Winter Burrow finds coziness in the survival genre

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Although the words “cozy” may seem incongruous when considering hardships like starvation or coldness, that was exactly how I felt while playing Winter Burrow at GDC. This 2D survival game offers a heartwarming narrative about a mouse trying to restore its childhood burrow, and I have no doubt it will tug at my heartstrings.

In a cozy den nestled amidst a snowy wilderness, my Winter Burrow demo assignment involved refurbishing various pieces of furniture and miscellaneous items scattered about. To accomplish this task, I needed to brave the harsh weather conditions by cutting down trees, gathering stones, and transporting them back to my den for crafting purposes. I was equipped with a system that allowed me to trace the essential materials, ensuring I’d receive an alert when I had gathered all the necessary components for whatever project I was working on or fixing.

As soon as you step out from your burrow, time begins ticking. There’s a temperature gauge that gradually drops when you’re not inside your shelter, causing the screen to frost if it falls below 50 degrees. This instilled a strong sense of haste as I hurried back to my burrow to stay warm by the campfire. The tension grew even greater because I often found myself getting lost during exploration, though a game developer representative assured me that an in-game map would be available upon launch.

Besides the two other gauges you need to keep an eye on are energy levels and hunger. Energy gets drained when you perform tasks such as chopping wood with an axe. On the other hand, not eating for extended periods causes a decrease in hunger. Fortunately, I could rest at my den to recharge my energy. This is also beneficial because your body heat drops significantly faster once night falls.

The two additional things you need to monitor are your energy and hunger. Doing tasks like chopping wood with an axe uses up energy. Not eating for a long time reduces your hunger. Luckily, I could take a nap at my home to restore my energy. This is also helpful because your body gets colder much faster when it’s nighttime.

In this game, I experienced a delightful, tough sequence of events where exploring for resources, often reaching home just under the wire, and crafting necessary items for upcoming tasks formed an engaging cycle.

In most survival games, there’s an expected formula, but what caught my attention about Winter Burrow was its unique combination of survival and comfort elements. The soothing soundtrack and characters that seem to have jumped off a children’s book page create a warm atmosphere while playing. This is quite different from the usual cold tones and depressing visuals found in typical survival games.

The primary goal of my Winter Burrow demonstration was to mend a bridge and reconnect with my aunt. What followed was a heartwarming family moment, as we hadn’t seen each other in quite some time. The feelings of home and connection are unmistakable, and I can foresee the onset of emotional moments shortly thereafter.

This sneak peek comes from an early version that was showcased during the ID @ Xbox event at GDC 2025. The game, Winter Burrow, is set to release in 2025 and will be available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

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2025-03-20 19:27