As temperatures soar, the prospect of engaging with video games can feel less appealing. However, for those undeterred by the heat, a selection of games offers a virtual reprieve through their icy, snow-covered environments. These titles invoke sensations of frost, cool water, and air conditioning, providing a thematic chill that can help players endure the summer warmth.
Tokyo RPG Factory's I Am Setsuna is designed to evoke nostalgia for Chrono Trigger and is set in a world perpetually covered in snow. This constant winter landscape, while limiting in terms of environmental variety, delivers a consistently chilly experience. The game is available on PS Vita, PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
For those with access to older hardware, SSX Tricky offers a snowboarding experience centered on performing elaborate tricks down snow-covered mountains. Its vibrant theme song adds to its cool factor, though its availability is largely limited to older systems and physical copies (PS2, GameCube, Xbox, GameBoy Advance).
The Lost Planet series, particularly Lost Planet 3, plunges players into an ice age. These third-person shooter adventures guarantee a frosty setting, with multiple entries available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, allowing players to explore different facets of the planet's frigid climate.
Ubisoft's Tom Clancy’s The Division transports players to a snow-covered Manhattan during the holiday season, albeit one grappling with a devastating epidemic. This decade-old shooter remains popular, especially for its multiplayer components, offering a chilly, chaotic urban environment for players and their friends. It is playable on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Bethesda's monumental action RPG, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, is renowned for its vast, cold landscapes. While players can seek refuge in cozy taverns, the outdoor experience is consistently wintery, featuring snowy forests, icy caves, and blizzard-swept peaks. Its availability across nearly every platform makes it an accessible choice for an expansive, frosty adventure.
SnowRunner lives up to its name by focusing on the simulation of driving large vehicles through immense, chilly regions. The game is lauded for its realistic terrain simulation, where snow realistically accumulates and impacts gameplay, creating challenging conditions. It is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2.
A Good Snowman Is Hard to Build offers a more cerebral, puzzle-focused approach to snow. Players navigate small hedge mazes, rolling balls of snow to construct snowmen. This charming puzzle game's price on itch.io is dynamically tied to the weather in London, meaning it can be significantly cheaper during colder periods. It is available on PC, mobile, and Nintendo Switch.
The Red Lantern takes players to Alaska as a musher leading a dog sledding team across snowy terrains and frozen lakes. The game portrays the cold as a significant obstacle, with imagery of snow booties for the dogs adding to the frigid atmosphere. It is available on Nintendo Switch and PC.
Finally, Super Mario Sunshine is included for its contrasting depiction of hot and cold. While set on a tropical island, the game masterfully renders refreshing elements like clear ocean water, canals, and sprinklers. This strong evocation of coolness serves as a thematic counterpoint to the game's inherent heat, offering a unique way to