Games

Games With A Snowbound Apocalypse

Published

2 days ago

January 3, 2025

Lots of games are about the end of the world, usually either an attempt to prevent it or surviving after it. And while many involve destruction through freakishly bad weather, there is something about snowbound apocalypses that carries a terrifying inevitability about it. Robots attempting revolution, that’s something that can be fought. The weather, however, goes far beyond human control. Punching a nearby snowman is probably as close to retribution as one can get.

9 Best Horror Games To Get Ready for Winter

Table of Contents

Halloween may be over, but spooky season can carry on with these winter-set horror games that will get you ready for the chilly months ahead.

Despite that, there is also a mesmerizing beauty to a world overtaken by snow. Perhaps because it bears with it the suggestion of a natural apocalypse – though somewhat otherworldy in appearance – a reclaiming of the world by planetary forces humanity could never hope to contend with. A few make it part of the plot, others a central component to the gameplay and some just use it as a stylish backdrop but nonetheless, they all make great use of the winter apocalypse trope.

6

Fahrenheit/ The Indigo Prophecy

A Winter-Bound Mystery With A Great Setup

Your changes have been saved

Fahrenheit Indigo Prophecy

Released: September 20, 2005
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Language, Nudity, Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence

A game with an incredibly intriguing opening, a murder is committed by one of the player characters, then the player returns to the scene of the crime as the investigating officer. All of which takes place in a little New York diner against the stark backdrop of a black winter’s night and a fearsome snowstorm.

Generally, the game does not stick the landing of the tone it sets within the introduction. For instance, the dropped hints of the unusual ferocity and nonstop nature of the snowstorm are a lot more ominous and atmospheric than the actual reasons behind it.

5

Frostpunk

A Grim But Addicting City Survival Sim

Your changes have been saved

Frostpunk
Advertisement

Franchise: Frostpunk
Released: April 24, 2018
Engine: Liquid Engine
ESRB: Advertisement

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Mild Sexual Themes, Mild Violence, Strong Language
How Long To Beat: 11 Hours
Advertisement
X|S Optimized: No
PS Plus Availability: Extra & Premium
File Size Xbox Series: 5 GB (December 2023)
OpenCritic Rating: Advertisement

Mighty

Frostpunk actually takes place in an alternate-history post-apocalypse world where a worldwide volcanic winter has caused the collapse of civillisation. Frostpunk takes a grimly realistic approach to its icy end-of-times scenario as the player acts as the leader of one of the few remaining settlements and must make constant choices as to how to keep the city surviving against the endless tundra.

8 Best Snow Levels In Video Games
Advertisement

Snow levels are a common occurrence in video games, much like water and lava levels. These are the best snow levels in gaming history.

It’s not a game about trumping another civilization or besting anyone in a war for dominance over the remains of the world. Just pure survival using whatever scraps are left. Some choices may lead to better outcomes than others but none lead to any kind of happy ending or good outcomes.

4

God Of War: Ragnarök

World Ending Winter Punch Up

10/10

Your changes have been saved

God of War Ragnarok

Systems

Released: November 9, 2022
Engine: Proprietary Engine
ESRB: M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
How Long To Beat: Advertisement

26 Hours
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty
Advertisement

The classic mythological snowbound apocalypse. The ending of the prior God Of War, with the first snowfall after the death of Baldur, was the perfect tease of what was to come. The sequel, picking up several years into Ragnarök and depicting a completely frozen over Midgard, with the two cultures respective Gods of War coming to blows, was a great start.

Setting up as it meant to go on by bringing all the major players of Norse mythology within stabbing range for a world-ending brawl. It is a game that clearly revels it its setting with plenty of mythological cameos and constantly teasing the players with the Avengers-like build-up of heroes and villains for the grand finale.

3

Dark Souls 2 – Crown Of The Ivory King DLC

Not Just Another Winter’s Tale

9/10

Your changes have been saved

Dark Souls 2

Franchise: dark souls
Released: March 11, 2014
Multiplayer: Advertisement

Online Multiplayer
Engine: havok
Advertisement
ESRB: T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Violence
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

For many, the expansions that followed the main game of Dark Souls 2 were the highlights of the adventure. The Crown of the Ivory King is a particular standout experience. Exploring Frozen Eleum Loyce is both haunting and awe-inspiring, full of unique ideas and enemies. Thawing out Eleum Loyce and gradually discovering the story behind what pulled the snowy sheets over the land and laid it all to rest feels like medieval archeology.

7 Games That Have Gorgeous Snow

Snow is one of the most complicated yet beautiful effects in video games, and these games were able to master the visual effects of the winter setting

It is also home to one of the best bosses and setpieces Dark Souls 2 has to offer, the Burnt Ivory King himself. There are even evil reindeer and that’s just something that’s not available anywhere else.

2

Dead Space 3

Investigate A Cold Dead Planet, Then Blow It To Bits

7/10

Your changes have been saved

Dead Space 3

Third-Person Shooter

Horror

Released: February 5, 2013
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts
Advertisement
Multiplayer: Local Co-Op
, Online Co-Op
Engine: Hydraulic Engines
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
How Long To Beat: Advertisement

12 Hours
Number of Players: 2
Advertisement

The The Thing inspired Winter Planet setting was one of the few right moves made by Dead Space 3. It creates a great atmosphere with fantastic looking snowy vistas where ear-popping winds blow and contrasts them with the eerily quiet interiors of abandoned buildings and the husks of ships. In fact, the setting and weather effects are so good, the game might have been better if it was just left at that.

Sadly, it’s the overuse of enemies and the eventual descent into more of an action/shooter game than survival horror that starts to detract from this atmosphere. Most monsters were in the previous games and the new Necromorphs are boring and there are just so many that the player will quickly become desensitized.

1

Max Payne

This Winter, One Man Ends It All

Your changes have been saved

Max Payne

Franchise: Max Payne
Released: July 23, 2001
Publisher(s): Gathering of Developers
Advertisement
Engine: MaxFX
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Violence

While there is no actual apocalypse taking place, the original Max Payne is full of references to the mythical Ragnarök. From the endless snowstorm, the early death of Alex Balder, (Max Paynes partner), and the names of many characters, corporations and locations, such as project Valhalla and the Ragna Rock club, all take from Nordic mythology.

It is the perpetual snow, however, that is particularly memorable, the defining aesthetic of the first game and the ever-present detail that makes it believable that after all the gunfire and death Max brings with him, the end may well be about to follow.