The boom in live-service games and continued staying-power of some MMOs, and also with the more recent increase in cozy life-sim style games that put their own spin on real-life events, has made seasonal events become more and more popular over time.
With how many games that now offer events that line-up with the seasons in real-life, there is a massive selection of ways you can enjoy the different times of year in the world of gaming, whether it’s single or multiplayer
The first game that comes to mind when it comes to seasonal events might not be Terraria, but that’s likely because you don’t know how seriously this action-platformer takes Christmas. During the second half of December, enemies will have a chance of dropping presents, and hearts are replaced with candy canes, and mana stars are instead sugar plums.
However, you’re only getting half the story if you aren’t playing on hardmode, since here there is a small chance of presents holding a snow globe, and if you activate this item you’ll summon the Frost Legion, a powerful force that will be a challenge to defeat. However, if you manage to take the Frost Legion down, you’ll be rewarded with the Santa Claus NPC for the rest of the season, selling festive cosmetic items.
Depending on the year, Fortnite will acknowledge certain holidays and seasons, but one thing you can always depend on is Fortnitemares in October. Halloween has its own dedicated event season that will usually start in early-mid October and end in early November.
No two years are the same, but one running theme is that the map will have a scary makeover, and a new Fortnitemares mode will be available (sometimes being the only option), so you’ll have to rethink how you approach Battle Royale to ensure victory during the spooky season.
With the release of Hitman 3, plenty of different themed missions were made available, but one (previously limited-time but now permanent) mission stands out as being one to try out during the festive season.
If you’re familiar with the 1990 classic Home Alone, then the Holiday Hoarders mission will seem oddly familiar. Agent 47 is tasked with taking out two thieves, reminiscent of the robbers from the Christmas movie, and he’ll have access tosome wintery weaponslike exploding gifts and snow globes that make the mission a little easier.
It’s no surprise that the open-world Gacha phenomenon Genshin Impact goes all out for Chinese New Year. While some festivals randomly appear as limited time events throughout the game’s various regions, you can always bet on the Lantern Rite Festival returning during Chinese New Year.
The streets of Liyue Harbour are decorated with stunning lanterns, and in-game events and quests will line up with the festivities, ensuring no two years are the same. Genshin will also thoroughly reward players who are active during this festival with unique in-game rewards on a scale only matched by the game’s anniversary.
Stardew Valley stands out from most of the other games with seasonal events since its calendar is not synced to the real world. In spite of this, every in-game year of Stardew Valley features some show-stopping festivals that the strategic player can line up with the real-world calendar if they’re looking for a seasonal gaming session.
Just a handful of festivals you can expect to participate in throughout the year in Stardew Valley include; the Egg Festival in Spring, the Summer Luau, Spirit’s Eve in Fall, and the Festival of Ice in Winter. No matter what time of year you’re playing Stardew Valley, you can easily find a festival that aligns with the outside world.
In spite of its rocky launch, Final Fantasy 14 has become one of the most consistently popular MMOs, and a big part of the reason why players keep coming back is thanks to the events that take place every year.
While there are some unique seasonal festivals, one thing that makes Final Fantasy 14 stand out are the recurring events that you may count on being included every year.
These festivals appeal both to the Japanese and more global audience of Final Fantasy 14 players, with events like Little Ladies' Day and Moonfire Faire representing Hinamatsuri and Bon paired with the Starlight Celebration andAll Saints' Wakefor Christmas and Halloween.
Being one of the most popular life-sim games, and also linked to the real-world calendar, it’s no wonder that the Animal Crossing series is well-known for its seasonal events, and while the most recent entry definitely makes sure to include them, New Leaf on the 3DS feels like the best way to experience the variety thanks to feeling like more of a complete package.
In New Leaf you can expect Bunny Day around Easter, Fireworks in August, Toy Day on Chistmas Eve, and that’s just a few of the events, but in between, the seasonal furniture and changes to the map all make New Leaf feel like the perfect year-long companion to play as the seasons change.
