Winter is here, but it hasn’t snowed much yet. MeinMMO shows the best snowy areas for the Christmas season to get into the winter mood.
Guild Wars 2 – Wanderer Hills
What’s on site: The Wanderer Hills are located in the northern part of Tyria, the world of Guild Wars 2. The region is characterized by mountains and especially lots of snow.
If you start as a Norn, you begin your journey in this snowy area. For many players, this region is thus the first thing they see from Guild Wars 2.
The area is characterized by both green meadows and icy mountain peaks. The music for the area is composed by Jeremy Soule, who also created the music for Skyrim and Oblivion. No wonder that players often feel reminded of Skyrim.
You will mainly find ice worms, Dolyaks, and rather sparse flora in the area.
A highlight from the area: Be sure to stop by Kevach’s Homestead. Kevach stores his beer in the nearby ice cave, which unfortunately is infested with ice worms. To continue serving beer to his guests, you must rescue his frozen brewing method.
In the adjacent ice cave, you can also acquire a special beer from a brewer that grants you a hero point. What the brewer has lost in the depths amidst monstrous ice worms remains his secret.
The special beer is the Cold-Filtered Worm Tincture. It is filtered through a worm’s intestine using a secret method. Cheers.
The Elder Scrolls Online – Wrothgar
What’s on site: Wrothgar is located in the northwestern part of Tamriel in the game The Elder Scrolls Online. The land is characterized by high mountains full of snow and green steppes. The area is home to the Orcs, which is why many rival clans live there, whom the reigning king Kurog wants to unite.
Moreover, he builds the city of Orsinium in The Elder Scrolls Online, which is to become the new capital of the Orcs. In the city, travelers will find not only a massive temple dedicated either to Malacath or Trinimac, but also a flourishing marketplace and the King’s palace, the Rock Fortress.
A highlight from the area: In the northeastern part of Wrothgar lies the highest mountain in the region, the Grief. On the Grief, the chieftains of the Orcs are buried after their death. The more powerful an Orc chief was during his lifetime, the higher his grave lies on the mountain.
According to legends, the grave of the extremely powerful Orc king Turok is said to be located at the top of the mountain. This king was the founder of the original Orsinium, the former city of the Orcs.
Many travelers have tried to climb the mountain in search of his grave, but the ascent is laborious, as strong winds and avalanches make it difficult for climbers. Therefore, some Orcs are firmly convinced that the Grief is cursed and actively want to impede the ascent.
If you dare to make the ascent, you must not only beware of Ogres, but also watch out for red flags, as they mark an area frequently plagued by avalanches.
Tera – Westonia
What’s on site: Westonia is a large snowy area in the western part of the world of Tera. Although there are negative temperatures, many rulers have not been deterred from carrying out numerous bloody battles there. Even today, conflicts continue to arise in Westonia.
Westonia is divided into three sub-regions:
- The Stormplain: New players begin their journey here. They must deal with pirates and the undead.
- The Tyrannas Mountain: Bandits lurk in the mountain passes. There is also the Citadel of Torture.
- The Frostwilds: The last area in Westonia that you travel through. Here, you encounter Wendigos and must help the inhabitants of the city of Wasteland.
The area isn’t exactly inviting for a vacation. But for those who want to sweeten the icy cold with hot battles, it’s a great place.
A highlight from the area: If you have traveled a bit through the icy landscape of Westonia, at some point you will notice a massive building amidst the snow. The Citadel rises from the ice and is located in the area “Tyrannas Mountain”.
Inside the Citadel, crude torture takes place, conducted by the resident vampires. If you want to progress into the dungeon Necromancer’s Crypt, you cannot bypass the Citadel.
Lord of the Rings Online – Misty Mountains
What’s on site: The Misty Mountains is a mountain range that serves as a natural border between Eriador and the valley of Anduin. It is found in the northwest of Middle-earth, the world where Lord of the Rings Online takes place. In the Misty Mountains lies the formerly significant Dwarven city of Khazad-dûm, also known as Moria, where the Dwarves mined the rare material Mithril for centuries until they were driven out by the Balrog.
Almost everywhere in the Misty Mountains, thick snow lies, occasionally punctuated by small rivers or a bit of flora. Travelers must beware of Orcs, Mammoths, and Goblins.
A highlight from the area: If your journey takes you to the Misty Mountains, you should definitely explore the Goblin Town. This is an open-level dungeon, level 45. At the entrance of the dungeon, you will meet the Dwarf Glóin, who asks for your help.
Once you have entered the town, you can take a look at the construction skills of the Goblins. They have filled the caves with their wooden structures. Additionally, there are still remnants of the Dwarves who built in these caves hundreds of years ago.
At the deepest point of the dungeon lies the throne room of the current Goblin king Ashûrz.
World of Warcraft – Wintergrasp
What’s on site: Wintergrasp is located far in the north of Kalimdor in Azeroth, the game world of World of Warcraft. Although it is one of the oldest areas, it is still loved by players even after years—especially role-players who enjoy snowy excursions use this area.
This is not surprising, because the variety and great scenery are vast. In the wide snowy forests, you can play hide and seek, and for those who prefer adventure, there are winding caves and ancient ruins—all covered in snow.
A highlight from the area: In Wintergrasp, you will find several camps of the night elves, which almost serve as holiday resorts. The hot springs stand out especially, providing relaxation.
Final Fantasy 14 – Coerthas
What’s on site: The snowy region of Coerthas in Final Fantasy XIV has a sad history. Coerthas was once a picturesque green mountain region. However, after a massive disaster five years ago, the fall of the moon Dalamud, the temperatures in the area dropped dramatically, transforming it into a snowy landscape.
While exploring Coerthas, players can discover direct traces of the disaster. In the southwestern part of the area, there is a crater where one of the shards of the moon Dalamud struck.
In the outer northwest is the dominion of the giant monster Behemoth. Sometimes it leaves its domicile and starts an open-world event of FFXIV called FATE.
You can watch the event in the video.
Players can reach the central highlands of Coerthas at very low levels, provided they manage to sneak past strong monsters in the area.
For many FFXIV fans, Coerthas is a special place. From here, the path to the closed city of Ishgard began with the expansion “Heavensward“, which had been tormented by war and intrigue for centuries.
A highlight from the area: In the far north of Coerthas lies the grave of a very special NPC, who holds a special place in the hearts of FFXIV players. He is buried at a location that offers a beautiful view of the city of Ishgard, as if he continues to watch over it even after his death.
In which snowy areas do you spend Christmas?
