As the temperatures drop, what better time to curl up by a roaring fire, warm beverage at your side, and play a few matches with the most seasonal of fighting game characters? We mean, of course, those with ice powers. Plenty of cold-blooded combatants have graced the rosters of fighting games over the years, from cute monsters and parka-clad explorers to the frostiest of supervillains.
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And not only do ice-based characters lend themselves to some pretty, er, cool movesets, but they can often freeze opponents in their tracks, making possible all sorts of unique combos or follow-ups. Ready to put your rivals on ice? Chill out with these ten fighting game characters who really prove there’s no business like snow business.
10 Bad Mr. Frosty - ClayFighter
Despite being a rather mediocre parody of Street Fighter, The ClayFighter fighter series had five separate releases between 1993 and 1998, and the Claymation used for the character models impressed audiences at the time. Bad Mr. Frosty was somewhat of a mascot for the series, appearing in all the games and in the cover art.
ClayFighter might not have the deepest gameplay, but this fighting snowman still went up against some original foes, including an Elvis impersonator, a boxing kangaroo, and even Earthworm Jim.
9 Yuki - The Last Blade
Yuki is from SNK’s underrated weapons-based fighter, The Last Blade. She is playable in all three main entries and has received several cameos or nods in other SNK games, including the most recent Samurai Shodown.
Yuki isn’t remembered as one of the highest-tier characters. But with long pokes from her naginata and many ice-based attacks, including one of the best anti-airs in the game, she has many reliable options. The Last Blade was one of the highlights of SNK’s Neo Geo era, and it’s still just as good today.
8 Mr. Freeze - Injustice 2
Mr. Freeze isn’t among the main cast of Injustice 2. Instead, he is a sort of “echo fighter” (to use Smash Bros. parlance), having a unique character model but using Captain Cold’s moves. And since Freeze has a compelling pathos to his story of villainy, we rank him as our preferred freeze-gun technician.
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And what a gun it is, with tons of icy traps and zoning tools at Freeze’s disposal. He can even charge the gun with his Character Trait and level it up with three additional moves. But if you prefer the default character, you can always try to make it happen with the Cap’n instead.
7 Gill - Street Fighter
Okay, yes, Gill’s assistant Kolin is Street Fighter's most ice-themed fighter, while Illuminati leader Gill is all about the duality of fire and ice. But Gill looms larger in Street Fighter mythology, given that he first appeared as the final boss in Street Fighter 3. His most notorious move in that game let him resurrect upon defeat, forcing players to beat him before his Super Art meter could fill.
He’s much more balanced in Street Fighter 5, but he has a special Retribution system that grants him extra damage and advantages by combining both fire and ice in his setups. He’s also playable in the Street Fighter 3 home version once you’ve beaten the game with all the characters.
6 Londrekia - Under Night In-Birth
The dapper Londrekia joined the Under Night roster in its most recent installment Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late [cl-r], and he’s one of the most satisfying ice characters we’ve ever played. His staff gives him great range on his normals, and his graceful ice attacks can surprise opponents from multiple directions.
His backstep, where he creates a burst of ice from the ground, is a convenient combo starter. Drop an overhead with one more button and then link it to his spinning Circular Step.
5 Jin Kisaragi - BlazBlue
Cold, ruthless Jin is one of BlazBlue’s primary characters. His ice sword Yukianesa compels him to kill his brother Ragna, driving a conflict and rivalry between them that extends throughout the series.
Jin is an excellent all-around character who can freeze opponents and briefly incapacitate them. His EX specials will also feel familiar to players of other fighting games, making him a good choice for both veterans and BlazBlue beginners alike.
4 Sasquatch - Darkstalkers
Sasquatch is a beast in more ways than one, generally considered one of Darkstalkers’ strongest characters. While his moves change somewhat from game to game, he’s able to give and take major damage while also being surprisingly fast for such a heavy hitter.
Popular and cuter than many of his cast contemporaries, Sasquatch has made cameos in other Capcom titles; he even got several mobile games of his own. Despite being an older series, Darkstalkers remains a cult classic, in part because of memorable characters like Sasquatch.
3 Ice Climbers - Smash Bros.
While they seemed like a deep cut back when they joined Super Smash Bros. Melee in 2001, these days, everyone seems to recognize the Ice Climbers (although still probably more from Smash Bros. than their original game). Other team-based characters have joined the roster since, but there’s still no one else who gives you quite the experience of playing two full characters simultaneously.
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While their moves have remained relatively consistent, the exact mechanics of how synchronized they are has changed from entry to entry. Let their infectious spirit for adventure lead you to victory, and be sure to keep them both safe. While they’re a mighty duo, they do get considerably weaker when forced to fight alone.
2 Kula Diamond - King Of Fighters
Kula first appeared as a boss and hidden character in King of Fighters 2000, and she’s been a staple of the series ever since. A cybernetically modified human with cryokinesis, Kula skates along the battlefield with a fast kit of long and short-range attacks.
In King of Fighters 15, Kula is considered an upper-tier fighter, although she is generally better at building meter than using it. If you add her to your team, put her in front and focus on locking your opponent down in the corner with all her playful icy tools.
1 Sub-Zero - Mortal Kombat
Given how long he’s been around and how much Mortal Kombat influenced the fighting game scene of the 90s, the iconic blue ninja Sub-Zero gets the first spot on this list. Brothers Bi-Han and Kuai Liang have both assumed the mantle of Sub-Zero, depending on the game. And while the character changes from entry to entry, he’s always prepared to freeze opponents on the spot or take them down with an arsenal of ice-crafted weapons.
Having been around since 1992, Sub-Zero has appeared in countless Mortal Kombat games and spin-offs at this point, along with numerous cameos in other games. He’s even played basketball in NBA Jam Tournament Edition and starred in his own action side-scroller Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
Our only question is, just how do his frozen opponents remain suspended in midair? Until we learn cryomancy ourselves (and we're working on it), we may never know.
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