It’s no secret that the weather significantly affects our mood and well-being.
Look out the window – do you see a sunny day and immediately feel like going out? Or is it gray and rainy, making you feel somewhat gloomy?
A similar mechanism is employed by many game developers in their games – weather and atmospheric conditions influence how we perceive certain locations or the entire game world!
Do you want to know how climate changes video games? Here, you can find an explanation as well as a few fun weather games.
Setting the Scene – The Aesthetic Impact of Weather
Let’s start with the simplest and most obvious impact of weather on the game world – its aesthetics. When traversing the world in a particular title and encountering diverse fauna and flora along with various weather conditions, we immediately get the impression that the world is larger, deeper, and more interesting.
That’s because it adds realism, allowing us to literally feel these changes – we also start to anticipate something new and unexpected.
A notable example here could be The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where not only does each region differ in climate (rainy, misty Velen, sunny Toussaint), but also changing weather significantly affects the perception of the world.
Depending on the weather and time of day, different monsters appear (fog is a harbinger of Foglers, while on sunny days we often encounter Noonwraiths), and the main character frequently treats us to comments like ‘Wind’s howling’, ‘Looks like rain’ etc.
Another example could be Red Dead Redemption 2, where storms, fog, and sunshine dynamically change the game’s landscapes, giving them a unique character and realism that’s simply worth admiring.
Gameplay and Strategy – Weather as a Dynamic Element
Another aspect influenced by weather in games is their gameplay mechanics. When developers decide to make weather not only a visual effect but also realistically reflect the impact of different weather conditions on the world, we typically need to be prepared to change our gameplay strategy.
An example could be The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom, where rain can make surfaces slippery, affecting climbing and combat strategies.
Furthermore, in Death Stranding, weather plays a significant role. On sunny days, wandering through the wastelands is effortless and enjoyable (as long as we don’t have dozens of packages on our backs), but when timefall (rain that accelerates ageing) starts, we have to seek shelter or protect crucial cargo.
Another example could be the game Mad Max. It’s all fun and games until a sandstorm starts. During this weather condition, it’s not only difficult to see, but we are also endangered by flying metal pieces. Lightning storms are even more dangerous, adding the chance of being struck by lightning.
Emotional and Narrative Depth – The Emotional Impact of Weather
And the final factor that makes weather conditions in games impact gameplay is the emotional impact. As we mentioned earlier, even in real life, weather directly affects our mood and emotions. Properly implementing weather in games allows for creating a specific atmosphere and building tension.
A great example here is the game Heavy Rain, where the titular heavy rain creates a dark, gloomy, dense atmosphere. It becomes a central theme, reflecting the game’s dark narrative and emotional depth. Metaphorically, it symbolizes a father’s deadly despair after losing his son, while literally is the main weapon of the antagonist – the Origami Killer uses extended periods of rainfall to drown his victims.
Another game where weather impacts not only the appearance of the world but also its functioning and our emotions is the first part of Life is Strange. The storm serves as a foreboding metaphor for the game’s climax and the consequences of the player’s choices.
Conclusion
Locations where it snows seem difficult to traverse. Evening downpours create an atmosphere of mystery, black storm clouds hanging over the world build tension, and a sunny day is an invitation to stroll around the neighborhood.
Therefore, it can be confidently said that the weather in many games means much more than just a backdrop. And when developers add new mechanics to the gameplay that change with the changing weather and require us to approach the problem differently… that’s when the real fun begins!