The best winter levels in video games

Key things

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

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

Some of the best and most spectacular levels in video games are those with snowy environments, perfect for players preparing for the winter season. These chilling levels feature great gameplay, iconic moments, and detailed environments that make them the pinnacle of their respective games.

1 Snowball

A beautiful winter wonderland for two players

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

Skating to win against your co-op partner and uncovering secrets in this frosty world is a huge part of what makes this section in It takes two so special It's a powerful level that comes relatively early in the game and forces fans to stick with this game until the very end.

2 Narshe attack

An unforgettable start to one of the best Final Fantasy games of all time

Introduction Final Fantasy 6 is iconic, with players taking on the role of three mysterious characters in Magitek Armor who must infiltrate the mines of Narsh and find the espers. From the moment the trio start walking in the snow and the credits roll, fans will be amazed by the cinematic qualities of this game.

This chilling introduction embodies much of what makes the winter season so special, with players traversing the mines before finally meeting the esper. Afterwards, Terra is finally freed from the Slave Crown and embarks on an epic adventure to stop the warring Imperials in their tracks.

3 Police brutality

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

The first two Max Payne games are synonymous with winter, with both titles set in New York during this frigid season. The first game is particularly memorable as it allows players to enjoy a close gunfight with a great story that is enhanced by the winter storm that hit NYC at the time.

Some of the best levels in the game allow players to engage in action-packed shootouts against the backdrop of this frigid winter, with Police Brutality being a great example. The explosive opening of this level, with players chasing after Vinnie and taking out all the crooks in their way, is an unforgettable moment that brings 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: Combat Evolved is one of the best first-person shooters of all time, offering its fair share of open levels that are a joy to navigate. One of the most iconic levels in the game is the Assault on Control Room, a level with a ton of snow where the Master Chief must use every tool at his command to get to 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 enemies and slowly but surely progress into the control room. Despite being the longest level in the game, Assault on the Control Room doesn't overstay its welcome, allowing players to marvel at the game's beautiful sights as they progress.

5 Party Invitation

Hitman's iconic level

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 eliminate a Russian general before making a quick retreat.

The mission is exciting and fast-paced, offering players multiple paths to explore while pretending to be a party guest or sneaking into the compound. The sheer amount of options players have access to ensures that this level is great no matter how many times players replay it.

6 Prologue

The snowy city of Ludendorff serves as an amazing introduction to GTA 5

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

This mission sets up plenty of intrigue, with Michael faking his death to escape Trevor's madness once and for all. The town of Ludendorff looks beautiful with snow covering it, making it an unforgettable 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

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

It's hard not to feel cold and uncomfortable as Nathan battles the cold and his injuries to pull off a Herculean showjumping effort. This amazing introductory level is a taste of what fans will experience in one of the best Uncharted games ever made.

8 Resort by the lake

A memorable section that allows players to control Ellie for the first time

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

This switch ensures that players will be invested in the second half of the game as they take one step closer to meeting the Fireflies. David is a fascinating antagonist throughout this arc, with Ellie's character development coming to the fore as she fights this creep and reunites with Joel.