Water gets all the credit. When gaming companies want to show off new graphics technology, things tend to get wet; splashing waves that are only possible with the latest physics engine, or puddles that can reflect the world around them thanks to ray tracing. But there’s something special about snow. It might not be as technically impressive as water, but when it comes to creating a mood in a game, snow can be very powerful. And two recent releases — Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth and Froggy Hates Snow — really capture just what snow is capable of.
Let it snow. Get warm and cozy before playing this pair of games about trolls, frogs, and the joys and fears of winter. Let’s start with the Moomins. Winter's Warmth is the second game based on the iconic Finnish fairy tale creatures, but, as the title suggests, this one is set during the frigid Scandinavian winter. You play as Moomintroll, the only child in a family of rotund trolls that more closely resemble upright hippos. Usually at this time of the year, the family are all asleep, hibernating through the bleak winter. But something has woken him up early, and the game follows his adventures as he learns just what the world is like during this time when he's normally asleep.
As a game, Winter’s Warmth is fairly straightforward. In order to bring back spring, and keep busy while his parents slumber, Moomintroll basically becomes an errand boy for everyone in the valley. That means you’ll explore in search of anyone in need of a hand, whether it's a pup that found itself stranded in the mountains, or mysterious creatures that need a hand with a bonfire. You'll gather wood, chase down birds, and even rescue an adorable talking dog. The game is extremely easy to pick up, making it work well for all ages; my 10-year-old daughter and I have been playing it together, passing the controller back and forth as if we were sharing a storybook.
What makes Winter’s Warmth really stand out is the vibe. It has a hand-drawn look to it, like one of the Moomins books come to life, but a lot of the mood comes down to the weather. This game feels cold. It's sunny spring where I am in southern Ontario, and yet when I play Winter’s Warmth I feel the need to bundle up with a blanket and a mug of something hot because of its snow.
The snow factors into the game in many ways. You'll need to shovel out pathways, dig up missing objects (and, in one case, a bunch of kids), roll giant balls to create bridges, and even get into actual snowball fights. During one of the more intense sequences, you have to carry the aforementioned dog to safety while avoiding the winds of a blistering snowstorm. Snow even serves as a navigation tool; your footsteps are persistent, making it easy to see where you're already been and where you still need to explore. All of these combined give the game its distinctly wintery feel.
Froggy Hates Snow, on the other hand, isn’t quite as relaxed. This is a roguelike where you play as a frog who perhaps hates snow because he is completely surrounded by it. At the beginning of each run you find yourself in a warm bubble, which serves as an oasis in an otherwise frigid landscape. The goal is to get out and explore and to survive long enough to find a hidden door that opens up the next area. Exploring means dealing with the perils of snow. You have to dig your way through the huge walls of the stuff that surround Froggy, and periodically return to your base to warm up, or else die of exposure.
