snow in – Two new games use snow not just as scenery, but as gameplay, mood, and challenge—one cozy and one roguelike.
Snow is often treated as backdrop in games, but two new releases prove it can be the main character of the experience. In Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth and Froggy Hates Snow, the cold isn’t just visual flavor—it shapes how you move, how you explore, and even how the world feels while you play.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is the second game built around the well-known Finnish fairy-tale characters. with the story set squarely in a Scandinavian winter.. You step into the role of Moomintroll. part of a family of trolls who are usually asleep during the coldest stretch of the year.. This time. something wakes him up early. and the game follows the adventures that unfold as he learns what life is like during the season when he would normally be hibernating.
Rather than throwing complex systems at players, the game keeps its structure friendly and straightforward.. To help bring back spring—and to make sure the valley doesn’t stay idle while the adults sleep—Moomintroll becomes an errand runner for a cast of locals.. Adventures take you out in search of people who need help. ranging from a pup stranded in the mountains to mysterious creatures seeking assistance with a bonfire.. Along the way. you gather wood. chase birds. and even rescue a talking dog. building a light. quest-like rhythm that’s easy to understand from the start.
What makes Winter’s Warmth stand out most strongly is its atmosphere.. The game carries a hand-drawn look reminiscent of Moomins books. but the sensation of winter comes through in a more visceral way.. Even if the real world outside the game is bright and warm. the experience has a way of making you feel like bundling up with something hot. largely because the weather and snow are treated as active parts of the world rather than static decoration.
That choice shows up in how the snow affects play.. You shovel pathways to move through the environment. dig up missing objects. and take on larger-than-life snow challenges such as rolling giant balls to form bridges.. The game even includes snowball fights. shifting the role of snow from obstacle to playground when the moment calls for it.. In a more intense sequence. you have to carry the talking dog to safety while dodging the winds of a fierce snowstorm—turning the cold into tension. not just ambience.
Snow also becomes a navigational aid.. Your footsteps linger, making it easier to see where you’ve already been and where you still need to explore.. Combined with the overall gentle pace. this creates a wintery feel that’s both readable and immersive. letting players stay oriented while still feeling surrounded by the season’s presence.
Froggy Hates Snow takes the same subject and flips the tone.. Where Winter’s Warmth leans into coziness and straightforward quests. Froggy Hates Snow is a roguelike built around discomfort with the cold.. You play as a frog surrounded by snow. and the only place that feels livable at the start of each run is a warm bubble that functions as an oasis in an otherwise frigid landscape.
The objective is straightforward: get out. explore. and survive long enough to find a hidden door that opens the next area.. But exploration carries its own immediate stakes.. You’re tasked with digging through huge walls of snow. and you periodically need to return to your base to warm up.. If you don’t manage that cycle, exposure ends the run.
As you explore, Froggy Hates Snow introduces progression through resources and gear.. You collect gold to upgrade skills, and you can also find new equipment that expands what you can do.. Early on. the frog relies on digging with its hands. but eventually the game offers tools like a shovel to push deeper through the environment. a scarf to stay warmer longer. and skis to move faster.
The game keeps things varied through randomization, but it also offers a surprisingly large skill tree.. That combination is designed to let players tailor their approach over time. building a frog that fits how they want to survive and explore.. As progression continues. the upgrades can become more playful and powerful. including elements like a flamethrower and even a comforting mug of tea.
Froggy Hates Snow includes two main modes.. One follows a more traditional roguelike structure in which enemies arrive in waves and you fight back using weapons such as the shovel. along with a tongue-based method referenced in the description.. Yet most players may find themselves drawn to the adventure-focused mode, which removes combat altogether.
Even without battles, the adventure mode doesn’t erase danger.. It’s still easy to lose yourself while digging through what can feel like endless snow fields. to the point where you miss your chance to return to warmth in time.. The satisfaction comes from enduring the elements successfully and watching your frog level up so exploration becomes smoother. letting you reach more of the strange and hidden world beneath the snow.
The roguelike structure also supports variety beyond each run by adding unlockable characters and levels as you progress. That helps prevent the experience from feeling too repetitive when you start again, even if the snow-covered landscape resets.
Taken together, these two games portray snow as a kind of dual force in interactive entertainment.. It can be playful. inviting. and full of cozy charm. or it can turn hostile and demanding when survival mechanics and exposure come into play.. For players who want to feel the winter without worrying about real frostbite. Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth and Froggy Hates Snow offer contrasting tastes of what snow can do—either as mood and motion. or as challenge and persistence.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is available now on PC and the Switch. Froggy Hates Snow is available now on PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch.
snow in games Winter’s Warmth Froggy Hates Snow roguelike adventure Moomintroll winter-themed gameplay