10 Wintry Games to Play During the Holidays

Working at Room 8 Group isn’t only about creating art and developing games—we all are passionate gamers here, of course. And as the festive holidays are nearing, we can’t wait to wrap ourselves in warm blankets, grab some cookies, and plunge into wintry gaming worlds.

We asked our teammates to share their favorite games to play during the winter holidays, and they showed us in with awesome suggestions! Not only did we receive a ton of recommendations of titles set in snowy environments, but also several not specifically winter-themed titles focused on the coziness factor, as well as seasonal game suggestions. 

Without teasing you any further, here are 10 atmospheric games you should consider playing this holiday season—by Room 8 Group specialists!

Diablo IV

The legendary Diablo series basically created a genre of its own. At first glance, you may think that it’s far from holiday spirit—with all of its demon-slaying and blood all over the place. But I am pretty sure that it’s actually quite the opposite! Winter holidays are all about three things: Mood, Presents, and Loved ones. 

Mood: There is basically no better game to farm dopamine than Diablo with all the demons slaying. It’s basically a party on your screen every few seconds! 
Presents: Do I even have to mention it? Loot fountains are all that this game is about. 
Loved ones: good thing that Diablo IV has multiplayer, so you can do it all with your friends!

And, on top of all that, they also have a Midwinter Blight event going on right now, so you can have all the festive slaying that you want!

Slav Kotov, Art Producer

Until Dawn

Until Dawn was my first game on PS4, and our first joint purchase with my future husband. We played this game during winter, of course—and despite the horror setting, the snow-covered mountain lodge added to the Christmas atmosphere. It’s a captivating horror adventure with investigations and intriguing puzzles, where a group of friends tries to understand what led to the tragedy that happened in the past. You can enjoy this game alone, or pick characters for each player and role-play as them. No matter what you choose, I highly recommend playing this game on winter evenings!

Anna Grozovskaia, Data Analyst

It Takes Two

For me, It Takes Two is more than a game. It seems that its primary goal is not only to entertain players spoiled by hundreds of games. It also aims to make us think about the importance of family and the problems arising from the inability to listen to each other. The game creates a magical atmosphere, so Christmas is perfect for playing it, since this is the time when most people take stock, make plans, and spend time with loved ones. To seal the deal, the game even has a magnificent snowy location with many winter activities. But don’t forget: even though the game is virtual, you can lose a real bowl of soup if you throw a snowball at your partner’s head there!

Oleksii Moroz, Quality Assurance Manager

Overcooked 2

Overcooked 2 is a culinary chaos that I absolutely love! The cooperative gameplay brings friends together in a delightful kitchen frenzy, fostering teamwork and hilarious moments. The assortment of challenging levels—including intriguing add-ons like feeding rabid zombies or sipping cocktails on the beach—coupled with its captivating graphics, solidify it as my go-to pick for winter gaming nights. Whether it’s the laughter or the strategic kitchen madness, Overcooked 2 is the perfect recipe for winter fun!
P.S. Just remember not to lose all your friends along the way!

Anastasiya Lavrenteva, 3D Hard Surface Team Manage

Frostpunk

For me, Frostpunk is the embodiment of winter. The game’s gorgeous visuals are just as melancholic and moody as the winter outside my window, and the soundtrack is a visceral representation of the cold, both inside the game and on the outside. The symbolism of my cities clinging to the heat of the generators while I cling to the heat of my PC tower bundled in a pile of blankets has no better parallel. Frostpunk is the perfect game for those long solo winter evenings when you want to pretend you live in a post-apocalyptic world and the world outside no longer exists.

Iga Szymanska, Senior Test Lead

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

I enjoy playing the Assassin’s Creed series on winter holidays because these games are like time machines! You could spend time on missions with Leonardo da Vinci, speak and confront famous philosophers, scientists, and politicians, you name it. If you forget to plan a vacation, you can as well choose and explore a specific country in one of the series’ games. The worlds of Assassin’s Creed are wide enough, and thanks to the parkour skills of the protagonists, you can climb almost every historical landmark or fjord and see the breathtaking landscapes from the maps’ highest points. But remember, if the games inspire you to check the locations in the real world, don’t repeat the leap of faith: there is no hay there!

Tetiana Danylchenko, Billing & Credit Controller

Fortnite 

Fortnite’s strength is that it is constantly updated and never feels stale. And on top of the game constantly feeling fresh, they also have amazing winter events! Fortnite usually alters the main gameplay and adds new mechanics, which help out a lot with the holiday spirit. What’s most important is that they always give out a lot of in-game presents and have their version of the advent calendar. Great experience all around!

Slav Kotov, Art Producer

Mafia 2

On New Year’s Eve and Christmas, Mafia 2 is hands-down the best game to immerse yourself in the American 40s and 50s atmosphere. The snowfalls and twinkling city lights add stunning visual charm to the game, creating a feeling of New Year’s magic. The festive mood is complemented by a beautiful soundtrack, enveloping you in a cozy retro ambience. The decor, lighting, and various topical story quests make Mafia 2 an excellent choice for those who want to spend the holidays in a fascinating and atmospheric virtual world.

Denys Shpara, 3D Photoreal Environment Artist

Syberia 2 

Do you know what’s special about Syberia 2? It’s like a nostalgia trip to winters gone by. The snow-covered scenes and the way the puzzles are solved bring back that feeling of playing games by the fire when you were a kid. The music is like a time machine, returning to those cozy winter nights. Exploring the game feels like revisiting an old friend, and the whole vibe of Syberia 2 is something a lot of modern games don’t have anymore. Syberia 2 isn’t just a game; it’s like reliving that sweet, snug feeling of the winter’s past.

Doru Bogdan, 3D Photoreal Environment Artist

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

I always choose The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for Christmastime, and there are a few reasons for that. The first one is the incredible music of Jeremy Soule, which I still regularly listen to even today. Secondly, this game immaculately combines the feeling of a fantasy adventure novel with its video game format. The third reason is the thousands of gigabytes of mods for any taste, from which you can rebuild the game according to your taste—like LEGO. This game brought me some of the best moments of my gaming childhood. Skyrim is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of a word “adventure,” and RPGs are the best way to experience it today. You can build a logical chain of adventure leading to a heroic journey, which, in turn, often results in true miracles. And miracles, especially now, are what we all need so much.

Yurii Sverbitskyi, C++ Engine UE Developer

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