January is the middle of the winter for those of us in the northern hemisphere, which has us bracing for the snowy, cold weather to come over the next few months. So, for January 2025’s TA Playlist, we’re going to explore some games that take place in wintry environments. Bundle up, grab some hot chocolate, and cast your vote for the January 2025 TA Playlist Game of the Month!
Frostpunk
One of the first games that comes to mind for a “cold and snowy” theme is, naturally, Frostpunk: Console Edition. Developed and published by 11 bit studios, Frostpunk is a survival simulation and management game that allows you to build and maintain your city in the face of an oncoming ice age. The Windows version released in April 2018, with the Console Edition arriving in October 2019.
Offering players a complex strategic challenge alongside a rich narrative featuring an alternative take on the 19th-century industrial revolution, Frostpunk weaves a story of how our planet mysteriously freezes, putting an end to civilization as we know it and forcing the human race to adapt to the harsh conditions. As the leader of possibly the last civilized society on Earth, you’re going to build the city your survivors live in, discover new technologies, explore frozen wastelands and most importantly, manage and rule society to prepare it for life in an unforgiving world. Whether you’re an enlightened ruler or an iron-fisted tyrant, you’ll discover choices in this world aren’t as easy as they seem, and that holding power over people has a cost as heavy as the responsibility you feel in caring for them.
Between the console and Windows versions, over 40,000 tracked gamers have played Frostpunk, but few have gone on to complete it; only 70 gamers have all 63 achievements in the Console Edition, while fewer than 50 have earned all 115 achievements on the Windows stack. Still, the game has an excellent TA user rating of 4.35 for the Windows version (available on PC Game Pass) and 4.36 for the Console Edition (available with Game Pass Standard).
Metro: Last Light
Our second nominee takes us to the cold climate of post-apocalypse Moscow with Metro: Last Light, developed by 4A Games and published by Deep Silver. We’ve featured both Metro 2033 and Metro Exodus in previous Playlists (October 2018 and November 2019, respectively), so it’s a good time to go back and pick up the middle entry of the trilogy. Metro: Last Light was originally released in May 2013 for the Xbox 360, but was remastered for Xbox One in 2014 as Metro: Last Light Redux, and is also part of the Metro Redux bundle.
It is the year 2034. Beneath the ruins of post-apocalyptic Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro, the remnants of mankind are besieged by deadly threats from outside – and within. Mutants stalk the catacombs beneath the desolate surface, and hunt amidst the poisoned skies above. But rather than stand united, the station-cities of the Metro are locked in a struggle for the ultimate power, a doomsday device from the military vaults of D6. A civil war is stirring that could wipe humanity from the face of the earth forever. As Artyom, burdened by guilt but driven by hope, you hold the key to our survival – the last light in our darkest hour…
Metro: Last Light has a TA user rating of 4.19-4.4, depending on which version you’re looking at, with more than 250,000 tracked gamers playing at least one version of the game. The original version has since been removed from the Microsoft store and is not backwards compatible, so we imagine most people starting the game for the first time will be playing Metro: Last Light Redux, which has been completed by over 6,500 tracked gamers (5%) and has a completion estimate of 20-25 hours for all 49 achievements. As always, any tracked version of Metro: Last Light will count for participation, including the original, the Japanese stack, and the Redux bundle.
Celeste
Next up, we’ll climb to the frigid, blustery mountain peak of Celeste, developed and published by Maddy Makes Games. Released in 2018, Celeste became popular for its challenging platforming, accessibility options, and introspective themes.
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight, hand-crafted platformer from the creators of multiplayer classic TowerFall. The controls are simple and accessible – simply jump, air-dash, and climb – but with layers of expressive depth to master, where every death is a lesson. Lightning-fast respawns keep you climbing as you uncover the mysteries of the mountain and brave its many perils. This is it, Madeline. Just breathe. You can do this.
Nearly 110,000 tracked gamers have played Celeste, with just over 8,000 (7%) earning all 30 of the game’s achievements. The full completion is estimated to take 8-10 hours, though that estimate probably includes using the assist modes, like invincibility and infinite boost – expect it to take longer if you want to play without assists. Celeste currently has a TA user rating of 4.1, and is available on Game Pass Core and Standard.
Kona
Last, but not least, we’ll trek into the frozen tundra of northern Quebec for our final nominee, Kona, from Canadian developer Parabole and publisher Ravenscourt. Released in 2017, KONA is an adventure game that combines a supernatural detective story with survival elements for a uniquely chilly experience.
Northern Canada, 1970. A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. W. Hamilton, a rich industrialist who owns a hunting manor in Northern Canada, reports several cases of vandalism perpetrated against his property. Unable to find out who dared to commit these acts, Hamilton calls Carl Faubert, a renowned private detective to handle the affair. Step into the shoes of a detective to explore the eerie village, investigate surreal events, and battle the elements to survive.
KONA has been played by more than 46,000 tracked gamers in the TA community, with just over 3,400 (7%) getting the full completion. Unlocking all 35 of the game’s achievements is estimated to take around 8-10 hours. KONA currently has a TA user rating of 3.38/5.0, and has recently returned to Xbox Game Pass standard after previously leaving the service.
So, which of these icy tales will you choose to kick off the New Year? Place your vote and let us know your thoughts in the comments! As always, if you have any suggestions for future Playlist games or themes, be sure to drop them in the TA Playlist Game Suggestion Thread for possible inclusion in a future poll! And remember, you can leave a substantive comment in this month’s Spoiler and Spoiler-free threads to earn your TA Playlist badge for this month!
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Frostpunk
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Metro: Last Light
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Celeste
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Kona
