Holiday Bonus

About

Holiday Bonus is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Grey Alien Games and was released on December 27, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

What's in Santa's sack? It's a Holiday Bonus that the whole family will love. Chill out with this cool winter-themed puzzle game - it's slicker than Santa on an icy roof!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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64%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

emotional1 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Relaxing and casual Match-3 gameplay with a festive Christmas theme, suitable for holiday enjoyment.
Large number of levels providing many hours of simple, no-pressure match-3 action.
Charming nostalgic graphics and soothing holiday music contribute to a wholesome, cozy atmosphere.

Outdated graphics with low resolution and poor widescreen support, resulting in stretched visuals on modern displays.
Lacks features, challenges, and variety found in more modern Match-3 games; gameplay is basic and repetitive.
Some players find the game boring or tedious, with limited incentive from power-ups and no achievements.

music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's music features relaxing, Christmas-themed instrumental tracks that complement the holiday atmosphere and gameplay well. However, the menu song received criticism for its disco-style Christmas sound, which some found mismatched. Overall, the background music supports a pleasant and low-pressure gaming experience.
- “The soundtrack is pretty relaxing, Christmas-y instrumental music.”
- “Music is nicely in the background and the switch into another level is smoothly executed and not 'cheap' via level select.”
- “Despite the simple, low pressure gameplay, getting into the matching groove was good, and the holiday theme and seasonal music were enjoyable.”
- “The song in the menu is abysmal, think Christmas music but disco.”
- “The music is ok and it has 5 cards.”
- “Offering a way to merge match three gameplay with the popular Christian holiday, players can swap themed tiles to meet arbitrary goals while royalty-free music plays.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics are dated and fairly basic, with limited customization options and a low resolution of 800x600. While some find the artwork charming and appreciate unlockable images, overall the visuals are functional but unimpressive.
- “Graphics are functional, with a detail slider and various backgrounds you can set as wallpaper. The game runs in a crisp 800x600 resolution and offers additional images to unlock in the gallery.”
- “Although the graphics are a bit dated due to the game's age, this adds to its charm and makes it more enjoyable.”
- “The artwork differs from some of the developer's later games but remains lovely nonetheless.”
- “Lacks graphical options and the levels are just meh.”
- “It's an older game, so the graphics are just okay.”
- “Additionally, the graphics aren't that great and it has no achievements.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The gameplay features solid match-3 mechanics with smooth tile matching that allows continuous combos as tiles fall, providing an engaging yet casual experience. It’s well-suited for light, relaxing play sessions and family-friendly enjoyment.
- “Offering a way to merge match three gameplay with the popular Christian holiday, players can swap themed tiles to meet arbitrary goals while royalty-free music plays.”
- “That said, I still love the game engine that was used to develop this game (and others from GreyAlien): you can continue making matches as tiles are still falling (which helps keep the flow when you are on a roll), you can either swipe or select the tiles to match, and the game mechanics are solid.”
- “This is the perfect timekiller for coffee breaks at work, or something to play with your family in the room when you can't afford to devote intense concentration to gameplay.”
- “That said, I still love the game engine that was used to develop this game (and others from Greyalien): you can continue making matches as tiles are still falling (which helps keep the flow when you are on a roll), you can either swipe or select the tiles to match, and the game mechanics are solid.”
- “Solid match 3 gameplay.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The story in this game is generally considered weak compared to other titles from the same developer, lacking depth and engaging elements. However, it offers a simple and festive holiday-themed narrative suitable for casual players looking to complete the game fully.
- “If you're in for a great match-3 with superb storylines, holiday season themed, and not too complicated to play and finish 100%, this is the game for you.”
- “I had hoped this game (holiday bonus) was as good, but sadly it is lacking a story and other elements that the other match-3 games provide (from this developer).”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect is described as extremely wholesome, providing a deeply heartwarming and positive experience.
- “Extremely wholesome.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a very relaxing and casual experience, enhanced by a charming Christmas atmosphere that adds to its overall appeal.
- “Very relaxing casual game with a great Christmas atmosphere.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is widely seen as tedious and monotonous, leading to a boring and repetitive experience that diminishes player engagement.
- “Holiday bonus is tedious, dull, monotonous, banal, dreary, humdrum, and in case I'm not being clear here - it is boring with a capital zzzzzzzzz... which is exactly what happened every time I played it.”