Winter Burrow

Thematically rich and effectively emotional, Winter Burrow doesn’t reinvent the survival genre wheel, but the execution is well worth the price of admission.

80%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, replayability

92% User Score Based on 1,217 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

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About

Winter Burrow is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Pine Creek Games and was released on November 12, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Winter Burrow is a cozy woodland survival game. Explore, gather resources, craft tools, knit warm sweaters, bake pies and meet the locals! In Winter Burrow, you play a mouse who returns from the big city to find their childhood home in ruins. To make matters worse, your Aunt (who was supposed to be looking after it) has gone missing. Restore your broken-down childhood burrow to its former glory s…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,217 reviews

story214 positive mentions

grinding76 negative mentions

The game features a charming art style reminiscent of a children's storybook, creating a cozy atmosphere.
The narrative is heartfelt and engaging, with compelling character arcs that evoke a range of emotions.
The gameplay is relaxing and accessible, making it suitable for players of all ages, with light survival mechanics that don't feel overwhelming.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under 10 hours, leading to concerns about replayability.
Inventory management is cumbersome, with limited space and no sorting options, making it tedious to manage resources.
The lack of a map can lead to confusion and frustration when navigating the world, especially for players with poor sense of direction.

story
725 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
68%
2%
The story of "Winter Burrow" is characterized by its charming, storybook aesthetic and emotional depth, weaving themes of resilience, community, and the bittersweet nature of life. Players appreciate the heartfelt narratives of various characters, though many express a desire for a longer main storyline and clearer quest guidance, as the game often relies on fetch quests that can feel repetitive. Overall, the narrative is engaging and cozy, making it a delightful experience, albeit with some pacing and clarity issues.
- “Despite its flaws, this game has a compelling story, and the fact it was a labor of love is very clear in the implementation and way this game was designed.”
- “The story felt rich and rewarding.”
- “The story is sweet and inspiring, and I grew quickly attached to my little mouse guy and their forest friends.”
- “The story is very plain and hollow: go there, get that, be the hero, repeat.”
- “The story itself is a mixture of sad, cute, and endearing, with relatively simple messaging and only takes you about 3-4 hours to fully experience if you're handy with your resources.”
- “The main story is ~5-9 hours of gameplay, so don't come into this expecting a forever game like Minecraft, Don't Starve, or Terraria.”
graphics
321 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their charming, hand-drawn art style that evokes nostalgia and warmth, reminiscent of classic children's storybooks. Players appreciate the cozy atmosphere created by the visuals, which are described as beautiful, cute, and immersive, enhancing the overall experience of the game. However, some reviewers noted minor technical issues and a lack of polish, suggesting that while the art is stunning, the gameplay could benefit from further refinement.
- “The art style is impeccable, really immersive and familiar, and the game itself is rather chill and fun to progress.”
- “Winter Burrow has an absolutely gorgeous art style that deserves a lot of praise.”
- “The hand-drawn visuals and soft music create a warm, inviting atmosphere.”
- “The graphics look flash-like and poorly animated in-game.”
- “The zones are easy enough to identify, but inside the zones it's hard to know where you are because the winter aesthetic results in everything kind of looking the same, so figuring out where that hidden area you found was is pretty challenging.”
- “A cute art style and cozy setup hide at its center a hollow core.”
gameplay
282 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
5%
The gameplay of "Winter Burrow" is characterized by a cozy yet simplistic survival experience, blending light resource management and crafting with exploration. While the charming art and heartfelt story enhance the atmosphere, many players find the gameplay loop repetitive and lacking depth, with survival mechanics that feel more like minor inconveniences than real challenges. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience suitable for casual gamers, but may disappoint those seeking more complex mechanics or extended gameplay.
- “The gameplay is a relaxing mix of crafting, exploring, and decorating/furniture collecting - perfect to get cozy and play in the winter time!”
- “The gameplay loop is enjoyable, and I'm excited to go back and just vibe.”
- “The gameplay is great too, light survival mechanics with a big focus on exploration.”
- “The gameplay loop is incredibly repetitive and frustrating.”
- “I'm sorry to say that because I can tell the developers obviously poured a lot into the art design and the world crafting, but the mechanics, the gameplay, and the plot are all severely lacking.”
- “The gameplay is very relaxing, almost meditative, making it perfect for slow, cozy evenings.”
music
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, creating a cozy and immersive experience. Many players find the soundtrack soothing and well-suited to the game's themes, although some note that the battle music can be jarring and disrupt the flow. Overall, the combination of charming visuals and a delightful soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience for players.
- “Everything in this game feels made with intention: the art, the animations, the music, the story.”
- “The music is beautiful and the combat and environment is just difficult enough to be challenging.”
- “The art style, music, and sound design combine to create a truly cozy, adorable world.”
- “I came to hate the music that plays when you alert one of these bugs.”
- “Sound is poorly balanced and really loud music blasts you every time you get close to the wrong kind of beetle.”
- “The music became droning very fast.”
emotional
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Winter Burrow" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and charming characters, creating a deeply engaging experience that balances warmth with moments of melancholy. Players feel a strong emotional connection to the protagonist mouse and the endearing forest dwellers, as their personal stories evoke a range of feelings from joy to sadness. The game's beautiful art, music, and thoughtful narrative contribute to an overall atmosphere that is both cozy and emotionally resonant, making it a memorable adventure.
- “Aaand every forest dweller you meet feels genuinely endearing, each carrying their own heart-wrenching story.”
- “It’s a thoughtful and touching tale about a small mouse learning how to live again after loss, relying on care, friendship, and their own inner strength.”
- “The story itself is an emotional rollercoaster and, in my opinion, very well done.”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the resource gathering and crafting elements, many criticize the repetitive fetch quests and tedious inventory management, which can detract from the enjoyment. The game is described as charming and cozy, but the lack of quality-of-life features and the need for constant back-and-forth travel often lead to a sense of tedium.
- “I enjoyed having a short storyline game that isn't grindy for the holiday season.”
- “Game is lovely, charming, achingly so, reminds me of a picture book I would've loved as a child, but the fetch quests are so mind-numbingly stupid and grindy that I can't do it anymore.”
- “The grinding gets boring quickly, and there are only a few quality-of-life features.”
- “Most of the game is spent grinding for ingredients or walking from character A to character B in endless fetch quests.”
atmosphere
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cozy, winter-themed design, featuring beautiful art, warm lighting, and a soothing soundtrack that enhances immersion. Players appreciate the charming visuals and endearing characters, which create a heartwarming experience that feels both inviting and meditative. Despite some gameplay criticisms, the overall ambiance is described as captivating and perfect for a relaxing gaming session, especially during the winter season.
- “The designers and artists have done an incredible job conveying the atmosphere of the winter forest and each of its distinct areas.”
- “From the moment you step into its snow-dusted world, the game wraps you in atmosphere, charm, and a meditative sense of calm.”
- “The atmosphere is unreal — soft snow, warm lighting, gentle music, and that constant feeling of 'it’s cold out there, but I can make this place safe.' Every little task, from gathering sticks to fixing up your burrow, feels meaningful without ever becoming stressful.”
- “The atmosphere created by the art style and the soundtrack was so cozy that despite it being a survival game, which traditionally often leads me to despair with all the dying and anxious managing, it didn't really feel like one - well, at least not on those terms.”
- “You will frequently get unnecessarily lost, which constantly disrupts the peaceful, cozy atmosphere.”
replayability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many players noting that they completed it within 7 to 14 hours and found little incentive to return after finishing the main content. While some enjoyed the experience for its story and art style, the consensus is that the game feels too linear and lacks additional modes or content that could enhance replay value. Players expressed a desire for updates or expansions to improve longevity, but as it stands, the game is seen as a one-time playthrough for most.
- “It's a chill good time with a lovely art style, but it is a little too on rails an experience and I can't see much replay value once you're through with it.”
- “Not a lot of replayability (unless you are into crafting/decorating for fun), but that was fine with me since I was more playing for the story.”
- “In fact, the only things really wrong with this game is that it needs a bit more; I finished it in about 9.5 hours, story and all achievements, and there isn't much for replay value.”
- “I finished the game; everything possible was done. There's nothing more to do, and this game does not have much replayability in my opinion unless a big update comes out. So my 14 hours will probably be the last I play this game. I don't think I'll come back to it unless maybe a big update or DLC is out.”
- “The game is a bit short for its pricing, and there isn't really a 'postgame' or 'replayability', so if 7-8 hours of gameplay is insufficient for you, then this game isn't for you.”
- “You'll beat it in less than 10 hours, and it's got zero replayability, which I could have accepted if not for the lack of content.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of major glitches, while others encountered minor bugs and clunky mechanics, particularly in the inventory system. Issues such as character animations and control responsiveness have been noted, suggesting that while the game is generally playable, there are enough inconsistencies to warrant caution for potential players. Overall, it may be advisable to wait for patches to address these stability concerns.
- “There has obviously been a lot of effort put into developing the NPCs and the environment, plus there were no glitches or bugs that I encountered.”
- “There were no glitches, lag, or problems with gameplay.”
- “Almost 2 hours in, have met Moss and Bufo, and the game runs great!”
- “There are also lots of little annoyances, from minor glitches to a remarkably clunky inventory system.”
- “Chill game to play, but a little buggy as you go along.”
- “Controls also sometimes feel buggy; you can't open a pouch while standing directly over it, you get stuck in a wall while fighting insects, and the character animation spazzes out while performing various actions.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report excellent performance with stable frame rates and no crashes, others experience significant issues such as clunky UI, poor keyboard and mouse controls, and bugs affecting gameplay. Overall, the game appears to run smoothly for high-end systems, but optimization for PC users, particularly with mouse controls, remains a concern.
- “It is the most optimized game I've ever played in my entire life, no lag at all and no GPU pull; anybody can run this game without any problem whatsoever.”
- “No bugs so far, the game runs smoothly.”
- “Performance: the game ran at a stable 180 fps with no crashes or other performance issues for me (RTX 4090/i9-13900K).”
- “I went into this game blind, and I'll state immediately that I only played for about an hour. The reason I don't recommend the game currently is simply due to a clunky UI and performance issues that affect gameplay more than I could tolerate.”
- “The game is also not optimized for PC; using the mouse would bug out the scroll wheels.”
- “The keyboard and mouse controls are really poorly optimized, so I spent my 6 hours of playtime using a controller instead, which worked perfectly.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as charming and engaging, with well-written characters that deliver funny and heartwarming lines. Players appreciate the blend of humor with the serious themes of survival, complemented by a cute art style and enjoyable music. However, some humorous bugs in gameplay mechanics add an unintended layer of comedy, highlighting the game's quirky nature.
- “The animals you meet are funny and interesting, and the outfits in the game are really cute.”
- “Well written and funny.”
- “I found the characters well-written with a lot of funny and heart-warming lines.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
Character development in the game is praised for its engaging and memorable designs, with many users highlighting the endearing art style and quality of illustrations. While the story and character arcs are well-received, some critiques mention a lack of depth in character design and logical task rewards. Overall, the game offers a cozy atmosphere and a slice-of-life narrative that resonates with players.
- “It has a great story and great character development, but overall it's not a hard or combat-heavy game.”
- “Very cute, very engaging; I loved the character design and the more slice-of-life story.”
- “Lack of character design depth, logical task rewards, and clear directions.”
- “The atmosphere is cozy, and the character designs are endearing.”
- “The character design reminded me of Spiritfarer, which is one of my favorite single-player games.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players generally favor games that feature impressive art without the burden of in-game purchases, expressing a clear preference against microtransactions.
- “I always appreciate a game with great art and no in-game purchases required.”
- “Microtransactions are everywhere, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases ruins the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating that you can't progress without spending real money on microtransactions.”