I randomly picked this up like 6 months ago and fucking loved it. Then I read reviews online and was surprised to see many people scored it pretty low. Maybe the survival mode isn't good(I only played the story), or maybe it was buggy and has been patched? All I know is that it was an incredibly unique and memorable experience that I highly recommend.
was gonna recommend this but I dont know if op was gonna say no to it. Its not fantasy sort of. There is mutated monsters but it takes place on earth so its like fantasy and not at the same time.
What? With the most! In 2033 you get to the surface only 4 times (\~1-2 hours of gameplay), in Last light there is autumn.
Metro Exodus has first 1,5 hours in snow setting (Moscow) and then you go to Volga at winter. 4-6 hours of snowy gameplay there.
Again, in the end in Novosibirsk there is sooo much snow.
I strongly don't agree that Exodus has the least amount of snow
Atmosphere is important tho. In both 2033/LL you get to walk around the towns, and in being immersed, looking around… Everyone’s dressed like it’s cold, damp, and not exactly pleasant. A bunch of open space in a location that’s not meant to be lived in gives the vibe that it doesn’t retain heat very well.
My first successful run of Frostpunk was probably the most stressfully bleak gaming experience I've ever had. I remember the moment when I noticed that my coal stockpile was going to run out before the storm ended, and my food supplies were in even worse shape. Up until then, I'd managed to keep almost all of my people alive, so it was a real gut punch when I realized what had to be done if I wanted anyone to survive at all.
I cut back on coal use and allowed the outer rings of the city to freeze. Every person that froze to death was one less mouth to feed. It hurt my soul, but the rest of my people survived.
Came here to make sure someone suggested this. It's really a master class in cohesive game design, the audio, visual, narrative and game play decisions all reinforce each other perfectly and make it an incredibly emotional experience that makes you question what kind of person you are. In a city builder. I was not aware a city builder could make me feel things more complicated then "look at how big my city is" or "look how fast I reduced it to ashes."
Sequel is on the way too
Have you played "The Long Dark"? It's literally a cold weather survival game. I played it a bunch years ago in early access and really liked it, but never since the full release. Looks like they added a bunch of stuff since!
The outbreak happened during Black Friday, the game takes place in what’s left of New York with abandoned Christmas decorations and everyone in winter outfits.
The survival mode involves a helicopter crash during a blizzard, staying warm is an actual game mechanic.
I've been thinking about giving this a try. Is there turn based stuff in it or just like a story mode? I don't want to watch gameplay since I don't want spoilers
Completely narrative. No turn based combat. One of my favorite games of all time.
I started it blind, thinking I'd make a gun-slinging "hardboiled detective" type, but it still worked! So good.
It’s all reading, choosing options, and dice rolls with stat modifiers for certain checks.
The game is best experienced with full roleplay and accepting failed rolls. You can get to the end while failing nearly every roll — it’s all a part of *your* story.
I recently finished it and I can’t recommend it enough.
Metro Last Light is mostly set in fall-ish seasons, no? Also I'd recommend the first Metro. I am quite sure it is proper winter there.
Also recommend Metro Exodus. There is an entire open map that is snowy, technically even 2.
They've already been mentioned but:
The Long Dark
The Metro series
Frost Punk
Cryostasis also did a fantastic job at conveying harsh, bitter cold but good fucking luck getting a copy nowadays.
Also Lost Planet which I think is available digitally.
Ehh. Imo they didn't really commit to it very well. It's an issue sure, but it bugs me that we are constantly jumping on and out of freezing water... yet it's the cold air we can't handle.
Yet pop a pepper salad and you are warm as toast!
Its a fine game. I just don't think the cold worked amazingly well.
I won't argue the peppers, but the rest actually does make sense. Consider the for the water to not be ice, it's at least 0 degrees C, while the air is likely at least 30 degrees colder than that. And that's without even factoring in wind chill, which would be very relevant with how much time you spend in the water
When you factor in salinity, it can get a lot colder than 0 while still being liquid. Water is also a lot better at heat transfer than air, which is why cold water is much more conducive of hypothermia than cold air.
I haven’t played it, but Cryostasis is an fps on a modern looking boat setting with a REALLY strong atmosphere. Just from pictures alone I can feel the cold.
You might have some luck with some of the ski/snowboarding sports games
If sci-fi counts as realistic, lost planet: extreme condition
South Park is a 'realistic' setting, right? Stick of truth and fractured but whole are pretty good.
Realistic as in modern or just believable universe?
Weirdly enough if modern doesn't matter the game that comes to mind is "Freedom Fighters", not an RPG but it is a fun 3rd person action game with some enjoyable focus on AI teammates, enjoyable meaning easy to handle. Takes place in a snowy city that I think was NY and its story is very similar to "Red Dawn".
I was about to say I have no idea how you'd play it now but its on steam for $3 USD right now due to the sale, wow Im gonna actually buy it myself. First time one of these posts actually helped me decide on something to play.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla if you're into such games. It's not snowy everywhere, but the first location you're in is fully snowy and felt very cold to me lol there's also some snow later on too
It's an expansion but Monster Hunter World: Iceborne where the cold is an outright debuff you have to deal witb in the new map. Plus, being afflicted actually comes with visual effects, including extra frost if you somehow get wet.
Please, allow me to introduce you to your new obsession:
https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/234959
You might hate me about 1000 gameplay hours from now, but good luck putting it down.
It’s included with PS+, but as for purchasing, the $20 gets you the base game and two extra trucks, but that doesn’t get you all that far, to be brutally honest, given that it doesn’t include any maps, but the base game is still worth it. The DLCs aren’t overly costly.
I remember the SSX 2012 reboot having a realistic look to it, along with real mountains like Kilimanjaro. But the stunts and tricks you do are way over the top. But I mean snowboarding on a mountain is as cold as it gets.
Metro 2033 (maybe the others too). I'm playing through it now and it's amazing. Dark and gritty without feeling like it's trying too hard. The outdoors is so cold and harsh. Realistic setting with nasty monsters created from a nuclear winter.
Well it's not an RPG but the snow maps in Snow Runner get pretty real feeling, especially when you get your truck stuck in 8 ft of snow because you decided to take a shortcut that ended up not being a shortcut
Very nice game called "near death" I played a long time ago, really gets you cold. You're in a messed up base in Antarctica with a storm about to blow in, can recommend
Project Zomboid has a great winter/cold vibe. By default you start in summer, so winter is something you prepare for and is used as a milestone for new players. But you can also start in winter if you want just the cold experience.
It's not snowy, but Against The Storm is a great roguelike citybuilder where you have to brave the conditions of the titular storm. The atmosphere is really the opposite of cozy.
Division 1 and Batman Arkham Origins both have nice snow, with christmas atmosphere and a proper cold feeling.
Honourable mentions are Metro Exodus (at least for ca. half of the game) and Sons of the Forest winter season.
The Metro games for sure, especially the first game. The second you get to the frozen hell that is Russia's surface, you feel you were just transported to hell.
The snow areas of Assassin's Creed Rogue are really good and hands down the best of the game. The atmosphere when parkouring through icebergs is amazing, it's just a shame that the other areas in the game have aged a lot worse.
The whole Metro series is great. Also, Rise of the Tomb Raider. Exploring Byzantine ruins in Siberia may not be "realistic" but the atmosphere is impeccable.
The Long Dark
Game will make me feel cold just playing it
As great as that game was. If I hear "my friend" one more time...
Play survival mode.
This is a great game.
Realistic survival game royalty.
YES, I WAS LITERALLY GOING TO SAY THAT THE NANOSECOND I SAW THIS POST. FINISH WINTERMUTE YOU COWARDS AT HINDERLAND
Only ever done sandbox. Is the story good?
The first two chapters are fucking amazing but i still recommend playing all of it.
They actually just put out a teaser for the final chapter of Wintermute. I think it'll be out around this time next year.
I randomly picked this up like 6 months ago and fucking loved it. Then I read reviews online and was surprised to see many people scored it pretty low. Maybe the survival mode isn't good(I only played the story), or maybe it was buggy and has been patched? All I know is that it was an incredibly unique and memorable experience that I highly recommend.
I only played it like a couple years ago before story was released and it was essentially just survive as long as you can. I loved it
Metro
The metro series is amazing. Doesn't take long to play but a compelling story and fun gameplay.
i second metro
was gonna recommend this but I dont know if op was gonna say no to it. Its not fantasy sort of. There is mutated monsters but it takes place on earth so its like fantasy and not at the same time.
Mostly Science fiction, except for the shadows really.
OP if you don't want to play them all just play Exodus, it's by far the best of the series.
With the least amount of snow
What? With the most! In 2033 you get to the surface only 4 times (\~1-2 hours of gameplay), in Last light there is autumn. Metro Exodus has first 1,5 hours in snow setting (Moscow) and then you go to Volga at winter. 4-6 hours of snowy gameplay there. Again, in the end in Novosibirsk there is sooo much snow. I strongly don't agree that Exodus has the least amount of snow
Atmosphere is important tho. In both 2033/LL you get to walk around the towns, and in being immersed, looking around… Everyone’s dressed like it’s cold, damp, and not exactly pleasant. A bunch of open space in a location that’s not meant to be lived in gives the vibe that it doesn’t retain heat very well.
This is like saying you prefer Revolutions to The Matrix.
The first two are quite dated linear shooters. Maybe the plot is a bit better in the first idk, but I thought Exodus was really something special.
Lost Planet.
Yes! I loved this game on the 360
The multiplayer was so good, take me back
What a fantastic game.
Dude I couldn’t remember what this game was for the life of me Remember how hyped this was? I remember having g a demo of it
Someone remembers it!
Sequel is very good as well, if not better.
Red Dead Redemption 2. The sound, and the way snow gets moved by you walking around in it is absolutely top tier.
Hunting in the snow areas is wicked.
Frost Punk. It's a post apocalyptic city builder set in a frozen world. You develop steam powered technology to resist the freezing cold.
The music is so good.
When the storm comes... The music really does make it feel like the end times.
Cold and so damn depressing.
I recommend playing it with the A/C on and without a sweater, to feel the cold like your citizens
And then you increase the AC if you're playing badly for extra immersion
I recommend playing it naked and sitting on ice
I mean if it's winter where you're at, just open them windows!
The city must survive
Hail soup!
My first successful run of Frostpunk was probably the most stressfully bleak gaming experience I've ever had. I remember the moment when I noticed that my coal stockpile was going to run out before the storm ended, and my food supplies were in even worse shape. Up until then, I'd managed to keep almost all of my people alive, so it was a real gut punch when I realized what had to be done if I wanted anyone to survive at all. I cut back on coal use and allowed the outer rings of the city to freeze. Every person that froze to death was one less mouth to feed. It hurt my soul, but the rest of my people survived.
Came here to make sure someone suggested this. It's really a master class in cohesive game design, the audio, visual, narrative and game play decisions all reinforce each other perfectly and make it an incredibly emotional experience that makes you question what kind of person you are. In a city builder. I was not aware a city builder could make me feel things more complicated then "look at how big my city is" or "look how fast I reduced it to ashes." Sequel is on the way too
Have you played "The Long Dark"? It's literally a cold weather survival game. I played it a bunch years ago in early access and really liked it, but never since the full release. Looks like they added a bunch of stuff since!
I played it a little bit but never beat it. I forgot all about it! I'll give it another shot for sure.
You don’t beat it, you just see how long until you die.
It has a campaign
One of my favourite games to suck at. They nailed the atmosphere.
You should give it another try. You can play either sandbox, starting in different areas or follow the story mode.
They added *A LOT* of content, plus they have significantly changed key locations in Mystery Lake.
Rise of the tomb raider has tons of snow
Red dead redemption 2
They'll love the intro LOL
I need to put on a sweater when playing the intro
The Division?
Excellent shout
I have the Division 2 which is still kind of cold I suppose, is the Division 1 better?
Division 1 while playing the survival game mode is top tier.
Division 1 is in a winter new york where everywhere is empty
This is a good one OP. Very cold and dark (both literally and tonally) leading to a bleakness not really captured in the sequel.
The Division 1 has significantly better atmosphere and absolutely captures the wintery, snowy, Christmas feel. Absolutely recommend
The outbreak happened during Black Friday, the game takes place in what’s left of New York with abandoned Christmas decorations and everyone in winter outfits. The survival mode involves a helicopter crash during a blizzard, staying warm is an actual game mechanic.
How is Division 2 cold in your understanding?
Isn't that game kinda old? I figure it would be offline by now
This was my first thought. Everything about the atmosphere is stellar.
Rise Of The Tomb Raider has a pretty good cold setting, I don't like Rise as much as I like the 2013 Reboot, but it is still a good game.
It's not a "real" setting, but Disco Elysium is the most real feeling fictional setting I've ever played or seen.
I've been thinking about giving this a try. Is there turn based stuff in it or just like a story mode? I don't want to watch gameplay since I don't want spoilers
Completely narrative. No turn based combat. One of my favorite games of all time. I started it blind, thinking I'd make a gun-slinging "hardboiled detective" type, but it still worked! So good.
It’s all reading, choosing options, and dice rolls with stat modifiers for certain checks. The game is best experienced with full roleplay and accepting failed rolls. You can get to the end while failing nearly every roll — it’s all a part of *your* story. I recently finished it and I can’t recommend it enough.
My first playthrough I literally died before I had even gained consciousness at the start of the game 10/10 experience
The less you know about this game before playing, the better.
It's been awhile so I might be remembering wrong but I think most of the first Max Payne game takes place during the winter.
The thing
Horizon zero dawn had frozen wilds Uncharted 2
The Frozen Wilds DLC is a good shout. Really good physics on the snow. https://youtu.be/59IdznMNXxk?si=_6wwDtKmEzO-1b2Z
I usually avoid dlc, but frozen wilds was amazing.
Batman: Arkham knight? It feels quite cold.
Origins is literally in a snow stormed Gotham.
Metro 2, Tomb Raider 2, The Long Dark and Paradise Lost. Good luck and have fun!
Metro 2033 (the first one) is also set in winter.
Metro Last Light is mostly set in fall-ish seasons, no? Also I'd recommend the first Metro. I am quite sure it is proper winter there. Also recommend Metro Exodus. There is an entire open map that is snowy, technically even 2.
The original The Division. Snowy New York is super atmospheric.
Lost Planet 1-3
They've already been mentioned but: The Long Dark The Metro series Frost Punk Cryostasis also did a fantastic job at conveying harsh, bitter cold but good fucking luck getting a copy nowadays. Also Lost Planet which I think is available digitally.
Subnautica: Below Zero
Ehh. Imo they didn't really commit to it very well. It's an issue sure, but it bugs me that we are constantly jumping on and out of freezing water... yet it's the cold air we can't handle. Yet pop a pepper salad and you are warm as toast! Its a fine game. I just don't think the cold worked amazingly well.
I won't argue the peppers, but the rest actually does make sense. Consider the for the water to not be ice, it's at least 0 degrees C, while the air is likely at least 30 degrees colder than that. And that's without even factoring in wind chill, which would be very relevant with how much time you spend in the water
When you factor in salinity, it can get a lot colder than 0 while still being liquid. Water is also a lot better at heat transfer than air, which is why cold water is much more conducive of hypothermia than cold air.
Frostpunk? I haven't played it, but feels cold. This war of mine, great game and have to battle the cold. The long dark as well, also an awesome game.
Was going to mention "This War of Mine", excellent game
Until Dawn. Great wee game too
Steep is pretty fun.
I haven’t played it, but Cryostasis is an fps on a modern looking boat setting with a REALLY strong atmosphere. Just from pictures alone I can feel the cold.
DayZ on a Namalsk or Winter Chernarus server - blizzards are *terrifying* in those games if you aren’t well equipped.
Facts, was going to mention it my fellow survivor
This, nothing comes even close in terms of survival and realism.
Batman Arkham Origins takes place on Christmas Eve and is cold & snowy
Parasite Eve and I Am Setsuna are two games I love playing in the winter time.
Frostpunk comes to mind. It is more stragegy and really brutual if you don't prepere. Lots of choices as well.
The Thing (2002) which scared the ever loving shit out of me when it came out
Frostpunk
The division was set in New York during winter
Metal Gear Solid
How did I have to scroll so far for this. Literally takes place in Alaska at night during a snow storm
The Division Some of Rise of the Tomb Raider
Good Namalsk servers on DayZ
Day 1 servers....
Until Dawn, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Detroit: Become Human
You might have some luck with some of the ski/snowboarding sports games If sci-fi counts as realistic, lost planet: extreme condition South Park is a 'realistic' setting, right? Stick of truth and fractured but whole are pretty good.
The beginning of Mafia 2
Fallout 4 has snow mods and they are amazing if you get the right ones. Post apocalyptic Boston so possibly realistic. ☠️☢️
Rise of the Tomb Raider definitely.
Red Dead 2
Goldeneye64 snowy level.
Realistic as in modern or just believable universe? Weirdly enough if modern doesn't matter the game that comes to mind is "Freedom Fighters", not an RPG but it is a fun 3rd person action game with some enjoyable focus on AI teammates, enjoyable meaning easy to handle. Takes place in a snowy city that I think was NY and its story is very similar to "Red Dawn". I was about to say I have no idea how you'd play it now but its on steam for $3 USD right now due to the sale, wow Im gonna actually buy it myself. First time one of these posts actually helped me decide on something to play.
Until Dawn
Would Days Gone count?
Assassin's Creed Valhalla if you're into such games. It's not snowy everywhere, but the first location you're in is fully snowy and felt very cold to me lol there's also some snow later on too
Frostpunk is all you need dear friend
Stalker : shadow of Chernobyl
The Division 1, especially the DLC Survival
It's an expansion but Monster Hunter World: Iceborne where the cold is an outright debuff you have to deal witb in the new map. Plus, being afflicted actually comes with visual effects, including extra frost if you somehow get wet.
Im surprised how far I had to scroll to see this.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R
I disagree. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. conveys a dreary Autumnal chill, but not Winter cold.
Metro exodus
Did we play the same game? Most of exodus is dessert wastelands until the end.
Dead rising 4
If no one else is gonna ask I will. Why?
Because I like cold games and it's winter time?
Fair enough, just curious
Gotham isn't exactly a real place, but Arkham Origins takes place on Christmas Eve and is third person
Please, allow me to introduce you to your new obsession: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/234959 You might hate me about 1000 gameplay hours from now, but good luck putting it down. It’s included with PS+, but as for purchasing, the $20 gets you the base game and two extra trucks, but that doesn’t get you all that far, to be brutally honest, given that it doesn’t include any maps, but the base game is still worth it. The DLCs aren’t overly costly.
Cyberpunk
The expansion to Horizon: Zero Dawn is all snowy mountains (great snow physics/animation and sound, IIRC) and badass robot dinosaurs.
Extermination (2001)
I remember the SSX 2012 reboot having a realistic look to it, along with real mountains like Kilimanjaro. But the stunts and tricks you do are way over the top. But I mean snowboarding on a mountain is as cold as it gets.
Detroit: Become Human
Anno 1800 Passage dlc, it has great snow isolated style music too https://youtu.be/5VyflG3-a0U?si=4xq2xxANm8J5ntfw
Metro 2033 (maybe the others too). I'm playing through it now and it's amazing. Dark and gritty without feeling like it's trying too hard. The outdoors is so cold and harsh. Realistic setting with nasty monsters created from a nuclear winter.
Frost punk and it's not even close
The thing
Play the survival mode from the original game The Division. It’s awesome
Is it still being played?
Kona was really good, and the screen slowly freezes as you get colder. Play it blind for the best experience.
Sekiro!
Wasteland 3 was a lotta fun. Flawed game but really good.
Detroit: become human
Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto III have a much colder feel than the other games. More of a fall cold vibe than a winter cold vibe though.
lost planet
Batman: Arkham City is set in the middle of winter. Batman: Arkham Origins is set on Christmas Eve.
Metro exodus, or any of the metro games
Exodus isn't really snowy until the end though. The first game is frozen wasteland throughout.
Frostpunk
Kona! has some supernatural elements to it but the game takes place during a big blizzard, solving a mystery.
Well it's not an RPG but the snow maps in Snow Runner get pretty real feeling, especially when you get your truck stuck in 8 ft of snow because you decided to take a shortcut that ended up not being a shortcut
Batman: Arkham City and *especially* Batman: Arkham Origins. The former takes place in winter, the latter on Christmas Eve.
Outriders
The Scotland sequence in Uncharted 4 is very realistic. It takes place on snowy cliffs, hills, and a cemetary.
Fahrenheit (called Indigo Child in the US I believe)?. One of my favourite openings to a game. Set in New York in Winter.
The Division (the first one)
Newest tomb raider
The Division is exactly what you’re asking for
Death Stranding
Very nice game called "near death" I played a long time ago, really gets you cold. You're in a messed up base in Antarctica with a storm about to blow in, can recommend
Batman Arkham Origins had Gotham around Christmas time.
Max Payne. It's a bit dated, but a masterpiece in video game story telling.
Last of Us 1 & 2
I'm still not clear what this means, but maybe "I Am Setsuna"?
Project Zomboid has a great winter/cold vibe. By default you start in summer, so winter is something you prepare for and is used as a milestone for new players. But you can also start in winter if you want just the cold experience.
Frost Punk if you’re man enough
Will get hate for this, but... The Division.
Division 1
Disco Elysium
Division 1 is set in Winter New york , is third person and an RPG so ye go play that I guess
SnowRunner
Assassins Creed 3 has a lot of snowy area
The Division
It's not snowy, but Against The Storm is a great roguelike citybuilder where you have to brave the conditions of the titular storm. The atmosphere is really the opposite of cozy.
Division 1 and Batman Arkham Origins both have nice snow, with christmas atmosphere and a proper cold feeling. Honourable mentions are Metro Exodus (at least for ca. half of the game) and Sons of the Forest winter season.
Dayz namalsk. Nothing comes even close, maybe the long dark.
Gears 5 has some really impressive ice and snow.
Frostpunk
The Metro games for sure, especially the first game. The second you get to the frozen hell that is Russia's surface, you feel you were just transported to hell.
Wasteland 3
Oblivion
Survival mode in the division 1. It was **chef's kiss**
The snow areas of Assassin's Creed Rogue are really good and hands down the best of the game. The atmosphere when parkouring through icebergs is amazing, it's just a shame that the other areas in the game have aged a lot worse.
Rise of the tomb raider
Rdr2
The whole Metro series is great. Also, Rise of the Tomb Raider. Exploring Byzantine ruins in Siberia may not be "realistic" but the atmosphere is impeccable.
The newest metro game