6 free Christmas online games for students away from home

Ho ho ho! It’s that time of the year again. Santa, reindeers, elves and not to forget, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey — on repeat, no less. Nothing beats watching classic and cheesy Christmas movies like “Love Actually” or “Home Alone” with our loved ones. Can’t get home? It’s okay. Take the edge off with these free Christmas online games.

They are fun, therapeutic, and make you happier. Some even calm the mind, offering moments of quiet and clarity. Game Maker for The New York Times Sam Von Ehren describes them as “a controlled form of freedom.” “The game designer Sid Meier once remarked that ‘a game is a series of interesting choices.’ Navigating these choices shapes the course of play, revealing who we are and how we think. Playing a game is an act of exposition.”

No PS5? No problem. You still can reap all the benefits during your Christmas vacay with just a laptop or smartphone. These are the best free Christmas online games for some holiday cheer:

Yasa Pets Christmas

It’s like a Christmas version of a Tamagotchi but with kittens. This app is available on both Android and iOS. It is a fully interactive dollhouse where it’s Christmas morning every time you open it! Relive the excitement and magic of Christmas over and over again.

Christmas Sweeper 3

The spirit of Christmas is near, so let’s have a celebratory cheer! This app is available on all Android and iOS devices. It has 2000 and more levels of fun, all related to Christmas so you definitely won’t run out of fun. 

Mario Kart: Winter Tour

The Winter Tour is one of the best free online Christmas games out there. In this free-to-start Mario Kart Tour game, players put the pedal to the metal, racing for points and fun. Just like the usual Mario Kart games you’re used to, this Christmas edition will have your heart racing with festive cheer.

Among Us

This online game takes place in a space-themed setting. Each player takes on one of two roles. Most become Crewmates, with a predetermined number being Impostors. Crewmates have to eliminate Impostors and vice versa. Although this is not a typical entrant to the free Christmas online games list, you can use this neat trick to get Christmas Hats for your characters. Since launching in 2018, the app has been downloaded 86 million times. It’s super popular for good reason: it’s free, can be played with multiple friends, and very easy to understand. 

Christmas Pics Quiz Game

Another one on our free Christmas onlines games list is good ol’ quizzing. This quiz app is available on both Android and iOS devices. All you have to do is guess the Christmas picture or emoji Christmas puzzles.

ElfYourself

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an elf dancing on screen? Well, now you can. It’s not a game, but it’s fun and interactive. Simply upload a photo of yourself to see what you’ll look like as an elf. There’s an option to buy a mini-film of you as an elf grooving to “Jingle Bells” too.