The 10 Best Winter Levels in Gaming

There’s something about the sight of verdant fresh snow in a videogame that evokes a special sort of excitement. You know as soon as you enter one of these winter wonderland levels that you’ll be facing all kinds of new challenges: ice, snowfall, cold and itinerant penguins. Winter levels are up there with lava, haunted houses and sewers on a developer’s checklist

Christmas and the winter months are here, the skies get darker and the prospect of some real snow fills your heart with excitement (if you’re a child) or chills you to your bones (if you’re an adult). Perhaps it’s time, then, to glance back at the 10 best winter levels that games have had to offer.

10. Hoth

Star Wars Battlefront

Some may scoff that the Hoth level in Star Wars: Battlefront was merely a rehashing of the same level in Shadows of the Empire which was the first to make shooting AT-ATs in 3D awesome. To the those people I say 64 player multiplayer. Even though the cables to tie around the walkers were awful to aim, there’s still no better feeling than bringing one of them down in the snow. Add on top of that Battlefront’s solid gameplay and frantic combat and you’re onto a winner.

9. Bear It, Bear Down, Totally Bear

Crash Bandicoot 2

When Crash first spots Polar the bear, he turns to the camera and gives a very suggestive raise of his eyebrows. Thankfully what follows is mind-numbingly fun instead of brain-scarringly terrifying. Racing through the well-designed Crash levels on Polar was some of the best fun to be had in the early days of the PS2. The way your companion would slide around on the ice and bark with joy when you completed the level would warm any heart on a cold winter’s night.

8. The Throat of the World

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Though riddled with bugs, Skyrim upon release was still a phenomenal experience. This was typified most by your arrival at the top of the tallest mountain in Tamriel after battling blizzards, ice wraiths and wandering goats to find Paarthurnax. With the dragon’s sage advice ringing in your eyes, staring from the peak of the mountain at the land below was breath-taking. Using Fus-Ro-Dah to push things off of it was even more fun.

7. Snow Barrel Blast

Donkey Kong Country

Trying to get to the end of this blizzard-filled level was hell when I was younger. Nevertheless you have to appreciate the slick graphics and the way the game transitions from calm evergreens and mountaintops to a full on snowstorm. Snow Barrel Blast is also jam packed with barrels, enemies like crocs and bees (which must be freezing up at that altitude) and bonus areas.

6. The Mountain

SSX3

SSX3 was a game that critics loved due to its slick racing mechanics and trick controls, but even more due to its incredible setting. Every race and every event in the game takes place on what feels like a living, breathing, alpine environment. From the gentle beginner’s drifts to the hazardous and craggy summit, boarding the mountain from top to bottom is one the greatest experiences I’ve had in gaming.

5. Icicle Mountain

Super Smash Bros. Melee

I will probably be alone in naming this one of the greatest winter levels. No stage on SSBM creates as much rage as Icicle Mountain. Trying to keep track of the fight is tough enough in the game without having to deal with a shifting mountain stage that can change speeds randomly. Despite the threat of you breaking your controller in rage, mastering Icicle Mountain was the sign of a true smash veteran.

4. Snowhead

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

There’s something off about a race of people who willingly live on a place called “Death Mountain”. The completely male Gorons spend their days eating rocks in Snowhead, probably wondering why they live on a snowy mountain when they’re impervious to heat. In Snowhead you can race Gorons around, get a cool new mask and fight a giant bull, all the while wondering why Link is wearing shorts in freezing weather.

3. Surface

James Bond: Goldeneye

While I’m not a big fan of Goldeneye (queue gasps of shock), Surface was without a doubt a crazy fun level to play. Even if the pitch-black sky and painted-on trees are a bit creepy, sneaking (and by sneaking, I mean killing everyone) into the satellite facility is undoubtedly cool. It’s also incredible how often international super-spy James Bond manages to get completely and hopelessly lost on this level (through no fault of mine – honest).

2. Ice Cap Zone

Sonic 3

In the ‘90s not much was cooler than Sonic. Except Sonic riding a snowboard down a mountain, that is. Ice Cap Zone has one of those “whoa” moments that made the already high-speed Sonic games seem even crazier. Add in the cool background music, shifting ice and snow and the ability to trap Tails in spikey pits of doom and you have yourself an all time classic winter level.

1. Cool, Cool Mountain

Super Mario 64

So cool they named it twice, Cool, Cool Mountain is full of quintessential wintery activities like racing penguins and reuniting them with their families (what? Do you not do that every December?). Exploring the frozen landscape is great fun, all the while accompanied by another great Super Mario 64 soundtrack. If you fancy a break from it all you can even have a rest in a hot spring… though the penguin looks like you’re making it awkward for him.