guide their team to guess the correct position on a hidden spectrum. The spectrum might range from “hot” to “cold,” “happy” to “sad,” or any other pair of opposites. The challenge lies in crafting clues that are both revealing and subtle, leading to lively debates and laughter.
One of my kids joined in, and laughter ensued as we really learnt more about each other, like the fact that my friend firmly believes that pineapple belongs on pizza, and I have tried not to let it come between us ever since. Joking aside, ever since that first game night we’ve had a weekly game night most weeks ever since. We’ve since added our friend’s girlfriend to the group and another friend. I’m so grateful for that Christmas game night laying the foundation for game nights to come.
So, there you have it—my three favourite Christmas memories, the ones that stand out most to me as memories that are at my core.
Merry Christmas to our lovely readers and our staff also, who have been so welcoming since I joined the team.
-Anni-
Do you like our content? Support LadiesGamers on Patreon!
Check out our Tiers and Benefits and join us.