Winter Gaming: The Best Games to Play During the Colder Months
For many gamers, the colder months offer the perfect opportunity to stay cosy while exploring different worlds from home—by playing video games. Yet for a season when many of us retreat indoors, it can be surprisingly hard to find winter-themed games. We’ve compiled winter game recommendations to help you embrace the season’s atmosphere with quality gaming moments.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
It wouldn’t be a winter gaming guide without recommending The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Skyrim is an RPG that truly stands the test of time: still considered one of the greatest games over a decade after its initial release. Many gamers return to Skyrim during winter—drawn to the gorgeous open world of mountain ranges, cliffs, and snowy areas. With a vast open world and gorgeous graphics, Skyrim is best enjoyed on console. For ideal cosiness, get comfy in front of a large TV and snuggle up to play for hours.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
The Octopath Traveler series
The Octopath Traveler series pairs cosy, retro graphics with innovative modern turn-based mechanics. Whether you’ve recently picked up gaming or are a lifelong gamer looking to experience some nostalgia, the Octopath Traveler series could be for you. Each game in the series features a snowy area, while other areas maintain an atmospheric feel and can be toggled between day and night with a single button press. As Octopath Traveller is so reminiscent of early handheld games, you could fully embrace the nostalgia by playing it in handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Winter Burrow
Winter Burrow is a charming, cosy survival game. You play as a mouse restoring your burrow, which involves journeying into the frozen wilderness to collect resources. Packed with charm and cosiness, this indie pick makes for a compelling winter adventure. Winter Burrow is an excellent game for picking up and putting down on the go, making it a brilliant option for the Nintendo Switch—perfect for adding a little joy to those long, busy winter days.
Platforms: PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
The Long Dark
If you enjoy embracing the darker side of winter, The Long Dark could be the game for you. In this exploration-based survival game, you play as a crash-landed pilot forced to survive in the freezing Canadian wilderness. With sandbox survival and story mode options, there are several ways to get involved in the action. It’s easy to get so immersed in The Long Dark that you sink hours into it without even realising, so we recommend playing on your PC: get comfy on your gaming chair with plenty of snacks to keep you fueled.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Mac
Customise your play
The games you already play may even have features that are perfect for winter. You could create a new world in Minecraft with a seed to spawn in a gorgeous snow biome and set yourself a challenge to build in the area. Games like Animal Crossing reflect real-world seasons based on your console’s date and time settings, so if you hop in during winter, your world might be covered in snow.
Final Thoughts
Winter is the perfect season to immerse yourself in games that capture its unique atmosphere—whether that means exploring snowy mountains or braving the harsh wilderness. So, grab a blanket, settle in, and let these winter-themed adventures transform your gaming this season.
