Secret Santa

About

Secret Santa is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Daniel Jonathan Bourke and was released on December 1, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "Secret Santa," players take on the role of a mall Santa trying to deliver gifts while avoiding nosy elves and grumpy customers. The game features a variety of challenging levels and a charming holiday atmosphere. Use stealth and speed to complete your deliveries and bring joy to all the children on your list.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 64 reviews

music4 positive mentions

Fun and silly gameplay that captures the holiday spirit, making it enjoyable for players looking for a light-hearted experience.
Challenging stealth mechanics that provide a good mix of strategy and puzzle-solving, appealing to fans of the genre.
The game is free to play, making it accessible to a wide audience and offering a decent amount of content for its price.

Frustrating hit detection and inconsistent mechanics can lead to unfair deaths, detracting from the overall experience.
The game can feel repetitive and overly challenging, especially in later levels, which may discourage some players.
Technical limitations, such as lack of customizable controls and resolution options, hinder the gameplay experience.

gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the retro pixel graphics and lack of engaging content, leading to boredom after completing initial tasks. However, others appreciate the solid stealth mechanics and the gradual introduction of new gameplay elements through easy and medium levels, despite noting issues with hitbox reliability. Overall, the gameplay experience varies significantly between titles, with distinct mechanics and objectives.
- “In the end, while the presentation may be basic, Secret Santa is a solid game with some good stealth mechanics.”
- “In a way, the easy and medium levels act as organic tutorials, introducing new mechanics and traps.”
- “Gameplay is quite different between the titles, with MGS having and using special items in a single house while SS has individual houses with the idea 'get in, do the thing, get out.'”
- “The retro pixel graphics and gameplay are pretty bad here.”
- “I beat one list and got bored; there's really nothing that offers to the gameplay.”
- “As for gameplay, my only qualm is the clumsy, unreliable hitboxes.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its nostalgic vibes and enjoyable remixed Christmas tunes, despite some noting its repetitive nature. While the soundtrack may not be elaborate, it effectively complements the game's simple art style and overall atmosphere.
- “Art is simple, but good; along with the music, it gives you nostalgic vibes.”
- “I really enjoy the music and the art style.”
- “A pleasant soundtrack; it's not fancy, but it works.”
- “The music is somewhat repetitive, but it is forgiven being a short game.”
- “A word on the music: I'm sure you are not surprised that it's a bunch of remixed Christmas tunes.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing premise of players attempting to kill Santa, with levels cleverly themed around "nice" and "naughty" lists that dictate difficulty. While the execution may be moderate, the game's comedic elements and challenging gameplay contribute to an overall fun experience.
- “I did a stream of this game for my holiday special and it was so fun and hilarious, not to mention way more challenging than I expected.”
- “I found it hilarious that everyone is trying to kill Santa.”
- “As a funny detail, the levels are children on 'nice lists' and 'naughty lists' etc. Nice people's houses are (quite logically) the easy levels and the naughtier they get, the more traps and guards there are.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics of the game are polarizing; while some users appreciate the retro pixel art style and find it enjoyable, others criticize it as lacking quality. Overall, the aesthetic seems to resonate well with fans of retro gaming, despite some negative feedback.
- “I enjoy the retro graphics.”
- “The game is certainly a good mixture of both, plus the pixel art style is awesome.”
- “I really enjoy the music and the art style.”
- “The retro pixel graphics and gameplay are pretty bad here.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The story is described as very deep and riveting, though some users note that it differs from similar games like Metal Gear Solid, positioning it more as a casual arcade stealth experience rather than a complex puzzle game with an intricate narrative.
- “Very deep and riveting storyline.”
- “Having checked some videos of that game, they share the idea, but MGS is a full-blown puzzle game with a story, while this is more like a casual arcade stealth game.”