Everyone celebrates birthdays in their own way, but nevertheless, a birthday is a special day that shouldn't be forgotten. While friends and family may have their own busy lives, everyone can count on the comfort of video games to remember that special day and celebrate it in their own fun and unique way.

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Every time players are prompted to input their birthday before starting a game, one can't help but wonder, "is there going to be a fun birthday bonus?" In case any gamers were wondering what series/titles make the effort to remember their dear players' birthday, this list will name a few great games that commemorate it as well as what kind of bonus to expect on their special day.

Updated on May 24, 2024, by Christine Mendoza: Whether it be for a fun trophy, unique cutscene, or special item, rewarding players for playing a game on their birthday is a much more common practice than one would think. Integrating a player's special day into a game may seem like a small (perhaps even meaningless) detail, but it's a great way to make players feel more involved in the story/plot of a game and keep them more engaged. For any gamers who are interested in which games (both old and new) to get ready to log into on their birthday this year, a few more entries have been added.

21 Another Code: Two Memories/ Trace Memory

What To Expect: A Mysterious Gift

Another Code: Two Memories (titled Trace Memory in North America) is a puzzle-mystery visual novel that follows the young protagonist, Ashley Mizuki Robbins. The story begins with her fourteenth birthday, which is set to whichever date the player has selected as their own birthdate at the start of the game. This is likely to make players feel connected with Ashley and get them invested in the plot early, as she then discovers a mysterious package from her father whom she assumed was already deceased.

In the package is a small device called a "Dual Another System" or "DAS" for short. Ashley (and the player) must now take the curious birthday gift and meet their estranged father on the elusive Blood Edward Island to uncover the mysteries of her past.

20 Miitomo

What To Expect: Unique Greeting, Special Photo

• Platform: iOS, Android
• Released: March 17, 2016
• Developer(s): Nintendo
• Publisher: Nintendo

Miitomo was an adorable idle mobile game that mainly revolved around mini questionnaires to fill out for fun, playing dress up with each mii, and chatting with friends. Unfortunately, Miitomo shut down its servers back in 2018. However, during its short reign, it still managed to make a lasting impact on the Nintendo community.

Miitomo was all about customization and making the player feel special in their own little world, so, of course, their birthday would be cause for celebration. Similar to Tomodachi Life, the player's mii will be the first to greet the player and mention the special day. The player will also have a special miifoto of the day that features a giant strawberry-topped birthday cake.

19 Final Fantasy Tactics

What To Expect: Various Team & Enemy Compatibility

While Final Fantasy Tactics protagonist, Ramza, has an official/canon zodiac sign (Capricorn), the player can still pick a specific birthdate for him at the beginning of the game. Rather than a special event like a cutscene or unique item/gift, the player's birthdate impacts the gameplay from start to finish; specifically the combat.

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Ramza's zodiac sign affects his compatibility with both his own units and also enemies. Depending on his sign, Ramza can have high compatibility (affected variable multiplied by 1.5) or low compatibility (affected variable multiplied by .5) with the units he hires. This rule is also affected by each unit's sex as well.

18 Harvest Moon: A New Beginning

What To Expect: Unique Greeting, Item, (Cutscene)

Villagers in Harvest Moon have their own birthdays the players can acknowledge with a special gift, so it's only natural that the player gets the opportunity to celebrate their special day as well. Harvest Moon villagers with at least 20,000 friendship points (FP) can gift various items (ranging from animal treats to medicinal items) to the player on their birthday as a sign of gratitude.

However, if the player is married/dating, they will also get the chance to receive a unique cutscene where the player is treated to a special birthday dinner with their family.

17 Tomodachi Collection

What To Expect: Unique Cutscene, Greeting

While North American Nintendo fans may be familiar with Tomodachi Life, they may not know its predecessor, Tomodachi Collection. It debuted back in 2009 for the DS, four years before its 3DS sequel, Tomodachi Life. Tomodachi Life was eventually brought over to North America after its Japanese release, but Tomodachi Collectionremained a Japan-exclusive game.

Tomodachi Collection, similar to its sequel, celebrates players' birthdays with a fun news report and unique cutscene complete with other miis as party guests, singing to the player around a big, delicious birthday cake.

16 Kirby Squeak Squad

What To Expect: Unique Start Screen

Upon first booting up Kirby Squeak Squad on the day of the player's birthday, the game will immediately cut to a special "Happy Birthday" greeting screen, complete with confetti, right after pressing start on the start screen.

Kirby and friends are all present, forks in hand, ready to dig into a giant birthday cake. The adorable cake is adorned with chocolate lettering and blue and green birthday candles. The greeting even comes with moving confetti and a little musical tune that plays as well.

15 Animal Crossing (Original)

What To Expect: Unique Dialogue, Greeting, Random Items, Special Item

Fans of the original, first-ever Animal Crossing game may remember the game making players feel remembered and celebrated on their special day, despite the Gamecube's more archaic graphics. In the original Animal Crossing, the player immediately be greeted by the villager they have the highest friendship level with as soon as they leave their house to venture off for the day. The excited villager will then greet the player and give them a present.

However, the villager that greets the player isn't the only one that gifts the player on their special day, they're just the only one that hand-delivers their present. The rest of the villagers will send letters with gifts attached in the mail, including a special birthday cake item from the player's elusive (but sweet) mom.

14 Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX

What To Expect: Unique Cutscene, Greeting

As soon as players open up Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX on their birthday, they'll be greeted by the Hatsune Miku herself. Miku will appear with a tasty cake, topped with chocolate, whipped cream, strawberries, and candles while an adorable theme plays in the back. The lower Nintendo DS screen will have a big birthday greeting, complete with the player's name as well.

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On a Genshin Impact character's birthday, they will send the player a mail with some special gifts, as well as a heartfelt letter for the Traveller.

Using the DS's built-in microphone, the player can then blow out their candles for real. As the candles go out, the adorable Miku on the upper screen will then shout out a little, "Happy birthday!" before the cutscene greeting fades to black. But the fun doesn't end there; the rest of the vocaloids featured in the game also get their turn to present their own birthday cake and greeting as well.

13 Pokemon X & Y

What To Expect: Unique Cutscene, Greeting

In Pokemon X & Y, the player is celebrated the moment they enter the Pokemon Center. If they visit the Pokemon Center at any time during their birthday, they will notice that the lights will be dimmed. Once the lights turn on, streamers, confetti, stars, hearts, and even smiling Pikachu faces will dance across the screen, followed by the beloved Nurse Joy greeting the player by name.

Nurse Joy will give the players a sweet message and heart-warming birthday wishes for their Pokemon journey before sending them off to enjoy the rest of their special day.

12 Metal Gear Solid 2

What To Expect: Unique Greeting

The Metal Gear Solid 2 birthday Easter egg is a bit tricky to come across. When first logging into the node as Raiden at the beginning of the Plant chapter, the player has a chance to input a few details about themselves such as their name, blood type, nationality, and birthday. The player will only see this birthday greeting if they happen to play this specific part of the game on the day of their birthday.

If the system's internal clock reads that the current day is the player's birthday, a small birthday greeting and a candle-lit cake will appear at the bottom right of the screen. However, this greeting isn't just for the player. A similar birthday message will appear if the player examines a dog tag of a soldier whose birth date matches the internal clock.

11 Mario & Luigi: Dream Team

What To Expect: Special Item

To make players feel amazing on their special day, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team gifts them unique items they can't get anywhere else. There is an entire set of gear dedicated to celebrating players' special day of birth.

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The "Birthday Gear" line is made up of Birthday Boots, a Birthday Hammer, Birthday Wear, and a Birthday Ring. Each of these unique items grants the user incredible buffs, like an increase of striking power by a whopping 400%. To keep things fair, the Birthday Gear only grants buffs on the player's day of birth.

10 Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin

What To Expect: Special Purchasable Item

Many gamers would be surprised to hear that Castlevania has a birthday Easter egg, as the series doesn't seem like the type. While there is no formal cutscene or gift (as the player is still meant to purchase the special item), the player can still have their cake and eat it too.

If the player accesses Vincent's shop on their birthday, they will find a birthday cake available for purchase, only for one day of the year. This item isn't just for show and can be bought in multiples. It restores 573 HP ("573" being a Konami inside joke) and can even be sold for $750. However, no one can truly put a price on something so precious.

9 Gran Turismo (Series)

What To Expect: Unique Greeting, Special Item

Players have been given a reason to log in on their birthday throughout the Gran Turismo series. In GT5, GT6, GT Sport, and GT7, players received prize cars upon logging into the game on their date of birth. Along with a greeting, the player typically gets a prize car or ticket used to redeem a prize car for their special day.

In GT6, the player's birthday car was directly tied to their year of birth; they got a car made in the year (or the closest year) to their own birth year. However, by GT Sport, the birthday car no longer was affected by the year of the player's birth. Players were gifted a wider range of cars to celebrate their day.

8 Pokemon Sword & Shield

What To Expect: Unique Cutscene, Greeting

In Pokemon Sword & Shield on the day of the player's birthday, the celebrations will begin once the player enters a Pokemon Center. Upon entering, the player will be greeted by tons of confetti, Pikachu-shaped balloons, and a personalized birthday greeting as well. Not only that but there will also be a Pokeball-shaped cake (complete with colorful, lit candles) behind the nurse in the Pokemon Center for the rest of the day.

Another bonus players can experience on their special day is checking the memories of the Pokemon that are in the current party, as it will state that the Pokemon remember celebrating the player's birthday with them. The last small bonus in the game is finding a small lit candle on certain dishes that are cooked on camp throughout the day.

7 Death Stranding

What To Expect: Unique Cutscene

At the beginning of Death Stranding, players are prompted to input their birthday and are warned that it will affect a condition called DOOMS. In reality, the date doesn't truly affect the player's overall experience with DOOMS but instead allows for the game to treat the player on their special day. The BB and Lisa both get their special day mentioned, so it's only natural that the player gets the same honor.

In addition to a delectable cake (that slowly gets eaten over time), the player has a chance to trigger a unique cutscene when exiting a safe house. These cutscenes of Cliff speaking to the BB aren't anything new, but on the player's special day, Cliff will break the fourth wall, just to wish the player a happy birthday and gift them a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

6 Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain

What To Expect: Unique Cutscene(s)

After rushing back to Mother Base due to an unforeseen emergency, Boss returns to find the place completely empty. As Boss gets out of the helicopter, he draws his gun in response to the sounds of supposed gunshots which are actually celebratory fireworks for the man himself.

Suddenly, Kaz, Ocelot, and a few other Diamond Dog soldiers come out with an adorable Diamond Dog-branded cake to serenade Boss on his special day. Ocelot even gifts Boss a fancy cigar (which he welcomes in place of his Phantom Cigar), but Kaz insists on blowing out the cake before indulging in a smoke.

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If Quiet is at Mother Base, she'll have her own special way of greeting Boss as well; this time a bit more dangerous, but definitely her style. In a cutscene where Boss is casually walking around the base, Quiet sends over a big barrage of bullets his way, spelling "HBD" on a big wooden crate full of cigars. Quiet gives Boss one last gift as she takes a shot and lights the end of his cigar before taking her leave.

5 Wii Fit/ Wii Fit Plus

What To Expect: Unique Greeting

A blast from the past, Wii Fit, was a great way to keep healthy, exercise, and make sure to have fun while doing it as well. At the beginning of the game, when making a profile, the game asks for many pieces of relevant information in order to properly assess each player's status and current goals. One of the pieces of information the game asks for is the player's birthday.

Upon logging in for the day's workout session, the adorable mascot, the Wii Fit Board itself, will have a tiny party hat on and be jumping for joy to greet the player on their special day. Not only will it greet the player, but it'll also give a small, uplifting message about how age shouldn't get in the way of fitness and that the key to good health is consistent exercise.

4 Fire Emblem (Series)

What To Expect: Unique Greetings, Letters, Bonus Items

A handful of the Fire Emblem games feature some kind of bonus on the player's birthday; for Fire Emblem Three Houses, Byleth gets to celebrate his/her special day with some kind letters from friends. The letter will include a unique birthday message from each character, along with a gifted item. These gifted items will also change, depending on if the player's birthday occurs pre-timeskip or post-timeskip.

In other titles, there are little bonuses that can be found on the player's birthday; such as in Fire Emblem Fates, the player can make their rounds, interacting with their teammates to get a nice little voice greeting from their favorite pals.

3 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

What To Expect: Special Items, Unique Cutscene, Mini-game, And Performance

In all Animal Crossing titles, there is usually a special treat for players on their birthday but the surprise in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the best one yet. In ACNH, the player is greeted by a villager as soon as they leave their house. They'll then be escorted over to the villager's house where they are greeted by a small party just for them. Not only is there cake, decorations, and great music, but there's also a fun piñata mini-game that the player can partake in as well.

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From here, the player will be given a collective gift from the villagers present at the party (usually a unique birthday-themed furniture item or wearable) as well as get the chance to hand out the birthday cupcakes (obtained by the piñata) to other villagers around town. Famous musician, K.K. Slider will also make a special appearance to perform a birthday number just for the player.

Lastly, the player's loving mother will also send a handmade cake in the mail to display as well. Luckily it didn't get damaged along the way.

2 Tomodachi Life

What To Expect: Special Item, Unique Cutscene

On the player's birthday, the player's look-alike Mii will call them on their cell phone to follow them for a surprise. When the player arrives at the Mii's apartment, a handful of favorite Miis will surround the player and sing to them, while one Mii (the Mii that is ranked first on the island's "Pampered" rating) will be holding a delicious birthday cake.

After their little birthday serenade, the Miis will bring out some fun party poppers and set them off while saying their own little greeting. After everyone's made their birthday wishes, the player then gets a birthday cake as well as a special birthday greeting on the Tomodachi Life Mii News broadcasts.

However, if the player feels a bit devious, they can blow out the candles via the Nintendo 3DS's microphone before the Miis finish their song to give them a little surprise.