It is rare that I find a game that nails everything it sets out to do. I missed out on playing Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, so when I saw the trailer for Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, I immediately knew I needed to play it. Winter’s Warmth is a beautiful, sweet, and sometimes bittersweet tale that is a cozy experience for any age.

In Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, you play as the titular Moomintroll, who wakes up early in the midst of winter, discovering that while his parents, MoominMama and MoominPapa, are still sleeping, the Winter Beings that are meant to usher in Spring have not performed their duties yet. It becomes Moomintroll’s job to help the Winter Beings and the residents of Moominvalley come together to not only survive the Winter, but also usher in Spring.

Winter’s Warmth is primarily a puzzle and adventure title. You explore the valley, using tools you gain from doing quests to resolve other quests and solve puzzles. The story is cute, in a storybook fashion, but it is done in a way that both adults and kids could enjoy it. The storybook element translates to the visuals as well. Somehow, the development team managed to make a beautiful, painterly world that mimics Tove Jansson’s Moomin stories while also in some ways surpassing them.

The soundtrack that accompanies it is beautifully done, adding both whimsy and emotional accompaniment when necessary. One thing I really have to applaud the development team for, however, is that not only did they add a dyslexic font and other accessibility options, but they added something to the art style that most people don’t think to.

In a lot of games with snow, the snow is so white that it can impact my headaches and migraines. Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is done in such a way that the snow has just a slight tint of gray, making sure that it isn’t too bright or uncomfortable. Overall, it is little details like that which make Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth something special.

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth has perched itself atop my list for favorite games of 2026. It merges heartwarming stories with cute and imaginative characters and is accessible for all ages. Now I find myself eager to pick up Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, so I can play the other Moominvalley game and say I’ve enjoyed both sides of this adorable world. I hope we get more Moomin games, because I would play a game for every season.

A PC Review Copy of Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth was provided by Hyper Games for the purposes of this review.

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Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth

$19.99 USD

10

Score

10.0/10

Pros

• Beautiful Storybook visuals
• Heartwarming story
• Lots of accessibility features
• Fun gameplay and puzzles
• Cozy soundtrack