20 Games With Dynamic Weather You’ll Notice

When dynamic weather is more than a backdrop, it reshapes how you move, fight, drive, and plan. The games below don’t just switch skies for ambience—they plug rain, wind, fog, snow, and even tornadoes into core systems that change handling, stealth, traversal, and survival on the fly. You’ll see routes close, opportunities open, and tactics shift as conditions roll in and fade. Here are twenty titles where the weather is designed to matter, and you’ll feel it minute to minute.

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)

Rockstar Games built a full simulation where snow, rain, and heat influence stamina drain, horse handling, and NPC routines. Fresh snow and mud hold footprints and tire tracks that persist long enough to aid tracking wildlife or enemies. Clothing warmth values interact with region temperatures to affect Arthur’s core regeneration. Thunderstorms also alter animal behavior and visibility across the frontier.

‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ (2017)

Developed by Nintendo EPD, the world’s weather is tied directly to traversal and combat. Rain reduces friction so climbing surfaces become slippery, forcing route changes or campfire waits. Lightning targets conductive gear, turning metal weapons and shields into hazards unless unequipped. Heat and cold zones require appropriate armor or consumables to maintain hearts and stamina efficiency.

‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ (2020)

Asobo Studio and Xbox Game Studios integrate live meteorological data to generate real-time winds, pressure systems, and cloud layers. Crosswinds, updrafts, and microbursts change aircraft handling during approach and landing. Dynamic icing accumulates on airframes and affects lift, drag, and visibility unless anti-ice systems are engaged. Visibility, rain intensity, and turbulence vary by altitude and geography, matching local conditions.

‘Forza Horizon 5’ (2021)

Playground Games uses region-specific weather like tropical storms and dust storms that shift grip, visibility, and engine performance. Seasonal playlists rotate conditions across Mexico’s biomes, changing off-road routes and event difficulty. Standing water and mud affect braking distances and cornering lines in real time. Dynamic sky models and wind alter ambient particles that can obscure apexes during sprints.

‘Forza Horizon 4’ (2018)

Also from Playground Games, Britain’s weekly seasons overhaul handling and event layouts across the same map. Snow and ice require winter tires and different tuning to maintain traction. Spring rain creates puddles that expand or recede, influencing racing lines and braking points. Summer heat boosts dry grip but increases tire temperature management during longer events.

‘Death Stranding’ (2019)

Kojima Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment designed Timefall—rain that accelerates aging of cargo and structures. Players must plan routes to minimize Timefall exposure or deploy shelters to protect packages. Weather forecasts on the map predict Timefall fronts and wind, enabling informed pathfinding across rugged terrain. Wet rocks and steep slopes increase slip risk and stamina drain, altering traversal pacing.

‘Sea of Thieves’ (2018)

Rare and Xbox Game Studios simulate winds, swells, and storms that directly control ship speed, rudder response, and sail trimming. Squalls spin the compass and flood the bilge, requiring continuous bucket work to stay afloat. Lightning strikes can damage masts and players if sails are raised at the wrong moment. Fog banks reduce sightlines, affecting pursuit, ambushes, and island approach angles.

‘Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’ (2013)

Ubisoft’s naval systems tie storms, rogue waves, and waterspouts to ship combat and navigation. Swells change cannonball arcs and force helmsmen to time tacks and braces. High winds demand sail management to avoid mast damage or loss of control. Reduced visibility in heavy rain enables stealthy approaches on convoys and forts.

‘Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain’ (2015)

Kojima Productions models sandstorms that drastically cut visibility and mute sound, enabling riskier infiltrations. Weather windows can be forecast from the iDroid to coordinate drop-offs and extractions. Rain muffles footsteps and masks movement, while clear nights improve enemy sightlines at long range. Wind direction influences smoke and decoy deployment effectiveness across open terrain.

‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’ (2015)

CD Projekt Red’s dynamic weather system blends with day–night cycles to affect patrols, monster spawns, and perception ranges. Rain and wind lower visibility on roads and seas, shifting encounter distances and crossbow timing on boats. Certain quests and regions feature weather-dependent scenes that gate NPC schedules. Storm lighting and wet surfaces also modify footing and tracking cues in forests and swamps.

‘Arma 3’ (2013)

Bohemia Interactive simulates wind, humidity, and precipitation that influence ballistics and aerodynamics. Crosswinds and air density adjustments change bullet drop and drift for long-range engagements. Rain and fog reduce detection ranges for AI and players, reshaping approach vectors. Helicopter handling varies with gusts and turbulence, affecting insertion and extraction profiles.

‘Battlefield 1’ (2016)

DICE and Electronic Arts implemented map-specific weather states—fog, rain, and sandstorms—that rotate during matches. Fog shortens sightlines and suppresses sniper lanes, shifting the meta toward close-quarters pushes. Rain affects plane visibility and makes target identification harder during strafing runs. Sandstorms can force armor units to operate at reduced ranges to avoid ambushes.

‘Battlefield 2042’ (2021)

From DICE and Electronic Arts, large-scale storms are gameplay events rather than set dressing. Tornadoes lift soldiers and vehicles, relocating combatants and scattering squads. Regional sandstorms obscure objectives and disrupt lock-ons for certain gadgets. Match flow often pivots around storm paths, altering zone capture timings and traversal routes.

‘Project CARS 2’ (2017)

Slightly Mad Studios and Bandai Namco Entertainment built LiveTrack 3.0, which simulates track evolution under changing weather. Rain produces puddles along real-world drainage lines that expand, move, and eventually dry with sun and traffic. Tire compounds heat and cool differently on wet versus drying surfaces, influencing pit strategy. Time-of-day and temperature shifts adjust engine performance and brake wear across stints.

‘Gran Turismo 7’ (2022)

Polyphony Digital and Sony Interactive Entertainment model localized weather cells and trackside microclimates. Races can start dry, move to light drizzle, and end under heavy rain, with radar guiding pit calls. Surface wetness is tracked per sector, affecting aquaplaning risk and traction control behavior. Cloud cover alters track temperature and grip curves over long events.

‘Driveclub’ (2014)

Evolution Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment introduced real-time rain, snow, and storm intensity tied to location and time. Water beads on the windshield, accumulates on roads, and influences braking distances. Dynamic clouds and wind shift lighting and visibility during a single race. Snowfall affects tire bite and requires earlier turn-in on alpine tracks.

‘Horizon Forbidden West’ (2022)

Guerrilla Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment use sandstorms, rain, and coastal squalls to change exploration and combat conditions. Dust storms reduce visibility in deserts, affecting machine detection and ranged engagements. Weather layers with time-of-day to modify patrol patterns and stealth opportunities. Environmental hazards—like strong winds—also impact gliding paths and approach plans.

‘Ghost of Tsushima’ (2020)

Sucker Punch Productions and Sony Interactive Entertainment tie ambient weather to exploration systems and encounters. Fog, rain, and storms adjust visibility and sound propagation, shaping stealth options in fields and forests. The Guiding Wind mechanic routes players using wind direction, integrating weather with navigation. Lightning and heavy rain can mask movement during assaults on forts and camps.

‘PUBG: Battlegrounds’ (2017)

PUBG Studios and Krafton use rotating weather presets—clear, overcast, rain, and fog—on select maps. Rain amplifies ambient noise and masks footsteps, while fog sharply limits sightlines and sniping viability. Wind and precipitation change the audibility of distant firefights, affecting third-party timing. Certain maps introduce dynamic storms that push players to adapt drop spots and rotation paths.

‘Grand Theft Auto V’ (2013)

Rockstar North and Rockstar Games integrate rain, storms, and fog that influence driving physics and AI behavior. Wet roads extend braking distances and reduce traction, impacting getaway routes and races. High winds and surf states alter sea travel and helicopter handling along the coast. Lightning and heavy downpours also change NPC density and police pursuit dynamics during free-roam events.

Share your favorite dynamic-weather moments—and the games we missed—in the comments!