This post was updated Feb. 6 at 8:07 p.m.

With snowflakes swirling and frosty winds blowing in, the coolest video games are carving their way into the season.

Video game enthusiasts and casual players alike will feel the chill as winter delivers a flurry of immersive graphics and cozy entertainment. From epic quests to heartwarming tales, these frosty days offer gamers a sleigh ride of captivating stories and serene escapes, perfect for long, wintry nights.

Bundle up and prepare for gameplay that’s as crisp as the winter air. Glide into the Daily Bruin’s treasure trove of winter video game recommendations.

“Sid Meier’s Civilization VII” (2K)

A new era of strategy gaming has arrived.

Releasing Feb. 11, “Sid Meier’s Civilization VII” challenges players to build a society that will last through the ages. Starting out in the ancient past, players are given control of a real-world nation of their choice and must leverage its unique bonuses to survive – and thrive – against competing empires, whether through technology, diplomacy or conquest. The playable civilizations in the game are led by historical figures, each of whom possesses a special ability inspired by their real-life achievements – Queen Hatshepsut, for instance, boosts construction speed near rivers, referencing her famed building projects.

As the latest iteration of the classic “Civilization” franchise, “Civilization VII” introduces many long-requested features, from more efficient combat to navigable rivers. Cultures spanning across the globe will find representation in the main series for the first time, including the Indigenous Mississippian people, the medieval Chola Empire and modern-day Mexico. The game is also unafraid to shake up its well-established formula: Rather than maintaining the same culture for thousands of years, players will be forced to choose a new one as time progresses. For example, one might start out as Ancient Greece, only to later morph into Ming China.

Like its predecessors, “Civilization VII” will certainly stand the test of time.

– Paco Bacalski

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (Aspyr)

Tomb raiders are soon to immerse themselves in nostalgic adventures alongside the famous Lara Croft.

Over 20 years after the original games’ release dates, “Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered” will bring updated graphics to players Feb. 14 on various systems including the PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch and PC. With her iconic double pistols, Croft tackles enemies such as Cleopatra’s guard from “Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation” and the laser-shooting Mechanical Head from “Tomb Raider: Chronicles.”

Longtime players are likely to appreciate the massive improvements in the resolution of the environment. If ever distressed by the difficult situations they find themselves in, such as jumping over moving death traps, tomb raiders can ease themselves by watching the sunlight stream through the windows and by viewing the beautiful paintings hung on the wall. Yet that peace will not last for long. As Croft navigates hidden places, she risks her life by running on falling platforms and walking precariously on thin pipes.

A true challenge to test one’s wits and reflexes, “Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered” will immerse new and older players in tombs that are awe-inspiring and terrifying.

– Amy Wong

“Monster Hunter Wilds” (Capcom)

Get ready to join the year’s most exciting hunting party.

On Feb. 28, players will launch a new expedition into “Monster Hunter Wilds,” the sixth mainline installment in Capcom’s role-playing action series. The much-anticipated successor to 2018’s “Monster Hunter: World” – which is Capcom’s best-selling game of all time – maintains the same core gameplay of tracking down massive monsters to slay them using a wide variety of weapons. Between hunting sessions, players can gather resources and improve their gear, preparing for the next massive and increasingly challenging foe.

The series’ flagship monsters have only become more dynamic in this latest outing, featuring new herding behaviors for players to discover as they explore the new open-world environments that litter the Forbidden Lands. Players will also discover a new seasons system, where landscapes shift between lush greenery to fallow wastelands, changing the ecosystem dramatically. With a brand-new mount – a wyvern known as a Seikret – players will explore this vast landscape alone or with friends online, tracking down the elusive “White Wraith” at the heart of the game’s story.

This meaty, massive adventure is sure to satisfy players hunting for a new world to explore.

– Martin Sevcik