Wired has put together an interesting list of the top five Santa’s appearances in video games:

5. Santa Claus Saves the Earth (PS)–Santa is trapped in the world of Nilam the evil fairy, who apparently watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas one too many times and will do anything to keep Christmas from coming. The platforming action isn’t exactly awe-inspiring, but Santa could certainly use the exercise. You’re looking at his gut, aren’t you? He’s working on it!

4. ClayFighter 63 1/3 (N64)–Saint Nick cameos as Sumo Santa in this game that parodies classic fighters like Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat. The results? Not pretty. Though somewhat nightmare-inducing, Santa’s near nudity does let us discover that his belly not only shakes like a bowl full of jelly, but also makes a darn fine weapon when applied to someone’s noggin.

3. Christmas Nights (Saturn)–This expansion pack turned the Spring Valley level for Nights Into Dreams into a winter wonderland filled with Christmas trees, wreaths, presents, and elves. (The North Pole kind, not the World of Warcraft kind.) Santa technically doesn’t show his rosy-cheeked face, but Nights flies around in a decidedly Santa-esque red suit, which we figure is close enough.

2. Sam & Max: Ice Station Santa (PC)–Telltale Games seems to realize that a guy who not only sees you when you’re sleeping, but can also slip into your house no matter how many locks you have on the door is really kinda creepy. The chance to throw down with a gun-wielding Santa–a “hairy, bloated pagan god” as Sam calls him–is too good to pass up.

1. ToeJam & Earl (Genesis)–A fine example of Santa doing what he does best: giving away presents. You could walk around and take whatever Sir Claus was willing to give you, or you could do the smart thing and go for the big haul by creeping up behind him and scaring him into dropping a bunch at once. Sneaking up on Santa was tricky because he usually heard you coming and would take off with his jet pack before you got too close. (I always knew that whole reindeer/sleigh story was a bunch of hooey.) Santa also appears in ToeJam & Earl III, but he was at his present-shoveling best in the original.

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