8 Best Snow Levels In Video Games

Over the years, games have explored a variety of biomes and weather. Some of the most popular level locations are those that create a winter wonderland through thick layers of snow, gentle music, and blue hues.

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Plenty of titles have made their own snow levels, from classic Nintendo titles that have fondly had players exploring snowy mountains to recent titles that have incredible graphics, allowing the player to see the details of these winter worlds. No matter how old or new the game is, these are by far the best snow levels in video games.

8 Hoth Maps – Star Wars Battlefront

Epic Sci-fi Battles In The Snow

There are an assortment of multiplayer games that have players battling on snow-covered maps where ducking behind a pile of snow may see them live to fight another day. Putting a Sci-fi twist onto the winter worlds, Star Wars Battlefront has several maps that see the rebels or the empire fighting against one another on the ice planet of Hoth. With maps that take place not only on the surface of the planet but also indoors, within locations from the films, players feel as if they are part of Star Wars, fighting through the harsh snow environments.

7 Snowpeak Ruins – The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess

A Frozen Manor On A Chilling Mountain

Although the majority of Snowpeak Ruins takes place within a frozen-over manor, this dungeon from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the best snow levels in video game history. As a home owned by two Yetis, it's no surprise how cold this ruined manor appears.

While some rooms are in a better state than others, there are elements of these Snowpeak Ruins where Link must push around blocks of ice or turn into Wolf Link to dig into the snow and open up other rooms within the ruins.

6 IceCap Zone – Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Breaking Ice Blocks To Use The Springs And Switches

Playing as the blue hedgehog that has to go fast is no different when he encounters ice blocks and thick snow, as even Sonic can dash through these in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. IceCap Zone, in this third title of the franchise, is one snow level that players remember fondly, especially for its aesthetics.

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Although incredibly blue, there are some setting differences for players that are paying attention to the background as they race around breaking blocks of ice to get access to the various springs and switches they need to proceed. Starting on a snowboarding hill, the player quickly plunges into an icy cavern, which is then mimicked by the surface the player stands upon.

5 Chapter 7 – Paper Mario

A Winter Wonderland With A Crystal Palace

Paper Mario already has quite a unique art style that has continued to develop as the franchise has expanded. In the original Paper Mario title released on the Nintendo 64, Chapter 7 of the RPG was the first section to see Paper Mario adventure in a winter wonderland.

Since the success of Chapter 7 in the original Paper Mario, the Italian Plumber and his friends have continued to return to the Crystal Palace and the snowy area that surrounds it during games like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, where the player must save the day once again.

4 Lakeside Resort – The Last Of Us

Winter Has Arrived, Adding To The Intense Chapter

While stopping at a lakeside resort may sound rather scenic and beautiful, when winter hits in a world overrun by the undead, the snow isn't as welcoming. However, the player cannot deny the beauty of The Last of Us, especially The Last of Us Part 1, which made the winter chapter of the action-adventure title look even more beautiful.

The thick snow and cold climate add to the intense nature of this chapter, with Ellie being kidnapped by a group of cannibals and having to use the weather to her advantage to pick off her captors while also fighting for her life in this harsh cold while Joel comes looking for her.

3 Cliffhanger – Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Infiltrating A Russian Airbase In A Snow Storm

Players tend to not pay attention to many of the chapter locations for shooters like the Call of Duty franchise. However, one fond favorite of players who enjoyed the early games of the Modern Warfare franchise are likely to remember is the “Cliffhanger” mission from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 title. The player and Soap are tasked with infiltrating a Russian airbase in the harsh, snowy weather of Kazakhstan.

By using the thick snowstorm as cover, players silently take down the Russians within the airbase while looking for the module from a downed satellite. This epic mission in Modern Warfare concludes with the player racing for their life down the side of a mountain on a snowmobile after finding the data they were after.

2 Snow Globe – It Takes Two

Plenty Of Beauty To Explore And Winter Activities To Take Part In

It Takes Two has one of the most unbelievable winter-themed chapters available. Cody and May are teleported into a snow globe to strengthen their relationship and be reminded of the good times when they used to have fun together. In this idyllic winter wonderland, the couple is reminded of their holiday in the snowy mountains.

However, there is more to this level than the nostalgia of a winter holiday. While players explore the snow globe, they are likely to find various winter activities to be involved with, from skating across a frozen lake to challenging their partner to a snowball fight.

1 Cool, Cool Mountain – Super Mario 64

A Classic Winter Level Filled With Penguin Pals

Even players who have never played Mario 64 are likely aware of these snow levels in the Mario title due to seeing the popular video of Mario throwing a baby penguin off the mountain. This exact clip is taken from a player adventuring on this classic snow level.

To find the various stars needed to unlock other levels, the player – as Mario – must explore the snow-covered mountains and surrounding icy area, with one of the greatest activities being the ginormous ice slide the players race down while collecting as many coins as possible and trying not to fall off.