Best winter levels in video games

Important takeaways

  • Winter levels in games like It Takes Two and Max Payne create immersive environments and intense gameplay.
  • Characters navigate snow-covered areas, face unique challenges and uncover secrets, enhancing the player experience.
  • Players engage in thrilling action sequences and strategic gameplay against snowy backdrops, making these levels unforgettable.



Most video games have different levels to keep players engaged for a long time. These unique environments ensure that players don't get bored of witnessing the same sights over and over again as they go through a long and rewarding video game.

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Some of the best and most remarkable levels in video games are those with snowy environments that are perfect for players getting ready for the winter season. These chilling levels feature amazing gameplay, iconic moments, and detailed environments that make them a highlight of their respective games.


1 Snow Globe

A beautiful winter wonderland for two players to enjoy

Snow Globe in it takes two

Released
March 26, 2021

OpenCritic Rating
Powerful

The Snow Globe is one of the many open levels Cody and May explore in an attempt to undo the curse that miniaturized them. This area is a winter wonderland full to the brim with many activities and goals to achieve.


Riding around to win against your partner and uncover secrets in this frosty world is a big part of what makes this section It takes two so special. It's a strong level that comes relatively early in the game and forces fans to stick with this game until the end.

2 The Narshe attack

A memorable start to one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made

final-fantasy-6_pixel-remaster-opening

Final Fantasy 6

Released
October 11, 1994

Developer
Square Enix, Square

OpenCritic Rating
Powerful

The introduction of Final Fantasy 6 is iconic, with players taking on the role of three mysterious characters in Magitek Armor who must infiltrate the Narshe mines and find an esper. From the moment the trio start walking in the snow as the credits roll, fans will be blown away by this game's cinematic qualities.


This chilling introduction embodies much of what makes the winter season so special, with players wandering through the mines before eventually encountering espers. After this, Terra finally frees herself from the slave crown and embarks on an epic adventure to stop the war-loving Imperials in their tracks.

3 Police brutality

Max chases Vinnie through the streets of New York City during a winter storm

Police brutality, a Max Payne level

The first two Max Payne game is synonymous with winter, with both titles taking place in New York during this frosty season. The first game is particularly memorable for allowing players to enjoy some tight gunplay with a great story enhanced by the winter storm affecting NYC at the time.

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Some of the best levels in the game let players engage in action-packed gunfights against the backdrop of this chilly winter, with Police Brutality being a prime example of the same. The bombastic start to this level as players chase after Vinnie and take out every goon in their path is a memorable moment that takes Max one step closer to uncovering the truth behind the Valkyr drug.


4 Attack On The Control Room

One of the longest and most legendary levels in the game

Halo Assault at the control room level

System

PC-1 Xbox-1

Released
November 15, 2001

Halo: Combat Evolved is one of the best first-person shooters of all time, with its fair share of open levels that are a joy to navigate. One of the most iconic levels in the game is Assault on the Control Room, a level with lots of snow where the Master Chief must use all the tools at his request to reach the control room.

It is one of the best levels in the Halo series where players have access to every weapon bar as they take control of numerous vehicles to take out hostiles and make slow but steady progress to the control room. Despite being the longest level in the game, Assault on the Control Room doesn't overstay its welcome, letting players marvel at the game's beautiful sights as they progress.


5 Invitation To A Party

An iconic Hitman level

Invitation To A Party, a level in Hitman 2

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is one of the most iconic stealth video games of all time, with most of its levels fondly remembered by fans. Invitation to a Party is an iconic mission where players must infiltrate a party at an embassy and take out a Russian general before making a hasty retreat.

The mission is tense and fast-paced, giving players multiple avenues to explore as they pretend to be a party guest or sneak into the premises. The sheer number of options available to players ensures that this level is amazing to experience no matter how many times players replay it.

6 Prolog

The snowy town of Ludendorff serves as a great introduction to GTA 5

Grand Theft Auto 5 prologue


Released
September 17, 2013

Developer
Rockstar North

OpenCritic Rating
Powerful

Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the most beautiful open-world games of all time, with the prologue setting the stage for a captivating story. Players control Michael and Trevor as they rob a cash storage facility, only for things to take a turn for the worse in no time.

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This mission creates plenty of intrigue, with Michael faking his death to escape Trevor's madness once and for all. The town of Ludendorff looks beautiful with the snow covering it, making it a memorable introduction to the action-packed spectacle that is Grand Theft Auto 5.

7 A rock and a hard place

An action-packed introduction to the events of Uncharted 2

A Rock and a Hard Place, a level in Uncharted 2

Third person shooter

Adventure

System

PlayStation-1

Released
October 13, 2009

Uncharted 2 is one of the biggest action-adventure games players can get their hands on, with the introduction of this game setting the stage for a bombastic experience. Players control Nathan Drake who must escape a train at the edge of a cliff, climb up this falling structure and barely make it to safety when he reaches the cliff of a snow-covered mountain.


It's hard not to feel chilly and uncomfortable as Nathan fights back against the cold and his injuries to perform some Herculean parkour efforts. This amazing opening level is a taste of what fans will experience in one of the best Uncharted game ever made.

8 Lakeside Resort

A memorable episode that lets players control Ellie for the first time

the last of us part 1 lakeside resort cover art

System

PC-1 PlayStation-1

Released
September 2, 2022

OpenCritic Rating
Strong

After Joel's injury, it's up to Ellie to brave the winter and find food for them both. Players get to control Ellie for the first time as they go through one of the best episodes in The last of uswhich deepens the bond between the two main characters.

This realignment ensures that players are invested in the latter half of the game as they step closer to meeting the Fireflies. David is a fascinating antagonist during this arc, with Ellie's character development taking center stage as she fights this creep and reunites with Joel.


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