Summer heat got you down? These nine video games offer the perfect escape, transporting players to frozen wildernesses, snow-covered cities, and icy worlds where winter never seems to end.

From survival adventures and atmospheric shooters to winter sports and off-road driving simulators, each game captures the beauty and challenge of life in the cold.

Steep (2016)

Steep combines two favorite things every person wants in summer - cold and sports. You can explore the vast Alpine or Alaskan landscapes, choose to just freely traverse the world, or take part in extreme winter sports disciplines.

Steep offers downhill races, skiing, snowboarding, paragliding, and even extreme sports such as sledding, speed riding and more, disciplines that you normally find at the Winter Olympics.

Subnautica: Below Zero (2021)

The popular Subnautica franchise took a step away from the aquatic biomes with Subnautica: Below Zero, completely built on an alien ocean planet 4546B with a cold atmosphere.

The world is filled with frozen seas, ice caves, mountains, glaciers, and snow-covered islands, with this open-world survival game staying true to its original gameplay philosophy while also bringing in the element of a cold alien world.

Tom Clancy's The Division (2016)

While Tom Clancy's The Division gets credited with one of the most realistic versions of real-life Manhattan, the game is set in a timeline where Christmas is just around the corner. Cold, snowy, disaster-ridden Manhattan is an enriching experience.

The Division presents a chance to play an action-packed co-operative shooter while also reveling in its colder version of New York City.

Max Payne (2001)

As authentic and dark as it gets, Max Payne truly produced an atmospheric enigma as early as 2001. The original Max Payne game's wintry New York streets complemented the dark-themed revenge-driven storyline.

Whenever Max heads outside, the calm yet ominous blizzard setting adds so much to the protagonist's confused and emotionally erratic state of mind. Rather than turning the cold into a gameplay mechanic, the game uses it as a storytelling tool to reinforce the game's bleak atmosphere and Max's inner turmoil.

The Long Dark (2017)

A survival game that truly defined the genre, and perhaps hits way too close to home right now, is The Long Dark. Set in frozen Canada, the players are left to scour for resources and survival as technology abruptly stops working.

A mirror into the harsh truth of how a technological collapse or shutdown can bring us back to the Dark Ages, The Long Dark makes cold the enemy, in contrast to what it feels like while enduring the summer heat.

God of War Ragnarök (2022)

While the entire God of War universe takes place in a Nordic and cold setting, Ragnarok is set in Fimbulwinter, a brutal three-year-long winter causing freezing winds and endless snow.

Play out the emotional storyline of God of War Ragnarok and experience the visually stunning cold world created by Santa Monica Studio, as you explore the father-and-son relationship between Kratos and Atreus.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (2006)

While Lost Planet III is also a good shout, Extreme Condition is basically set on a frozen planet named E.D.N. III, where thermal energy is crucial for survival, all while trying to fend off giant aliens.

This third-person shooter's protagonist is a snow pirate, further leaning into the cold setting of the game, and the entire game is a visual phenomenon for people struggling in the summer heat.

SnowRunner (2020)

Imagine Euro Truck Simulator but in a cold setting. SnowRunner is an off-road driving simulator involving heavy vehicles, and requires players to traverse icy roads, frozen rivers, and thick snow, adding a level of difficulty to Heavy Vehicle Simulators.

You can experience Michigan and Alaska, among other areas within SnowRunner, as you go on a slow, patient journey through the cold weather. Nothing like a long drive in cold weather during the summer season, eh?

Never Alone (2014)

Not only does the BAFTA-winning puzzle-platform game Never Alone provide you with a cold atmosphere to enjoy, but it also has a gripping storyline and gameplay that is unique to the game itself.

You continue to alternate between protagonist Nuna, a young Inupiat, and her Arctic Fox companion, or even play the game in a co-operative setting.

The gameplay educates you with Inupiat stories, with documentary-style videos featuring Native Canadians as they discuss the region's history, culture, and folklore.

Imagine being able to enjoy the cold atmosphere, getting to play as an animal unique to the cold weather, and being educated about the regional culture. What a way to beat the summer blues!

Which video game on the list tickled your fancy? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Abhisek Bajaj

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav