The Most Christmassey Games Ever

Cliff Richard can take his mistletoe and wine and take a running jump. For us, Christmas isn't complete without a few games at the bottom of our stocking. No doubt you've already sent your software requests off to Santa, but in the meantime we thought we'd treat you to a list of pocket gaming titles that are more redolent of Christmas than any amount of mince pies or turkey breast.

Of course, there are some obvious winter sports and Santa-related shenanigans here, but to qualify for this Top 10 the game doesn't necessarily have to have a seasonal theme. It's all about how it makes you feel inside. Cosy, warm and full of festive spirit is what we're looking for. Pixelated white stuff is a good bet, too.

See what you think. And then throw in your suggestions in our comments section (if only so we can use your ideas next year).

Super Mario 64 DS (DS) Nintendo There's nothing quite like the snow world in Super Mario 64 DS to get you in the mood for Christmas. From the sleigh-bell-infused music to sliding down Cool, Cool Mountain on the seat of your pants, Nintendo managed to distil our child-like wonder of the festive period into one single level. Returning the li'l lost penguin to its mother is almost as touching as an episode of Noel's Christmas Presents. It's enough to bring a tear to the most frosty eye.
SupaSanta (Mobile) OrangePixel What with constantly emptying his sacks and coming down chimneys, Santa's had his fair share of smut over the years. This is based on OrangePixel's Thumb-It principle, in which you have to type text commands in time to the beat, only this time speedy fingers and good timing means you'll deliver more presents to the young 'uns. SupaSanta is amusing, cute and enables you to make your own jokes as the jolly hero delivers load after load.
Tomb Raider Anniversary (PSP) Eidos It's hard not to associate Tomb Raider with Christmas given that, from 1996 to 2000, Eidos published the first five games so millions of stockings could be filled over the festive period. Fittingly, this excellent Anniversary edition takes us through the snowy mountains of Peru for the opening level. There's something about the harsh climate, the craggy caves, the bats and the bears that can't but help remind you of Lara's first Christmas present to the world.
Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) Nintendo Brilliantly, and somewhat spookily, time in Wild World runs in parallel to our own. Turn it on now and the ground will be smattered with snow, the trees will be barren and the inhabitants preparing for the cold spell ahead. While the religious festival of Christmas is not directly referred to, there are plenty of touches that give it a celebratory holiday feel. This is best exemplified in the charming Bright Nights competition in which you have to vote for the house with the best light display.
Disney Winter Fun (Mobile) Disney Disney has a history of making Christmas its own, with Mickey, Pluto, Donald and Goofy all starring in various festive movie and cartoon tie-ins down the ages. This simple but effective title has everything you'd want from a Christmas interactive experience: snowball fights, carving characters out of ice and snowman-building competitions. It may not be sophisticated but neither is writing your name in the snow with yellow letters. And we can still remember a time when that felt surprisingly entertaining.
My Model Train 2 - Winter Edition (Mobile) HandyGames With its jingling soundtrack and snowy scenery, this is as Christmassey as games get. While the brilliant My Model Train track design editor and puzzle elements are all present and correct, this version throws in enough Yuletide bonuses to keep you choo-chooing until the decorations come down. Stockings, wrapping paper, candy and igloos give this the feel of a delicate toy box invented by elves and sent direct from Lapland.
PicoPix Winter Edition (Mobile) GlobalFun PicoPix is one of those fiendish and addictive Japanese puzzles that's been turned into pixel form. The idea is to form pictures in grids by using deductive reasoning, which may sound about as appealing as knitting a scarf with pasta but once you give it a try you'll be hooked. Unsurprisingly this winter version has images of robins and holly and is a perfect way to escape while everyone else is watching The Italian Job.
SSX On Tour (PSP) EA For the majority of us, Christmas is a slothful time (especially after the mince pies) so it's always good to get a vicarious health kick from playing extreme sports games. SSX On Tour still remains the best snowboard title on a handheld and even includes skiing if you're a piste snob. While it doesn't offer an Eskimo level of knowledge when it comes to snow, it does communicate the difference between crisp ice and a deep drift beautifully.
The Golden Compass (PSP/DS) Sega You can bank on the movie adaptation of The Golden Compass achieving worldwide success, with the video game spin-off not far behind. The first in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy has everything you'd want in a winter's tale: a snowy destination, a feisty heroine, eccentric companions, an evil nemesis and an ending that's more like a beginning. It's essentially The Phoenix and the Carpet for the 21st Century generation.
Santa's Tower Bloxx (Mobile) Digital Chocolate Tower Bloxx has become a mobile classic so it won't come as a surprise that this festive-themed edition is every bit as addictive as the original. The idea is to house as many elves as possible by dropping construction blocks in the most stable and appropriate places. The more elves you house, the more presents Santa can produce. Quite a responsibility: fail to keep up with the pace and the children wake up to nothing more than a tangerine in a stocking.