I must admit that until very recently, I did not understand the appeal of Moomins. As a kid they always just looked a bit odd, and I was happier watching Brum and Nellie the Elephant instead of those weird white hippos. When Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley released in 2024 though, it all suddenly made sense. This charming world is full of unusual yet loveable characters, and the message of the game was just delightful. I had a great time wandering around as Snufkin and destroying parks so nature could flourish, and decided I’d play any other games based on Tove Jansson’s beloved creation. That means I’ve now played Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, which is just as cosy as the last game but with a totally different theme.
Whereas last time Hyper Games focused on using music to bring back nature as the badass environmentalist Snufkin, this time around Moomintroll focuses on a less confident character. The titular and beloved Moomintroll is rather timid by nature, and so when thrust into adventure during a harsh winter he isn’t exactly ready to save the day.
Moomins as a species hibernate for the winter, so when a window blows open and wakes Moomintroll he’s startled by the chilly world that greets him. His parents can’t be woken either, in a deep slumber to get through the cold months. Now having to fend for himself, he wraps up in a scarf and tries to see if any of his neighbours are awake. Getting to see Moomintroll grow in confidence and help out the community is a joy, and lets you hang out with all your favourites. It’s a lovely tale laced with childish whimsy and full to the brim with charm, that matches the cosy gameplay perfectly.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is pretty much a game made entirely of odd jobs, where you’ll help everyone from Little My to Fillyjonk and bring them back to the Moomin house. Travelling across gorgeous snowscapes with the hand drawn art style of the game is always a treat, especially now the weather has warmed up here and the trauma of our own winter ends.
The cold plains of Moominvalley are tricky to navigate in winter, and you’ll need a selection of tools to do so. You’ll collect these as you go, and as you do will be able to access new areas full of collectible bits and new people to help. Early on your shovel is used to break through snow drifts, then you’ll find mittens for throwing snowballs or rolling giant snow boulders you can use to fill gaps in a path. It’s all relatively simple stuff, but it’s always satisfying to get a new item and see how it helps you explore the world.
There’s pretty much no challenge to speak of in Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, but there is a nice bit of variety. You’re regularly challenged to snowball fights by that cheeky Little My, and pelting her brutally with icy balls is always a treat. None of these slight changes of pace really do anything but make you smile during a play session, but that’s pretty much all Moomintroll wants you to do.
There is a larger overarching goal that encourages lots of collection, and that’s to light a big bonfire to try and end winter and bring on spring. To complete this you’ll need to collect dozens of pieces of firewood, and help enough people to make the fire lighting a big event full of friends. There’s also a side quest which tasks you with finding pieces of your Moominmamma’s broken case, and both these quests mean that you’re incentivised to explore every new path and dig up every patch of snow. It makes the game a relaxing and almost therapeutic experience, and it really helped me wind down on those rougher days.
I had a truly lovely time with Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, but it isn’t a game for all occasions. The slow paced nature of the experience certainly doesn’t lend itself to longer sessions, and I tended to turn it off in favour of something a little more exciting after an hour or so. The dash ability you get around the halfway point helps a little to move things along faster, but it’s one of those slightly annoying bursts of speed followed by a stop that’s less satisfying that just wandering.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is a hearty hug of a game that will help you through any season, that oozes charm out of every lovely pore of its smiling face. The characters are just a joy to interact with, and the visuals are simply immaculate. I can’t pretend it’s full of excitement, tense moments or tests of skill, but as a way to unwind before a night full of fluffy dreams there aren’t many better options.
