The Top 10 Winter Themed Levels in Gaming
With the winter season upon us, I figured that it was a good time to look at some of the best winter levels that video games have brought us throughout the years. Through the snow-capped mountains and frostbitten horrors, the winter setting gives way to fun and interesting interpretations that are all worthy of mention. These are, in my opinion, the best.
10. Merry Cheat Bonus Levels – Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble
An adorable secret that I was never aware of are these Merry Cheat Bonus Levels that transform the bananas in the bonus areas into gift wrapped presents and Christmas tree ornaments. The biggest change, however, is the fact that all the music is now swapped for David Wise’s take on the classic, “Jingle Bells” which he called “Jangle Bells”. The change definitely doesn’t look like much, but the winter spirit is very strong and the music is as contagious as the classic it imitates.
9. Icicle Inn – Final Fantasy 7
Found in the snow fields of the Icicle Area, Icicle Inn is a small town that functions more as a winter resort than a traditional town. All the buildings resemble log cabins with windows teasing its warm shelter with golden light shining through. Being atop a mountain, the only way to descend to Great Glacier is to snowboard to the bottom in a full minigame that would take anyone by surprise. The snowboard descent goes from boarding through a traditional course with barriers to a forest and all around is a fun change from the JRPG gameplay. Final Fantasy 7 is obviously talked about in great detail, but I rarely ever hear much discussion about Icicle Inn and the Great Glacier which after a recent replay is a great themed area that adds to the game.
8. Arendelle – Kingdom Hearts III
One of the more recent additions to Disney’s animated movies and not only did Kingdom Hearts III do it justice, it brings depth to Arendelle and makes the land feel alive. The land Arendelle is caked in a pristine snow and the terrain ranges from mountain tops to valleys and atop it all is an ice castle created by Elsa during a recreation of Frozen’s Let It Go musical number. Arendelle brings new heartless native to the snowy area like the reindeer, the crystal dragoons, and even a snow golem mini boss that all look incredible in motion. The characters of Frozen included also add to the charm of Arendelle and helping Anna reconnect with Elsa always envelops me in much needed warmth after spending so much time in this winter wonderland.
7. Assault on the Control Room – Halo Combat Evolved (Written by Ben Vollmer)
Name something cooler than controlling a large tank called a “Scorpion” as a biologically-enhanced super soldier, with a Marty O’Donnell track kicking into high gear. I’ll wait.
The truth is, Master Chief and Halo practically invented cool and it’s on full blast during the assault on ‘Control Room’. Not only are the icy floors and snow-capped mountains a visual treat, especially during a time where such set pieces were few and far in between, but it really puts a focus on Chief’s isolation and importance in taking down the covenant. The only thing that could make it any better would be if someone put together a grunt-killing montage backed by some Dean Martin.
6. Shiveria Town of Snow Kingdom – Super Mario Odyssey
The first moments in Snow Kingdom is spent searching around what appears to be a desolate wasteland stuck in a never ending blizzard until the snow on the ground suddenly gives way and reveals the hidden town of Shiveria. Inside Shiveria are these adorable Shiverians that seem to be plump seals wearing winter coats currently devastated that their Frost-Frosted Cake was stolen.
Mario helps by throwing Cappy onto one of the Shiverians and entering a bound race where instead of running, Mario rolls and bounces through the course. After winning and gaining the Snow Kingdom’s Multi-Moon does the blizzard outside subside and reveal a fun winterland full of cloud enemies wearing santa hats, penguins, and platforms of ice. All paired with a fantastic music theme that finds itself on almost every video game winter playlist. Dean Martin.
5. Ice Cap Zone – Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Ice Cap Zone introduces itself with Sonic diving into a planted snowboard and shredding to the bottom of an arctic summit in a scene that can only be described as “cool”. Sonic’s descent is only stopped by the wall of the cave’s entrance, hiding the dimly lit entirety of Ice Cap Zone. The inside trades traditional stalactites and rock with countless ice crystals and decorative colorful diamonds. Ice Cap Zone also houses one of the best tracks found in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and having robotic penguins march along drives it all home.
4. Cainhurst Castle – Bloodborne
Bloodborne is home to many horrors, be them vacuous or evocative and every new area in the game continues to compound on the torrent of its eldritch horrors. One area in particular is completely hidden away from the mainland of Yharnan, available only after solving some riddles will a horse drawn carriage arrive and magically introduce Cainhurst Castle.
The setting is almost pictured from Castlevania with Cainhurst Castle somehow standing atop a mountain formation completely separated from the outside world. The only sounds accompanying the area is the winter breeze and the shuffling of the blood starved enemies prowling for a meal, all blanketed in snow with intermittent blood splatters. Even when exploring the castle itself, avoiding the spectres and knights, the dispassionate winds permanently pierce through the windows kept ajar for there is no warmth in Cainhurst. The festivities may be lost here, but the coldest and creepiest parts of the season are highlighted in this castle.
3. Snowy Mountain Climb – Journey (Written by Flora Eloise)
This snowy mountain is one of the most memorable parts of Journey due to its dynamic tone shift that contrasts with the game’s main themes. The most beautiful parts of Journey take place when you’re soaring through the sky or gliding across the glittering sand, but the snowy mountain is harsh and unforgiving, taking all of that beauty away from you. In this arctic zone, you finally ascend towards the distant beacon that has guided your entire journey thus far. It’s a grueling journey against forceful winds and subzero temperatures, rendering your otherwise lively scarf into a lifeless icicle. This final climb up the mountain is filled with challenges, and proves to be deadly difficult. Cleverly, the game takes the trope of the winter level and weaponizes it within the narrative to set up the game’s euphoric ending sequence.
2. Cool Cool Mountain – Super Mario 64 (Written by Ben Vollmer)
Is there anything better than racing a penguin down the twisty slopes of a mountain? ‘Cool, Cool Mountain’ epitomizes everything that is right about Super Mario 64: lots of fun platforming, hidden secrets to explore, and a delightful theme that matches the level’s design. Not to mention, the vertical nature of the mountain makes for some really fun platforming and jumps, making it one of the best levels in the famed 64 speedruns.
If there is a flaw to be found, it’s in the ridiculous sounds that the crying penguin baby makes. It may be just enough to tempt a lesser person than Mario to chuck it off the side of the mountain to test out whether penguins really can fly or not.
1. Freezeezy Peak – Banjo-Kazooie
Quite possibly the pinnacle of winter themed levels, Banjo-Kazooie’s Freezeezy Peak delivers on every front I could imagine. From the giant Christmas tree to the snowball tossing snow-golems and sled racing polar bear, Freezeezy Peak is a concert of holiday festivities with Grant Kirkhope’s timeless theme decorating the entirety of the level.
Banjo can help escort hopping christmas lights through a bridge with hungry dinosaurs, fly through the star atop the tree those lights aim to decorate, transform into a walrus, race a polar bear, and collect presents. Every moment inside Freezeezy Peak feels like a celebration of the holidays and climbing up the giant snowman’s scarf just to jump inside it’s corncob pipe accentuates that it is always winter here at Freezeezy Peak.
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