If you’re one of those people who craves the heat, I don’t know what to tell you. This isn’t going to be that sort of article. Because I’m from the PNW, and all we have is cold and wet weather.

But that’s not anything to be sad about, because there are a lot of amazing things about the cold. And this list is devoted to fighting games that get better in the frigid weather. For simplicity’s sake, they’re ranked according to the overall review reception of their respective games.

All the games featured on this list have some truly iconic chilly stages, and they’ll be from many series you’re familiar with. Those range from Dead or Alive, Tekken, and Darkstalkers, as well as some weirder stuff like Marvel vs. Capcom, Them’s Fightin’ Herds, and Smash Bros. So bundle up and get cozy, because it’s time to talk about the Best Fighting games you need to play this winter!

10

The Ends of the Earth / Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate

Dance With the Penguins

Typically, when I think of the Dead or Alive series, I think of tropical locales full of very dangerous women. I don’t think of penguins, glaciers, and ice. But that’s exactly what was in store in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate’s Ends of the Earth stage.

Sure, those penguins waddling around might look cute, but they’re watching a blood sport. Because Ends of the Earth is a ruthless Dead or Alive stage. Not only is it slippery, but you take significant fall damage if you’re knocked off the glacier. And you always have to watch out for falling ice formations.

Still, threats aside, this is a really beautiful stage, and a great example of Dead or Alive’s realism and attention to visual detail.

Servbots Galore

Even though I’m a huge fan of Mega Man, I never really got into the Legends series. It just felt a bit too different for my tastes. The only format where I appreciated them was their cameos in other games, like Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

In that entry, Bonne Wonderland was a great alternate version of Kattelox Island. A cozy dusting of snow is everywhere, and you can see Servbots playing in the background. Or working, since Tron Bonne tends to be a demanding mistress.

Though the stage doesn’t offer a lot of hazards to make it more memorable, it was still one of the most-played stages in competitive tournaments, mostly because it didn’t suffer from bad lag.

8

Manji Valley / Tekken 6

Yoshimitsu’s Domain

Back in the PS1 and PS2 era, I played a lot of Tekken. It was a great series to dial up my machismo and take on friends in competitive bouts. And though I enjoyed playing a lot of the various fighters, one of my favorites was the creepy and unpredictable Yoshimitsu.

In Tekken 6, players got to duke it out in a snowy area called Manji Valley, which was likely the home base of Yoshimitsu’s clan. All we can confirm definitively is that it’s full of white and ice, and is as sterile as it is beautiful.

This wasn’t a stage with a lot to worry about, though it did a great job of showcasing neat visual effects. Predominantly, that was cutting through the snow and leaving a perceptible trail, an effect used in Tekken Tag Tournament 2’s Arctic Dream stage.

7

Canada / Darkstalkers Resurrection

Land of the Sasquatch

When you think about the Darkstalkers games, you usually don’t think about how cheerful the series could be. I mean, all the fighters are some form of monster, which usually puts me in the mind of horror. But that’s the exact opposite of what you’ll find in the Canada stage in Darkstalkers Resurrection.

The entire stage has a cozy vibe, with smaller versions of Sasquatch milling about in the background, cheering and ambling about. You’ll also be able to spot the occasional bird of prey flying about, as well as fish twitching on lines before they’re eaten.

The stage looks great, whether it’s daytime or nighttime, but it’s a surprisingly fun area to unwind in. Assuming you’re not getting decimated by your opponent, that is.

6

Reine City / Them’s Fightin’ Herds

Where Velvet Reigns

I’ve been fascinated by Them’s Fightin’ Herds since I first heard about it. I mean, there are a lot of fighters out there, but not many of them mix the genre with a visual style reminiscent of My Little Pony.

In Them’s Fightin’ Herds, the chilliest stage belongs to Velvet, and it’s their home base of Reine City. It’s a cleverly named stage, since it references the French word for queen, as well as being akin to Renne, the French word for reindeer.

As for the stage itself, Reine City has lots of cameos from various NPCs, including the Elite 7. Meaning this cozy little hamlet is bustling with activity.

5

Snow Town / BlazBlue: Central Fiction

Igloos For Days

If you’re looking for a winter wonderland with a bit of a twist, then let’s talk about Snow Town from BlazBlue: Central Fiction. It was originally a snowy area, then some madness led to climate change, and then that ended, returning it to chilly goodness.

As for how Snow Town appears in the game, it’s very idyllic. There are wood and brick abodes warmed with light, pine trees, and igloo-styled turrets. There are even Beastkin children having a snowball fight, further immersing you in this cozy setting.

Much like in Tekken 6, your movements in Snow Town displace the snow. But aside from that, your only concern in this stage is beating the daylights out of your opponent.

4

Dead Woods / Mortal Kombat X

Sub Zero Conditions

Mortal Kombat is a series known for over-the-top violence and brutality. But what makes any situation harder is freezing conditions. And in Mortal Kombat X’s Dead Woods, nature itself is working hard to defeat you.

Not only do you have to worry about the cold in the Dead Woods. It’s also full of rotted trees, corpses, and fog. So if it wasn’t hard enough fighting against your opponents, you also have to make sure they don’t club you with branches or impale you with a stump.

This is the sort of stage that Sub Zero thrives in. Meaning you’ll have to be cautious and avoid letting the frigid fury overwhelm you.

3

Ice Coffin of the Sleeping Ancient / Soulcalibur IV

Gleaming Destruction

The Soulcalibur series differentiates itself from many other fighting games by focusing on the weapons used by each combatant. Ranging from more traditional fare like blades and axes to sword & shield and whips, there’s something for every playstyle. And you’ll need your strongest weapons to take on stages like Soulcalibur IV’s Ice Coffin of the Sleeping Ancient.

This stage has something for everyone — pirate ships, dinosaur fossils, and even a shimmering aurora borealis. It’s beautiful but also quite deadly, and makes challenging battles that much more harrowing.

The characters most associated with this area are Cervantes and Ivy. So don’t expect any mercy from this frigid frontier.

2

Snowy Rail Yard / Street Fighter IV

End of the Line

My first fighting game was Street Fighter on the SNES. So it’s fitting that it makes its mark on this fighting game list. I bruised my thumbs mastering how to play the series, and Street Fighter IV was seen as a welcome return to the series’ roots.

Street Fighter IV’s Snow Rail Yard may not feature any hazards, but it’s a hazardous place to fight. Mostly because it’s the end of the line for many fighters in Arcade Mode, and heralds a battle against M. Bison.

The Snowy Rail Yard is in a place known for the cold, the city of Novosibirsk in Russia. So enjoy watching the trains come and go as you trade punches with the big bad.

1

Summit / Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Climb to the Top

The Smash Bros. series is one that embraces all sorts of different games. And the Ice Climbers had a heck of a stage in Summit from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

It might not look like much, represented by a giant glacier festooned with platforms. But it’s much deadlier than you’d expect, full of falling icicles, trap doors, and floating clouds. And when it really gets going, it’ll race downwards dangerously, forcing everybody to hold on or fall into the freezing waters.

As someone who played the series for thousands of hours, I think it’s safe to say the Summit is the pinnacle of winter stages in fighting games. Equal parts cold, comfortable, and dangerous.