Did you know that playing video games has been proven to have positive effects on well-being? This is the conclusion reached by a research team from Oxford University in a new study based on the games Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville.

With this in mind, and knowing that this year's holiday season may be more difficult for some, we asked the teachers at our VFX & Game Design School to provide us with a list of the best video games to discover during the holiday season.

Here are the ones they selected:

Best game to play online with friends during lockdown:
Ex aequo Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout and Among us

A word from the coordinator: Two games that are easy to pick up and laugh out loud. Colourful and efficient multiplayers that will liven up your evenings for hours on end.
 
Holiday season blockbuster:
Ex aequo Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin's Creed Valhalla
 
A word from the coordinator: The giants CD Projekt and Ubisoft offer us incredible creations for the holiday season. On a next-gen console or a racing computer, these dazzling games push the limits of gameplay and Game Design codes. Are you a fan of the Viking series or rather Blade Runner? Take your pick.
 
Best Independent Game 2020 :
Hades
 
A word from the coordinator: An original rogue-like story that has the particularity of building its narrative on the gambler's prowess (procedural narrative storytelling).  The dungeons are always different from one game to another. A cool anime style to top it all off. A sure value his Steam score of 10/10
 
Best game for a beginner :
Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A word from the coordinator: Classics Animal crossing allows you to relax by taking care of small round animals and gardening. Popular for its style, it's also a favorite among gamers.