It’s the end of the year and it’s freezing cold outside right now but despite that, there is not a single flake of snow to see around here. I love a Christmas with snow outside but this has been the case less and less every year. So I thought if the snow won’t come to me, I will go to where the snow is. But upon realizing I’m broke and can’t travel, I decided to look up where it snows from behind my tv. So with that said, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
#10. Ice Cap Zone(Sonic 3).
We start off with a snowy mountain which the main character has to snowboard off. Trust me, we are going to see a lot of these kinds of levels. But this time, instead of ending the level with the snowboarding level, we start this one of with a snowboarding level. As Sonic snowboards off the mountain with the amazing music playing, you know this is going an amazing level. After getting off the snowboard the music picks up and Sonic has to run, jump and spin through an ice cavern with snow everywhere. This is one of those levels that’ just nails the ice cavern theme and neat visuals of snow everywhere.
Starting off a snow level with what most levels end with.
#9. Summit Beyond The Clouds(Rayman 3).
Now this is a pick that brings back nostalgic memories. After taking a supposed shortcut, Rayman comes across a ship. After a long trip and a battle at sea, Rayman arrives at The Sumit Beyond The Clouds. You have to scale the mountain which is covered in snow, hoodlums and complete with rolling snowballs. It’s a genuine snow level alright. When scaling a mountain you will be bound to come across snow and this level does a great job of giving off that feeling. The music is probably what brings this whole picture together and is a lot of why this area is so memorable to me. It’s so soothing and Christmas-like. I can’t help but feel in the spirit of things when hearing it. The level climaxes at the end with a chase down the mountain behind a frozen Globox on a snowboard. It’s a great ending to a great level.
The music is really what makes this level so great.
#8. Snowpeak Ruins(The Legend Of Zelda Twilight Princess).
While Hyrule constantly changes geography, there are a few things you can be sure of that’s going to be there. Snow ridden areas are one of those things. And of all the snow areas, I personally think Snowpeak Ruins is the best one. It’s a fairly unique temple in itself too. After having to scale yet another cold snowy mountain, Link gets greeted by a giant monster. This monster, however, is not looking for a fight. Instead the giant just went fishing in order for him to make a soup for his sick wife. The yeti then challenges Link to a snowboard race down the mountain to his place. Snowpeak Ruins is a big desolate mansion in the mountain and the way the mansion is in decay seems to suggest that the yetis moved in after all the previous owners left. What follows is one of the most unconventional dungeons and a very memorable boss. It’s not only the mansion which is frozen over and filled with ice enemies but the entire trek on the mountain before it that makes this place great.
A run-down mansion covered in snow. What’s not to love?
#7.Lakeside Resort(The Last Of Us).
The Last Of Us is an amazing game. It follows Joel and Ellie’s travels trough the U.S. for an entire year. Many would say that Winter was the strongest part of the game and I’m inclined to agree. Before winter hits, we see Joel get a rebar stuck in his stomach before a fade to black and fast forward to a few months later. This is the first and only time we get to play as Ellie and have to hunt down a deer. It’s a very serene and desolate moment. It gives the player some relaxing downtime after the crazy ending of the previous chapter. For a moment there aren’t any Clickers, Fireflies or crazy people to worry about. Just you, a bow, the snowy forest and a deer to hunt down.
Being able to take in the serenity after all the craziness is nice.
#6.Phenandra Drifts(Metroid Prime).
This is another one of those areas that look absolutely vicious to just be in, let alone explore like Samus does. Much like other picks on the list this area’s music really makes it work so well. Phendrana Drifts nails that extreme cold feeling you get when playing it. This is the area that I loved going to the most. I still remember the layout of the area pretty well. It’s kind of hard to explain why this is such a great area but the people who played it will certainly understand. It’s one of the first levels I think of when you ask me about snow levels.
The moment you walk into this area you are sold.
#5.Cool Cool Mountain(Super Mario 64).
To many this is is the first 3d snow level ever. And while it might be worth a spot on the list just for that, it’s just such a good level even if it wasn’t the first. This is one of the only times you start off at the top of the mountain. And as with every level of Super Mario 64, the mountain is your playground. The slide race in the hut with the penguin, building the snowman, reuniting the baby penguin with its mother, there are so many memorable stars in this level and to top things off the music is so fitting with the whole snow/Christmas theme. That’s why I think this level deserves the spot.
Say. Come to think of it. If that baby wasn’t the baby of that mother, where is it’s actual mother.
#4.Shadow Moses(Metal Gear Solid).
Next one might not be as obvious as the rest but certainly, deserves the spot. Shadow Moses is a small island nearby Alaska and it’s the place where the entirety of the first Metal Gear Solid took place. Not only does it look like an incredibly cold snow covered place but it also implements the snow into its gameplay. Seeing snake’s breath at the time was crazy. What was even crazier was the moment you could hear a soldier say “Who’s footprints are these”. It was so mindblowing to see the soldier’s being able to track you down by your footprints in the snow. The harsh cold environments of the little island off Alaska certainly deserves a mention on the list.
You can just feel the cold seeping out of your screen!
#3.Route 217/216(Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum).
While Pokemon Sun and Moon takes the monster catching adventure to a more tropical location, the series has had its fair share of sub-zero locations. One such location was Route 217/216 leading up to Snowpoint City. After getting through the Mount Coronet Cave, players are greeted by a snowy mountainside. The further you progress, the snowier it becomes. Near the end of your trip a big snowstorm is going on and it’s pretty hard to see. Like most picks, the music here is what sells the area. I also like that there are spots in the snow where it’s deeper and when you walk over them you sink in them and walk slower. It’s a fun little detail that makes this area so much more interesting.
I love the blizzard and deeper patches of snow. The extra effort really sells it.
#2.Winterhold(The Elder Scrolls 5 Skyrim).
If you ever want to explore some snow covered areas at your heart’s content, then Skyrim has got you covered. There are many areas that are covered in a blanket of snow. Some of the best places to go certainly are Winterhold and the surrounding areas. The village of Winterhold itself is covered in a blanket of snow and at the back is an amazing castle that balances on what can be considered a tiny rock which houses the College of Winterhold. Of course, the surrounding areas have even more snow and it’s so much fun to travel and explore the area. This is one of those places you will want to visit if you want to just hang around in the snow.
For when you just want to frolic in the snow.
#1.Animal Crossing Village(Animal Crossing New Leaf).
Whether it’s venturing in the harsh colds of a snowstorm or scaling freezing mountains there’s no place like home. That’s why ANIMAL CROSSING VILLAGE is my number one pick. Your village is yours and yours alone, there is no other like it. During the winter the place is covered with snow and there are special things to do in the village. The villagers themselves also get into the holiday spirit, making sure you do too. It really feels like coming home for Christmas. While I picked New Leaf it’s only because of the newest entry in the series. In truth, you can pick the game you were involved with the most. For me, that would be Wild World. As I said before, there’s no place like home.
Hanging around in your village during winter is escapism at it’s best.
And those are my picks. Do you have any games you like to play during the holiday period? If there are any areas that should have been added just let us know. We would love to hear your opinion. I will see you back next month for a new list.
If you are interested in any of these games you can check out our reviews for the following games:
The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess (HD)
