History Main / HolidayMode

** The first two Japanese versions of [[VideoGame/AnimalCrossing2001 the first game]] would have events themed after holidays such as Golden Week, while the localized American version celebrated Labor Day and other U.S. holidays. Internationally known holidays like Christmas and Halloween were celebrated in all versions.

** ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]'' do the same thing as ''X and Y'' on the player's birthday.

* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac: Afterbirth''[='=]s Daily Runs on particular days will have special rules, goals, and/or starting items to fit with a holiday. These range from Christmas[[note]]Isaac has a Santa hat and starts with coal and a quarter[[/note]] and Halloween[[note]]The EmoTeen-looking Eve is the playable character and starts with an item that puts a bag over her head and makes sacks show up[[/note]], to more obscure ones like Elephant Appreciation Day[[note]]Magdalene starts with items that make her fat[[/note]].

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'': It snows during the Christmas season in GTA Online.

* ''VideoGame/{{Homescapes}}'' features dozens of special holiday events. Major Western holidays are represented, including Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, but there are also celebrations from Eastern countries, including Diwali (the Indian Festival of Lights) and Chinese New Year. There are even more generic celebrations like "Wedding Season" (June) and Venetian Carnival (August). These limited events allow players to obtain new furniture and decorations for rooms in the house and especially the front garden; anything unlocked is permanently saved, allowing players to cycle through whatever decorations they like (although conversely, anything the player ''doesn't'' win is LostForever).

** Ah yes, the Halloween mode. From 2010 onwards, each Halloween they implemented a new BonusBoss (or in 2013's case, a pseudo-gamemode involving the use of magic) and a backstory for it. These boss fights would take place on a Halloween-ified version of one of the maps. All players who defeat the boss (at any time) will [[AndYourRewardIsClothes get a cosmetic item]] that can be put on any class.

* The original version of ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies 2'', which was released in late October 2013, had the three starting plants in Halloween costumes. This was removed in the first update. Christmas 2013 saw the release of limited-time "Feastivus" Christmas bonus levels, with zombies dressed as elves and so forth.

* Playing ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyoSun'' during the month of December will stick the characters in Santa costumes in the game's Sound Test.

** Valentine's Day: Clippy can only say "I love you!" He'd say it sometimes normally, but on this day he does all the time. Dog has heart-shaped eyes.
** April Fools: Clippy is replaced by the Dog. Normally the Dog is helpful as he gives points when clicked on, but not this time.

** On April Fool's Day, Mario gets to visit Green Hill Zone and fight Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog. [[spoiler:Actually Metal Sonic]]

* ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'' changes its title screen depending on if it's day or night.

* Bizhawk: If the Snowy Null option is checked in the display settings, the static becomes red and green during Christmas. It also plays an 8-bit version of the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' airship theme with jingle bells.

** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', the Gurlukovich soldiers carry dog tags bearing the personal information of ''Metal Gear'' fans who sent in their details. If you steal a soldier's dog tag, and examine them through the Scope/Camera with the Triangle button, ''and'' the date corresponds to the date of birth of the soldier, you'll see the words 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' pop up on screen. A similar thing happens if, when [[AddressingThePlay putting your name in the Node at the beginning]], you put in that day's date as your date of birth.

* ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'': During Halloween, Edwina makes her mostly-white hair frizzier and wears fangs for her Cash Dash Event. She also gives out Spooky Chests as rewards.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Gardenscapes}} Homescapes]]'' features dozens of special holiday events. Major Western holidays are represented, including Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, but there are also celebrations from Eastern countries, including Diwali (the Indian Festival of Lights) and Chinese New Year. There are even more generic celebrations like "Wedding Season" (June) and Venetian Carnival (August). These limited events allow players to obtain new furniture and decorations for rooms in the house and especially the front garden; anything unlocked is permanently saved, allowing players to cycle through whatever decorations they like (although conversely, anything the player ''doesn't'' win is LostForever).

* ''VideoGame/OneHundredPercentOrangeJuice'' has had special events for Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day, including a storyline in Christmas where Aru (Scramble) actually addresses the player and asks for help to retrieve 15 presents, and unlocking content for other characters; and there's also a Valentine's Day storyline, called "Chocolate for The Sweet Gods", where the game once again addresses the player and ask for help to retrieve 50000 chocolates to unlock new content.

** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', the Gurlukovich soldiers carry dog tags bearing the personal information of ''Metal Gear'' fans who sent in their details. If you steal a soldier's dog tag, and examine them through the Scope/Camera with the Triangle button, ''and'' the date corresponds to the date of birth of the soldier, you'll see the words 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' pop up on screen. A similar thing happens if, when [[AnyoneYouKnow putting your name in the Node at the beginning]], you put in that day's date as your date of birth.

** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2'', the Gurlukovich soldiers carry dog tags bearing the personal information of ''Metal Gear'' fans who sent in their details. If you steal a soldier's dog tag, and examine them through the Scope/Camera with the Triangle button, ''and'' the date corresponds to the date of birth of the soldier, you'll see the words 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' pop up on screen. A similar thing happens if, when [[AnyoneYouKnow putting your name in the Node at the beginning]], you put in that day's date as your date of birth.

** This also contains an Easter Egg if you set your PC's/Console's clock to the founding of RockSteady Studios (December 13 2004) Calendar Man delivers a unique piece of dialogue.

* Wiki/ThisVeryWiki's holiday logos.

* ''VideoGame/Payday2'' reskins a few of the game's heists for Christmas. These, along with Christmas-themed heists, also provide a bonus on reputation gained at the end of a heist.

* ''VideoGame/FalloutShelter'' adds Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas modes when those holidays come around. On top of allowing Skeleton, Ghost, Pilgrim, Santa Clause, and Elf costumes, the full-sized barracks and cafeterias become decorated with appropriately themed decorations and music. There are also questlines centered around New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Easter, and St. Patrick's Day, available when those holidays come around.

* ''VideoGame/FalloutShelter'' adds Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas modes when those holidays come around. On top of allowing Skeleton, Ghost, Pilgrim, Santa Clause, and Elf costumes, the full-sized barracks and cafeterias become decorated with appropriately themed decorations and music.

* One ''VideoGame/Halo3'' multiplayer map, Valhalla, has a large wall on one side that features a different image on certain days of the year, including Veteran's Day, Halloween, and July 7 (Bungie Day). ''Halo 3'' also displays joke "advice" messages on April Fool's Day. One was something to the effect of, "You can avoid damage from a grenade if you sit on it like a goose."