From Miracle on 34th Street and Elf to Home Alone 2, Scrooged, and, yes, even Die Hard, movies have been treasured for decades for how they capture the legendary allure of NYC’s vast, glittering, snow-covered mystique on those frosty December nights. And while the Holiday video game doesn’t have the same rich tradition as the Holiday movie just yet, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a giant, web-slinging leap toward starting a new tradition.

Recently, the attitude has been “the more Spider-Men, the better” in the films and Insomniac Games’ latest sequel, but this time around, Peter Parker’s off the scene; he’s gone on a European winter “vacation” tagging along as MJ’s photographer on a work trip. His protégé Miles is swinging solo for his first Holiday in Harlem.

And, one year after the events of the first game, Miles is swinging in style as he heads toward the new year. He may not have grown into Pete’s assured confidence just yet—you’ll recognize the exuberant, ambitious mix of swinging, tumbling, and acrobatic air tricks from Into the Spider-Verse—but he’s coming into his own, getting to grips with his new neighborhood, processing the tragic loss of his father, and now even getting mixed up in the skirmishes between energy corp Roxxon and the Underground’s terrorists.

Improving the speedy thrills and nimble, polished combat of the original Marvel’s Spider-Man, it adds up to a tremendous time swinging through New York’s winter wonderland.
 

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Spider-Man’s Harlem is a magical place to call home in winter, absolutely nothing like the inhospitable tundras and biting cold gales of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Miles may be a newcomer, but the neighborhood that’s quickly embraced him to its heart is painted in rich, fond detail. Those uptown brownstone apartment blocks and streets are dusted with thick layers of snow, like icing on a cake. The streets are slippery with ice and thick flurries of snowfall never let up, covering up the grime (if not the crime) and your misfired web shots, but never the vibrant murals adorning the building facades. 

The winter vibes are impeccable all over the city. Nobody bothers clearing the ice off their cars, but it makes for a more scenic look—just sprint up the Avengers Tower and turn on photo mode for that picture-perfect view! 

When exploring as Miles out of the Spidey Suit, he’ll sensibly wear a shearling-lined parka. But you don’t play Spider-Man for the winterwear. Peter Parker’s Spidey Suit may superficially seem more festive, its bright red and blues worthy of adorning any tree, but Miles’s threads, usually black with bold accents, stand out just as much against a city buried in pure white snow.

Whether you’re in that fluffy parka or a skintight Spidey Suit, you’re surrounded by the trappings of the Holiday season. Early on, you chase returning baddie Rhino through a busy mall, swinging past last-minute gift shoppers who dart out of your path before crashing through a lavish Grotto (fortunately no Santas or elves were harmed). Another time, you’ll rudely interrupt an office party, disturbing the celebrations when you smash a shipping crate through the building—who I’m sure were glad for the excuse to leave early anyway!

Snowmen can be found all over the city, as can NPCs enjoying snowball fights, even on the rooftops. And make sure you don’t miss the virtual tourism of spotting the Rockefeller Center’s lavishly grand tree and ice-rink venue (the one from Home Alone 2 and Elf!), complete with a snowflake light show. Just a shame you can’t ice skate on there—such frictionless pursuits aren’t for the Spider-Men and their notoriously grippy feet.

Returning locations from the first game are almost unrecognizable. Central Park is a particularly special sight—don’t forget to scurry along those frozen ponds. And the Harlem pop-up market is a joyful location, preempting the grand carnival to come in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
 

Family gatherings

Family dinners are practically never seen in games, which makes the Morales family’s welcoming gathering even more special. When it was released in late 2020, the scene was a tonic for players like myself who were craving sparse opportunities for social occasions. I didn’t have dinner with my loved ones that year, but I did gatecrash Rio, Ganke, and Phin’s feast. Joining their Nochebuena dinner was full of good-natured ribbing, decorating, and just a bit of housework—such as using Miles's bioelectricity powers to fix a power outage and light up the picturesque fairy lights strung between the streetlights outside.

This time of year is often a time for reunions too, particularly for reaching out to the more troubled relationships in your life, which is exactly the case with Miles’s uncle Aaron Davis, a.k.a. The Prowler. The relationship takes on a painful note as Aaron wants to protect his nephew when Miles knows he needs to step up while Pete’s enjoying his time away. Aaron cares, even if how he shows it is misguided and overprotective of his phenomenally powerful nephew; their cautious glimpses of redemption and family reunion after a devastating loss are some of the most moving parts of the game—a theme echoed by the story of its antagonist, The Tinkerer.

We’re not all suckers for the schmaltzy spirit, and the game does have its very own Grinch. It could have been one of the villains, but in fact, it’s (predictably) J. Jonah Jameson. He may be dressed as Santa Claus at the beginning, but the grouchy Daily Bugle chief has a chronic lack of joy. A sidequest gives Miles the opportunity to deliver an unexpected gift for him that can thaw his heart, albeit temporarily.

You may have your own traditions, whether that’s breaking out Monopoly, watching It’s A Wonderful Life, or, in my aging family’s case, instantly going for a lengthy nap after a huge meal. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales can hold its own with these long-standing traditions. Where else can you (legally) don a Winter Spidey Suit with beanie and scarf and slam clumsy thugs into the hard, frozen ground? And isn’t that what it’s really all about?

Explore New York City’s winter wonderland in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, available now on the Epic Games Store.