Six of the Best Games With Snow
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Depending on where you live, you may get so much snow that you’re sick of the sight of it, or so little that even the smallest flurry is greeted with childish glee.
Snow can be a pain in the backside, or seeing it fall can be a delightful sight. We all know there’s nothing worse than having to travel in snow, but if you’re lucky enough to get to stay at home, making snowmen and having a snowball fight can be the best time of your life.
But no matter how you feel about the white stuff, we can all enjoy it in video games. After all, there’s no danger of getting snowed in if it’s only falling digitally. There’s a handful of games that provide us with a veritable winter wonderland; think virtual blizzards, dusted trees and acres of powdery, fluffy whiteness.
Click on through to see six examples of the very best games with snow.
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SnowRunner
The clue’s in the name with this one. SnowRunner tasks players with driving huge vehicles through some of the snowiest areas of the world. Okay, so you don’t exactly get to enjoy the snow and play in it; you get to experience how tough it is to try and reverse an articulated lorry up a snow-covered embankment. But at least you get to do it from the comfort of your dry, warm and snow-free sofa.
SnowRunner has some absolutely beautiful environments, letting you explore Alaska, wintry Michigan or Russia. Not every area is as snowy as the rest, but some will provide a greater challenge than others. Sure, hauling your 18-wheeler through a flurry might be a daunting task, but it’s rewarding. There’s no denying that this is one of the best games with snow.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Like most things in Rockstar’s latest opus, the snow in Red Dead Redemption 2 is pretty damn special. The game starts among the peaks in swirling blizzard conditions, and once it opens up, you’re free to go back there anytime you like.
What makes it really great, though, is how it reacts like real snow. Both you and your horse will slowly clump your way through it, and any blood (either human or animal) will stain your pristine, glistening white surroundings. Plus, you can make Arthur slip and fall on frozen lakes like he’s auditioning for The Wild West’s Funniest Home Videos – or at least a new career in silent comedy. Snow might not be the focus of Red Dead Redemption 2, but it’s still one of the best games with snow.
Read our review of Red Dead Redemption 2
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
In a game full of blockbusting, attention-grabbing set-pieces, the snow in Uncharted 4 is a beautifully delicate, subtle effect. It’s part of a Scotland level, with the brothers Drake attempting to find the grave of the infamous pirate Henry Avery.
Initially, the snow is just patches that break up the cliffs and long grass but, as you progress through the level, it gets stronger, before you eventually emerge from an underground tomb into as close as the UK ever gets to a blizzard. This adds a dramatic touch to the finale, as you fight your way to safety pursued by gun-wielding mercenaries. This more measured snow is beautifully executed, from the way your footprints mark the compacted snow to the way it clings to the cliffs and leaves its mark on our dynamic duo.
Read our review of Uncharted 4
Steep
If you’re looking for virtual snow, then a winter sports game is a pretty good place to start. Steep, Ubisoft Annecy’s do-whatever-you-want-on-a-mountain simulator lets you ski, snowboard, wingsuit and paraglide through the Alps (and Alaska too).
It obviously wins in terms of quantity of snow but there’s also something glorious about how it captures the feeling of being up in the mountains, whether that’s how the light comes through the trees or the way the powder glistens in the sunlight. Whether on skis or a board, you’ll obviously carve tracks into that powder, while getting into the air allows you a great view of Steep’s gorgeous, almost photorealistic landscapes. The snow also takes on unexpected forms, with a sequence of huge snow rabbids providing an unexpected nod to the Ubisoft back catalogue.
Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds
While there is some snow in Horizon Zero Dawn’s base game, its DLC expansion, The Frozen Wilds is a real virtual winter wonderland. Like so much of Horizon, it’s often fantastically beautiful, with snow flurries coating the ground and the skies turning stunning shades of red and purple. This of course the setting for more beast fighting, climbing and machine riding, while the plot explores the importance of faith in the game’s societies.
You’ll also take on some truly epic foes, each of which leaves deep impressions in the snow and goes down in a pyrotechnic finale that lights up the dark night sky. Plus, there’s a supercharged version of the Northern Lights to stand and gawp at.
Read our review of Horizon Zero Dawn
The Sims 4: Snowy Escape
The Snowy Escape expansion for The Sims 4 lets you take your Sims on, well, a snowy escape. You can head to the slopes and take your Sims skiing or snowboarding, or you can simply let them frolic in the cold winter stuff.
It’s fun seeing your Sims build snowmen or make snow angels on the floor. If you’ve got no sign of snow where you live, then you can live vicariously through them. Without ever feeling the cold, of course. There are also towns to visit in Snowy Escape, with an oriental theme. Warm natural springs are the order of the day, and they’re a great way to warm up after a day snowboarding in the mountains. You’ll of course need the expansion pack to be able to enjoy snow in The Sims 4, but it’s worthy of a place on our list of games with great snow.
