By Matija Šerić
We are currently in the heart of winter. The coldest time of the year is ideal for enjoying winter pleasures such as skiing, sledding, snowball fights, or building snowmen. However, as the years go by, weather conditions are changing, leaving us deprived of many of these activities (at least in our local area). Due to climate change, winters have practically turned into a kind of autumn, and the only way to experience true winter joys is through books, movies, TV series, or video games. Thanks to technological advancements, there are now plenty of video games set in winter or infused with a winter vibe. Below, we highlight some of the best according to our selection.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
When it was released in the fall of 2011, this video game permanently changed the Elder Scrolls franchise and the gaming industry as a whole. The franchise was already successful before the fifth installment due to its open-world RPG gameplay in first or third person, where players had the freedom to explore. The universe blends fantasy elements (magic, orcs, dwarves, dragons…) with historical periods such as the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the franchise’s most successful game due to its detailed world. Bethesda Game Studios created a masterpiece.
The freedom to shape your character and interact with the surrounding world is practically unparalleled. Gamers can pick up almost anything they see, master any skill they want, craft various equipment and potions, steal anything, attack anyone… Every piece of the fictional world feels alive. The main story can also be ignored while players complete side quests in a world inspired by Norse mythology. Because of its cold atmosphere and snow-covered northern landscapes, the game is often perceived as a winter game, even though it lacks a dynamic season system. It gains popularity especially in winter due to its snowy environment. The game has been remastered and updated multiple times for a wider audience.
Until Dawn
Anyone who enjoys horror and thriller games must play this legendary title at least once. Originally released in 2015, its immense popularity led to a 2024 remake. Developers Supermassive Games are known for the freedom of choice they give players, and here this feature is perfected. It follows a classic horror-survival scenario in which players control eight characters, aiming to keep everyone alive as long as possible. The story is set on Blackwood Mountain in February, with enemies being wendigos (a mix of vampires and zombies). Almost every player action creates a butterfly effect, meaning choices directly impact the story’s progression.
The story is the game’s strongest aspect, followed by its well-developed characters. The plot is fast-paced and dramatic. Players can never let go of the controller or keyboard because it may lead to fatal mistakes. The setting of an isolated winter lodge, complete with snow, birds, and deer, adds to the atmosphere. The game is worth playing for its immersive mood. Its success also led to the Until Dawn movie released last year.
Mafia II
The Mafia franchise is one of the most distinctive and successful linear series. It is perfect for fans of Cosa Nostra-inspired themes, such as The Godfather films or the TV series The Sopranos. Mafia II, released in 2010, is considered by some as the best installment due to its detailed story. Players follow the fictional character Vito Scaletta in the fictional city of Empire Bay (a copy of New York) between 1945 and 1951, progressing from a low-level gangster to an elite mobster.
Much of the game, especially at the beginning, takes place in winter. The city is covered in snow, with blizzards and ice, and driving on icy streets creates a unique feel. Snow melts during the day and freezes at night. Christmas songs play on the radio. The game isn’t very long but is highly addictive. Missions are action-packed, tense, and diverse, giving players opportunities to develop strategies for heists and gunfights. A 2020 remake further cemented Mafia II’s cult status.
Metro Exodus
Developed by 4A Games and released in 2019, this game is the third installment of the Metro series. It is an FPS with a semi-open world, where protagonist Artyom leaves the irradiated Moscow Metro in 2035, realizing the city’s leadership has hidden the existence of life beyond its borders. Together with his wife Anna, Miller, and Spartan Rangers, he steals the locomotive “Aurora” to travel through a post-nuclear Russian wasteland in search of a safe, habitable home.
The game immerses players in a tense post-apocalyptic atmosphere where survival against hybrid human-animal creatures is essential. Most of the game is set in winter, through harsh Russian wastelands (steppes, hills, ruined cities) giving the impression of a nuclear winter.
Red Dead Redemption 2
It’s hard to call any game perfect, but if one must choose the closest to that ideal, it would be Red Dead Redemption 2. Released by Rockstar Games in 2018, it has become one of their most successful games, selling 82 million copies. The game is a Western version of the GTA franchise, set in the late 19th-century American frontier. Unlike GTA, it isn’t satirical but an objective depiction of society.
The main character, Arthur Morgan, is an outlaw and member of a gang who must survive the harsh reality of conflicts with other gangs, the law, and dangers from nature. It is a vast open world with countless side quests. Players have significant freedom in choosing how Morgan interacts with others—whether he is honorable or a notorious thief. While not formally a winter game, a significant part is defined by the frozen Grizzlies West region, where it is always cold, and players must dress Morgan warmly to survive.
These are some winter video games worth playing or watching others play. Each is unique in its way but offers the chance for quality entertainment during cold winter days and nights in your room. Fun shouldn’t stop in winter—it’s actually more needed when the weather is bad.
