The greatest winter wonderlands in video games
Winter is coming… in fact, let’s not beat about the bush – it’s here. Most of us have given into temptation and wacked the heating on full blast and are avoiding going outside unless absolutely necessary. Now that we’ve all made peace with the reality we’re facing, let’s celebrate the best part of the chilly season: snowy video game levels!
Levels and sections plastered with the white stuff have become a mainstay of almost every game series in some form or another, and we think it’s about time these winter wonderlands were celebrated properly. So, without further ado, wrap up warm, pour yourself a mug of hot chocolate, and let’s dive right in!
Contents:
- Grizzlies West (Red Dead Redemption 2)
- Snowpeak Ruins (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
- Hoth (Star Wars: Battlefront)
- Lakeside Resort (The Last of Us)
- Cliffhanger (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)
- High Hrothgar (Skyrim)
- Cool Cool Mountain (Super Mario 64)
- Snow Go (Crash Bandicoot 2)
- Freezeezy Peak (Banjo Kazooie)
- Ice Cap Zone (Sonic 3)
1. Grizzlies West (Red Dead Redemption 2)
Like GTA V before it, Red Dead 2 starts you out in a snow-plastered area for a tutorial section before setting you loose in the sun-kissed plains and prairies of the main world. Finding you trapped in a blizzard with your gang, this prologue segment shows off the game’s stunning visuals, lighting effects, and physics, while building the anticipation for the adventures and escapades to come.
2. Snowpeak Ruins (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
One of no small number of visually impressive and strategically challenging dungeons in this beautiful game, the Snowpeak Ruins is an icy mansion owned by a couple of abominable snowpeople – Yeto and Yeta. As you battle your way through Chilfos, Freezards and White Wolfos to locate the Mirror Shard hidden within the halls, you’ll need to keep drinking Yeto’s soup to keep warm and restore your health.
3. Hoth (Star Wars: Battlefront)
We know what you’re thinking: which Battlefront? 2004 or 2015? Our answer: take your pick. Both iterations offer the same edge-of-your seat, Empire vs Rebellion, snow speeder vs AT-AT action and successfully make engaging multiplayer maps out of what is essentially just a huge ice field with a base at one end. Oh, and both games feature that terrifying moment when you hear the swoosh of a lightsaber and that iconic heavy breathing behind you…
4. Lakeside Resort (The Last of Us)
The Last of Us is a beautiful game all round; however, there’s one section of the game that stands out to us, and that’s the snowy Lakeside Resort chapter, which features some of this gripping tale’s most emotionally powerful scenes. We won’t spoil what happens for those of you who haven’t played through this masterpiece yet, but don’t let the idyllic-sounding name fool you; things get pretty scary in this winter wonderland.
5. Cliffhanger (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)
In this case, we’re talking about the original Modern Warfare 2 from 2009 and this iconic mission that sees you scale a cliff face with your ice axes, navigate a blizzard using a heartbeat monitor to locate guards in the maelstrom, and escape capture by jumping a huge ramp on a snowmobile. If all that doesn’t get your heart pumping, what will?
6. High Hrothgar (Skyrim)
Before you say this is cheating, since the whole of Skyrim is a winter area… yes, you’re right. BUT, while all areas are wintery, some are more wintery than others, and it doesn’t get much wintery-er than High Hrothgar. Your ascent up this huge mountain on your way to the Throat of the World sees you face your first ice troll (and probably get battered by it), learn your first “shout” from the greybeard monks, and at the summit, meet the mighty dragon Paarthurnax.
7. Cool Cool Mountain (Super Mario 64)
Mario has had plenty of icy adventures over the decades and countless games, however, one of the slippiest and slidiest fan favorites is Cool Cool Mountain from Super Mario 64, where we were first introduced to the loveable penguins and where many of us had our first dance with the devil, as we experimented with tossing the baby penguin off the edge of a cliff. You may have forgotten, but the penguin community hasn’t.
8. Snow Go (Crash Bandicoot 2)
This episode of the mute marsupial’s wacky adventures added an extra element to the mayhem in the form of the skating mechanics, which saw you slipping and sliding all over the icy sections of the level… often straight into a box of Nitro – Woah!.
9. Freezeezy Peak (Banjo Kazooie)
This area sees the bear-and-bird duo tangling with ice cubes and Twinkly Munchers, saving Twinklies from those very same munchers, and is all centered around an enormous snowman with a maniacal grin (jump inside his pipe to find a Jiggy!).
10. Ice Cap Zone (Sonic 3)
What’s even more fun than sprinting around like a hedgehog on a mission? That’s right, snowboarding down some slopes on some beautiful crisp powder! Just when you thought everyone’s favorite speedy hog couldn’t get any cooler, he pulls this extra skill out of the bag and leaves us all with our jaws on the floor.