The Indie Informer

Impossible as it may seem, after playing the latest demo of Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, I may be gearing up to like this snowy sequel even more than its predecessor — and I liked that a lot. Despite the barren frosts of the season, it feels like there’s even more life in the upcoming title. Which, as of today, has a release date: April 27.

Also as of today, you can play the new demo yourself. Consequently, I feel like a sketch of its spirit, rather than a detailed oil painting of my experiences, makes more sense.

A new protagonist lights our way in this adventure. The young Moomintroll settles into bed as his mother tucks him in for the longer hibernation through winter. Surrounded by warmth and love, the curious creature drifts to sleep.

He won’t rest long. Soon, the cold crept in, along with tones of horror I didn’t expect from this nostalgically rendered world. I carry a small light through the dark and cold, only to discover the harsh bite of winter and loss for the first time in my life.

My emotions soar and plummet like Moomintroll sliding over icy fields. The landscape glitters with liveliness. The snow dynamically parts as I crunch through it, foliage sways, winds race, and flakes dust the air. I would urge people to play for its beauty alone. But it’s not just the enchanting scenery piercing my attention.

I can only accept that I have no control in Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, and it will take me where it will. But our little hero has more heart than his appearance would suggest, meeting adversity with courage, fear with compassion, and the unexpected with radical acceptance. At the end of the short demo, I find myself smiling. I have bravely accepted the mission to help those in need and usher in a brighter, gentler season. And I can not wait to get to it when the game launches in a couple of months.