Winter and humans tend to have a bit of a complicated relationship. Simply put, humans need heat in order to stay alive – and the winter has slim to none.
While video games are a simulation of life, this includes the seasons and temperatures that people have to deal with in the real world. In some of these games, however, winter is almost exactly like what it is in reality: deadly.
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These games have surviving in the winter and cold climates as the central focus. Players have to layer up, consume the right resources, and stick close to the fire, otherwise they’ll be met with a terrible (and frigid) end.
While these games may have their own antagonists, players could argue that the cold is the true enemy here.
10The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Don’t Run Into the Cold Unprepared
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildbrought many new features into theZeldafranchise, giving the series a much-needed breath of fresh air (pun intended). One of these new features that was brought in is actually relevant to temperature.
If Link ventures into cold climates (such as the freezingHebra Mountains), he will start to shiver. If he’s cold for too long, however, he will begin to ache and lose hearts until players are able to find some reprieve.
To fight this, players can cook withSpicy Peppersto create dishes that help with cold immunity, bundle up in proper clothing or simply find solace by a fire. They won’t always be in the cold, but they definitely have to prepare for when they go.
Essentially, Link has to prepare himself for mountain hiking the same way the rest of us do, and that adds another layer of humanity to the Hylian.
9Savage Lands
Climate Doesn’t Care If There’s War
A war between humanity and dragons sounds like a fantasy story as old as time, but it’s also the central plot behind the survival gameSavage Lands.
Players find themselves having to survive in a harsh wasteland that’s been ravaged by this war, with no map to guide them and a basic set of needs. One of these needs, of course, is body heat.
Building a fire quickly is crucial in this game, as the cold easily creeps up on you and can just as easily overtake you. Heat also directly impacts the player’s maximum health, adding even more reasons why it’s crucial to keep warm.
Staying warm often and as long as possible is key in order to survive in this game, because features like fighting being held back due to being cold.
8Frostpunk
Heat Means Life
With its sequel beingone of the best survival games of 2024, it’s no wonder thatFrostpunkis well-regarded for its chilly winter survival.
Frostbite is a huge problem when playing this game, as residents won’t be able to do the work necessary for survival if they succumb to it. It’sa unique mechanic for sure, forcing players to carefully think about their next move.
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The key to staying warm in this game is bundling up – it seems simple on the surface, but, of course, this requires a lot of labour. By adding additional layers, it prolongs the frostbite and potentially inhumane deaths that citizens could face.
Plus, it just looks outrightcoldall the time. While winter always has a snowy image, there’s something about Frostpunk’s volcanic winter that feels so much colder.
7ICY: Frostbite Edition
Survive The New Ice Age
At this point, when someone mentions The Ice Age,the movie is brought upabout as often as the ancient time period. That said,ICY: Frostbite Editiondoesn’t have any correlation with either.
Thisnarrative-driven RPGinvolves surviving in a new, post-apocalyptic Ice Age. After creating your character, players have to stay alive with their family while meeting other survivors and helping them as well.
While it’sa relatively small indie game, it’s well done, with many influential decisions that make players want to stop and think before making a choice. There is one crucial choice in particular to keep in mind: who can you trust in the cold?
It’s a hidden gem in terms of indie survival games, especially ones taking place in the winter – players who love card-based RPGs will have a field day with this game.
6Skyrim: Survival Mode
Lore-Accurate Frigid Cold
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimdoes an excellent job of portraying the cold, where players can practically feel it seeping through their screens while they’re out and on their adventure.
However, whenSurvival Modewas introduced with the Special Edition of Skyrim, players could now fully immerse themselves in it. The Special Edition Survival Mode, known as Hardcore Mode, presents a lot of core survival mechanics, such as requiring food, rest, and, of course, heat.
Heat is one of the hardest elements to maintain in Skyrim, especially considering how frigid it gets, but it’s more easily remedied with warm clothes and sitting by a fire. Hypothermia is around every corner in this civil war-torn land.
Eating hot soup is also helpful for staying warm, which might make theOfficial Skyrim Cookbookall the more tempting of a purchase.
5Winter Survival
An Early Access Teaser
Winter Survivalis a game that’s currently inEarly Access, but is still fairly fleshed out regardless. It has a promising outlook for when it’s fully released, it just has bugs that need to be worked out.
Unlike other games that involve surviving in the winter, this one introduces a key factor into staying alive: the human psyche.
That’s right: Winter Survival has asanity system.
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This is a game that has a lot more systems to manage, including base-building. It shows promise and potential for those that are willing to give it a shot and playtest it – hopefully, as it’s polished, it will evolve into something even better.
It also harbours an incredibly chilling atmosphere, both metaphorically and literally. There’s a lot to leave many eager for more, so we’re crossing our fingers for how the game will be upon full release.
4Rise of the Tomb Raider: Endurance Mode
Lara Croft’s Not Having a Fun Time
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Lara Croftis a gaming icon, so much so that when the modernTomb Raidergames were released, fans were ecstatic.Rise of the Tomb Raiderwas no exception to this, even by today’s standards.
While the standard version of the game doesn’t require any hardcore survival, there is anEndurance Modethat pushes players to the limits. This version has Lara having to manage her warmth and hunger, with her being unable to spring if she’s freezing.
Food is already a difficult resource to come by, but maintaining body heat in the Siberian wilderness is a different type of challenge. Fire is essential to regaining warmth, and thankfully, this includes a lantern’s flame.
If players loved Rise of the Tomb Raider but wanted to immerse themselves in Lara Croft’s bad day further, they would have a fun time with Endurance Mode.
3The Pale Beyond
Polar Exploration At Its Finest
The Pale Beyond
Managing a crew is no easy task, nor is polar exploration – yet for those playingThe Pale Beyond, they will find themselves having to do both.
The captain of the expedition has gone missing, so someone (you) has to step up and take charge. Players have to manage morale, resources, and safety, all while trying to complete an incredibly difficult and dangerous expedition.
There’s a distinct type of fear that comes with being trapped on ice, one that very few unfortunate people have to face – and this game manages to capture that tension wonderfully. It weaves story with resource management well, leaving players carefully considering each choice.
It’s a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure nightmare that nobody asked to find themselves in, but it’s a burden you graciously accept.
2Subnautica: Below Zero
An Alien Ocean World … That’s Freezing
Subnautica: Below Zero
Subnauticais anopen-world game that doesn’t have any combat(surprising, but true). WhenSubnautica: Below Zerowas released, it introduced a new (and refreshing) feature to winter survival games: the water is warm.
Normally, in these games, the water is the last place players want to be, as it would rapidly cause any normal human to succumb to hypothermia.
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When above water, players will have to wear a specific suit and drink hot coffee to keep the chill at bay. It adds an extra tension to what would be standard activities topside.
Honestly, it just makes fans that much more excited forSubnautica’s official sequel.
1The Long Dark
The Peak of Surviving in the Cold
The Long Dark
Perhaps the most iconic winter survival game of all time isThe Long Dark– it set the standard, to the point where new entries into the genre are often compared to it when it’s being rated.
The winter in The Long Dark is incredibly harsh, yet it’s comforting and beautiful at the same time. There’s a unique dichotomy that the snow represents, one that has players returning to the game time and time again.
Managing heat is the tip of the iceberg, as there are countless different factors and resources to consider before lighting a fire. Every single action has to be carefully analysed and thought through, and it’s magnificent.
It sounds challenging, and it definitely is, but it’s a welcome challenge that is just outright addictive and enjoyable regardless.
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