There's something about winter-themed games that are especially immersive and cozy. Yes, it's true that the soft colors of fall and the bright sounds of summer can be very enticing, but winter games are on another level. They tend to be some of the more mechanically complex and challenging games out there, and they often perfectly capture all the sensations associated with being in the middle of a snowy land: isolation and harshness, but also the simple joy of reprieve next to a fire.
These games were chosen for either primarily or exclusively taking place during the cold season. This gives them a very unique vibe compared to games that take place across all four seasons.
9 The Long Dark
The Long Dark
Platform(s) PC , PS4 , Switch , Xbox One Released August 1, 2017 Developer(s) Hinterland Studio Publisher(s) Hinterland Studio
This award-winning and critically acclaimed survival game has been a fan favorite since 2017. When people are asked to think of video games that capture the essence of survival in the harsh cold wilderness, The Long Dark is a very popular choice.
The Long Dark has a lot of what people are looking for in gaming: post-apocalyptic subject matter, sandbox mechanics, open-world crafting, and survival horror. But what really makes this game stay relevant is its impeccable recreation of the winter atmosphere. You are not the main character in this game — Mother Nature is.
8 Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Out of all the many Silent Hill spin-offs available today, Shattered Memories is probably still the best one. Though Silent Hill games typically use fog and rust as environmental hazards and obstacles, Shattered Memories uses ice and snow instead, and it uses them effectively.
Considered a sort of remake of the original title, Shattered Memories has a very similar plot that involves Harry Mason searching for his missing daughter. But this time around, the world morphs around you, leading you into an icy otherworld that provides a chillingly fresh perspective on this classic horror universe and aesthetic.
7 Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham Origins
Platform(s) PS3 , Xbox 360 , PC , Nintendo Wii U Released October 25, 2013 Developer(s) WB Games Montreal Publisher(s) Warner Bros. Interactive
There is a lot that separates Arkham Origins from the rest of the iconic Arkham trilogy — such as being a prequel title — but Origins taking place during winter is certainly one of the top distinguishing factors. As adaptable as he is, it's not common to see Batman prowling the streets and rooftops of a snow-covered Gotham City.
Being a master of stealth and misdirection, snow can be a huge advantage to the Caped Crusader. Snowy winds not only add to the oppressive atmosphere of the game but act as a viable tactic for
perfect stealth missions.
6 Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
Platform(s) PS4 , Xbox One , PC Released September 6, 2019 Developer(s) Capcom Publisher(s) Capcom
Technically, this is a DLC, but it's so vast and unique that it deserves its own spot. Iceborne is a massive expansion that introduced so many new items, locales, and monsters that it perfectly captured the married essence of monster hunting and a feisty winter landscape.
The frozen frontier of Iceborne does much more than simply re-coat the base game with icicles and blizzards. With nearly double the content of the vanilla release, this is a DLC for the ages — including the ice ages!
5 Rise of the Tomb Raider
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Platform(s) PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , PC , Stadia Released November 10, 2015 Developer(s) Crystal Dynamics Publisher(s) Square Enix
Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the franchise's hardest and best-selling entries, and it's easy to see why by how gorgeous it is. Taking place in a very different setting than its 2013 predecessor, Rise sees Lara Croft venturing into even more elaborate catacombs, outposts, and puzzle rooms, many of which place an emphasis on the winter elements.
Rise of the Tomb Raider is also the first in the series to embrace traditional open-world elements, making it far less linear than its prequel. This gives players the freedom to explore any icy ruin or mountaintop they wish.
4 Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus
Platform(s) PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC , Stadia Released February 15, 2019 Developer(s) 4A Games Publisher(s) Deep Silver
The great thing about Metro games is that you get two for the price of one: you can explore both a regular winter and a nuclear winter, or at least the post-apocalyptic remains of one. If only the harsh snow and winds were the worst things to worry about here!
Metro Exodus is a fascinating take on survival in harsh and cold conditions, because you also have to deal with irradiated monsters and radioactive materials. Having to traverse the natural elements as you're being hunted by unnatural ones makes for an unforgettable gaming experience.
3 Frostpunk
Frostpunk
Platform(s) PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One Released April 24, 2018 Developer(s) 11 Bit Studios Publisher(s) 11 Bit Studios
Frostpunk not only has a unique name, but a unique premise as well. This is another winter-themed survival game, but instead of being an open-world crafting action game, this is an elaborate city builder sim. This is a game that is just as much about resource management as it is about sleek winter aesthetics.
If you love a game where choices matter, Frostpunk is an exceptional choice in itself. Everything you do from exploration to food provisions will impact how your citizens think of you in the past and future. But no matter what you decide, always remember that the frost always remains.
2 This War of Mine
This War of Mine
Platform(s) Android , iOS , PC , PS4 , Switch , Xbox One Released November 14, 2014 Developer(s) 11 Bit Studios Publisher(s) 11 Bit Studios
Though many winter-themed games are more fantastical, This War of Mine is a much more realistic, bleak, and emotional view of gameplay mechanics and narratives. You control not soldiers or monster hunters but civilians who have survived a terrible war, scrounging for tools, medicine, and items for trade in order to make it to the next night.
If you've noticed some similarities between This War of Mine and Frostpunk then you've got a keen eye, as they're made by the same developer. Both games have a focus on survival under harsh conditions, they both emphasize the immutability of decisions, and they both take place in the coldest season of them all.
1 Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium
Platform(s) PC , PS5 , PS4 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Stadia Released October 15, 2019 Developer(s) ZA/UM Publisher(s) ZA/UM
Disco Elysium is a game that brings to mind many different features for people. Winter may not be one of them, but the story does in fact take place at the end of Revachol's winter season, as evidenced by the hoards of melting snow and the occasional snowfall throughout the story's in-game week.
Whereas most games use winter as a means to highlight the difficulty of life-or-death situations, Disco Elysium uses winter in a subtle fashion instead. The end of the season coincides with the end of a revolution, the end of an investigation, and the end of heartbreak. There's no better season to mirror the thought-provoking blend of pessimism and hope that the game revels in.
