Play Daze Before Christmas Online

Daze Before Christmas came out on the Sega Genesis in 1994, developed by Sunsoft. It was one of those oddball holiday games that felt right at home on the system, a platform known for its mix of serious action titles and strange, experimental releases. You don't see many games where Santa Claus is the main character, especially not ones that lean so hard into frantic, almost surreal action.

You control Santa, and your goal is to rescue the reindeer and save Christmas from an army of hostile snowmen and mischievous penguins. You move screen by screen, throwing magic snowballs to freeze enemies or using a short-range bell attack to shatter them. The real twist is the hot cocoa power-up; drinking it transforms you into a furious, hammer-swinging version of Santa who can plow through anything for a short time. The pacing is relentless, with enemies swarming from all sides, and the difficulty can spike unexpectedly. It feels chaotic and a little unhinged, but in a way that makes you want to see what bizarre enemy or stage comes next.