Thanksgiving is a holiday that revolves around food, family, and football, but what about gaming? While Halloween and Christmas are staples for holiday-themed content in video games, Thanksgiving often feels like the forgotten stepchild of the holiday world. That’s not to say developers haven’t tried—there have been a few noble (and some cringe-worthy) attempts to bring Thanksgiving into gaming. So, does Thanksgiving in video games deliver a feast worth celebrating, or is it more forgettable than Aunt Linda’s dry stuffing? Let’s dig in.

The Feast: Games That Get It Right

Some games manage to capture the spirit of Thanksgiving in unique and memorable ways, blending holiday cheer with creative gameplay.

Animal Crossing: Turkey Day

When it comes to Thanksgiving celebrations in gaming, Animal Crossing is the undisputed MVP. Each November, the franchise hosts “Turkey Day,” an event featuring Franklin, a chef who resembles an actual turkey (and who might be sweating bullets, considering his species). Players are tasked with gathering ingredients to help Franklin prepare a grand feast for the town’s residents. It’s charming, cozy, and feels like a digital version of the holiday we all love—minus the awkward family arguments. Plus, it’s one of the few games where you can experience the joy of Thanksgiving without worrying about overcooking the turkey.

Overcooked! 2: Seasonal Updates

If Thanksgiving dinner often feels like a chaotic race against time, then Overcooked! 2 delivers that energy in spades. The game’s seasonal updates include themed levels where players scramble to cook festive dishes under increasingly absurd conditions—think conveyor belts, moving platforms, and flames everywhere. It’s chaotic, stressful, and hilariously fun, making it a great way to bond (or fight) with friends over the holiday.

Fortnite: Thanksgiving Skins and Events

While Fortnite doesn’t focus heavily on Thanksgiving, the game has released several holiday-themed skins, including a turkey mascot that’s both hilarious and slightly terrifying. They’ve also featured Thanksgiving-themed events, such as food fights and limited-time modes. While it doesn’t exactly capture the essence of the holiday, it’s a fun, lighthearted nod to the season that lets players celebrate while racking up eliminations.

The Sims: HarvestFest

If you’re a fan of creating your own holiday chaos, The Sims 4 has you covered. The game’s “HarvestFest” celebration lets Sims cook a grand meal, invite over family and friends, and even interact with bizarre holiday gnomes. While it’s technically not called Thanksgiving, it’s close enough—especially when your Sim starts a fire trying to deep fry a turkey. The game’s combination of humor and domestic drama feels like a spot-on parody of real-life Thanksgiving.

The Forgettable: Missed Opportunities and Half-Baked Ideas

Unfortunately, not all Thanksgiving-themed content sticks the landing. Some games include Thanksgiving simply as a seasonal afterthought, while others miss the mark entirely.

Call of Duty: Turkey Shoot

You’d think a franchise that releases yearly and thrives on holiday tie-ins could nail a Thanksgiving event. Instead, Call of Duty occasionally dips its toe into Thanksgiving with lackluster themed modes like “Turkey Shoot,” which is basically regular gameplay with turkey costumes. Fun? Sure, but it’s more gimmicky than genuinely festive, and it often feels like an afterthought.

World of Warcraft: Pilgrim’s Bounty

Blizzard’s World of Warcraft includes “Pilgrim’s Bounty,” a Thanksgiving-inspired seasonal event that feels…meh. Players can complete quests involving cooking and feasting, but the content is mostly repetitive and doesn’t stand out compared to the game’s more elaborate holiday events (like Halloween’s “Hallow’s End”). Sure, there’s some charm in shooting turkeys and collecting food items, but after a few minutes, you’re ready to move on.

NBA 2K: Thanksgiving-Themed Courts

Occasionally, NBA 2K includes Thanksgiving-themed courts or events that let players celebrate while shooting hoops. However, these updates often feel more like background noise than meaningful content. Sure, playing on a court with turkey decorations is fun for a minute, but it doesn’t add much depth or excitement to the experience.

The Potential: What Thanksgiving in Games Could Be

Thanksgiving may not dominate gaming, but there’s untapped potential for developers to create memorable holiday-themed content. Here are a few ideas for how Thanksgiving could shine in video games:

1. Interactive Family Feasts

Games like The Sims already dabble in the chaos of hosting a holiday dinner, but imagine a game entirely focused on it. Players could manage a dysfunctional family gathering, dealing with everything from burnt pies to feuding relatives. Add a few hilarious mini-games—like dodging political debates or salvaging the turkey—and you’ve got a Thanksgiving hit.

2. Cooking Competitions

Building on the success of Overcooked, developers could create a game entirely about cooking a Thanksgiving feast. Players could compete in fast-paced challenges to see who can create the best (or worst) dinner, complete with sabotage mechanics like “accidentally” spilling gravy on your opponent’s dish.

3. Turkey Survival Mode

Flip the script and play as a turkey trying to escape the Thanksgiving table. Picture a stealth-based game where you outsmart farmers, dodge gravy boats, and sabotage ovens to save yourself and your fellow turkeys. It’s absurd, but it’s also the kind of ridiculous fun that makes holiday gaming memorable.

Feast or Forgettable? The Verdict

Thanksgiving in video games is a mixed bag. While some games, like Animal Crossing and Overcooked! 2, deliver creative and entertaining takes on the holiday, others treat it as a half-hearted footnote. For now, Thanksgiving remains the underdog of holiday-themed gaming—occasionally charming but often overshadowed by its flashier siblings, Halloween and Christmas.

So, is Thanksgiving in video games a feast or forgettable? It’s somewhere in between. But who knows? With the right mix of creativity and chaos, Thanksgiving could carve out its place in the gaming world. Until then, we’ll be content with helping Franklin the turkey avoid the carving knife in Animal Crossing—and dreaming of what could be.