Through almost every adventure in a video game, a character tends to go through typical themes of worlds or stages as they progress in their quest. There’s the usual grassy plains, the dense forests, the blazing hot fire regions, and even water themed excursions.

There are also those snowy, icy themed stages that can be a bit annoying at times as you try to navigate through the frozen landscapes, timing those jumps and attacks just right while sliding around to stay in your zone. In the spirit of this wintery season, I want to look back at some of my own favorite wintery theme stages, while asking which game ultimately has the best snowy levels?

5. Spiderman: Miles Morales (2020)

I know, starting off with a bang! The entire game takes place during the holidays, so it’s not like it only involves a single part of the game featuring a wintery theme. This happens to be one of my favorite games as it’s a sequel-in-part of 2018’s Marvel’s Spiderman game. Miles Morales becoming the iconic web slinger, fending off thugs and criminals of an evil organization bent on taking over New York City (because New York doesn’t have enough of those already) is a wonderous thing. The game features combat with sweet moves, unique spider gadgets, and hey, a citizen even thanks him by gifting with him with cute fuzzy hat and scarf to keep warm, so that’s pretty cool!

4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

Honestly, this is one of my favorite Zelda games of all time, and I’m really looking forward to the sequel to top this one. One of the best parts of the game is centered around exploration, with the ability to scale the frozen mountain tops near the starting zone. These frozen lands in my opinion are some of the hardest in the game, especially when you eventually find yourself facing off against a powerful Lynel. The cold temperatures too pose a harsh risk, and the player will need to ensure Link is bundled up or eats some firey food, or else he’ll be met with a chilly end!

3. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1991)

Still regarded as one of the best Super Mario games of all time, Super Mario Bros. 3 has an entire ice themed world to deal with, which not only includes slippery slopes, but also icy themed dark castles where the player ends up against twin Boom Booms. This world also has a very ominous, sometimes haunting overworld theme music that’s one of my favorites in the entire soundtrack!

2. Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)

In Horizon Zero Dawn, the heroine Aloy starts off exploring through the snowy valleys, defeating robotic enemies and aiding her people. Experiencing fluid combat through the blizzard is incredibly breathtaking in such crisp, beautiful resolution. I honestly just started this journey with Aloy, and between this game and the sequel, it couldn’t be recommended enough to experience such amazing games!

1. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1991)

Taking this back old school, Sonic the Hedgehog, known for being the cool heroic speedster he is, amassed his fandom through his adventures to foil the nefarious Dr. Robotnik (or Dr. Eggman) in his plot to take over the world. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 would have the very first time the “blue blur” journeying through a snowy themed stage, and if the banging music wasn’t enough to get your head bopping, he comes out skiing down the wintery slopes and grabbing those golden rings. I have to say, this was the coolest part about this entire level!

These games of course were in no particular order, just a mix of classic to current games to highlight their takes on a snowy adventure. Can you think of more titles that include a winter theme? Let us know down at the comments below and why not check out our Facebook and Discord pages!

Souces: The Gamer, Shack News, Geek Girl Authority, Studio C Games, CG Mag Online, Medium