The Christmas holiday season is a great time for those who love video games. Exchanging gifts with good friends or finding new gifts placed under a Christmas tree always has new games in the mix. Those who grew up playing video games at a young age remember what it was like to wake up on Christmas morning and unwrap a new game that could be played throughout the morning.

But like every year that passes by, sometimes people need to get last-minute gifts for their family and friends before Christmas Day arrives. And with so many new games that have been released throughout 2025, there's a great selection to pick from as a gift to any gamer this holiday season. Here are 4 video games that would make for perfect last-minute Christmas gifts.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion

A mighty brawler to play together

You can never go wrong with something related to Marvel Comics, especially when it comes to video games. Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a fantastic brawler that can be enjoyed alone or with up to three other friends. Teaming up with multiple superheros to battle tons of baddies and iconic Marvel villains is a fun time to spend your Christmas morning. And if you're someone that loves the 90s era of Marvel, when the animated series for various heroes were airing, then it's even better for you.

The best parts of Marvel Cosmic Invasion come from its beautiful presentation and high-levels of action. Getting a full team together and taking down bad guys in iconic locations from throughout the Marvel Universe is both fun and interesting for those who know these characters very well. The game is available on multiple platforms, including Xbox Game Pass, so there are multiple ways to play it. When in doubt, you can always bet big on mighty Marvel to deliver something awesome.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

A fun racer from Sega

There are multiple racing games that have come out in 2025, especially kart racers with big mascots attached to them. While many people enjoyed diving into Mario Kart World or Kirby Air Riders on the Nintendo Switch 2, Sega fans got something new with Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds on consoles and PC. Like the previous Sonic Racing games, CrossWorlds brings together multiple characters from different Sonic the Hedgehog games and mashes them together into a fun kart racer. Additional characters from other franchises are part of the game's post-launch DLC, which includes iconic game characters like Mega Man and Pac-Man.

There's a big emphasis on crossing over to different tracks in the middle of a race. While riding along a track, sometimes things will change and put racers into a new location while racing. There are a lot of similarities between Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and past Sonic Racing games, with minor differences that still manage to stay fun to engage with. For anyone that loves the racing genre and wants to try something a little different that isn't Nintendo's popular kart racer, this is a game they'll love diving into.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

Legendary fighting games in one bundle

The Mortal Kombat franchise is among the biggest names in video games, especially within the fighting game genre. The series has built a legacy that has lasted for decades, with tons of great arcade and console releases that many gamers grew up playing. Having the bulk of the earlier years of Mortal Kombat in one package is a treat for any gamer who loves the series. The Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection will have anyone feeling nostalgic and competitive when playing with family members on Christmas morning.

Every single arcade release and console port of the original series is included in the collection, as well as various spin-offs and portable system versions of Mortal Kombat games. But in addition to all the games, there is a detailed documentary and bonus content that unveils the vast history of the Mortal Kombat series and its beginnings. Fighting game fans will love playing the games they remember growing up with, online and offline, and will have a great time seeing all the extra content that gets into how the series was created and impacted generations of gamers.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

New age of catching them all

Anybody that owns a Nintendo system needs to have a Pokémon game they can play. The series has been so popular since it began that it feels like Pokémania has never truly died down. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the latest entry in the ongoing series, the ninth generation, which introduces a new location to explore, which first appeared in Pokémon X and Y, and tons of new Pokémon to capture and battle with. It's a follow-up to the previous Pokémon Legends: Arceus for the Nintendo Switch, but features different types of Pokémon to interact with and new stories to follow.

Unlike Pokémon games of the past, there's an element of real-time combat in Pokémon Legends: Z-A with its battles. Players can move their trainer around during battles as they come up with their next attack, making these Pokémon battles feel more involved than previous entries in the series. Other abilities and tactics that change the way attacks are done and how Pokémon evolve their stats play a key role in building a solid team while exploring the region of Kalos. As the current Pokémon game for the Nintendo Switch 2, it'll keep any fan of the series really busy trying to catch them during the holidays for an entirely new adventure.

Gaming during the Christmas holiday

The holidays are a great time for everyone who loves to play video games. There's a magic in the air that fills people with joy and excitement over the fun times ahead. Getting a new game as a gift for someone is a great way to brighten up their holiday season, and an even better gift to receive as well. For those who want to grab a few more gifts before Christmastime arrives, any of these games would make a fantastic gift for someone.