From snowy woodland adventures and festive villages to relaxing puzzles and management sims, here are 20 cozy games to play this winter.
Winter in Ireland usually involves a lot more rain and wind than actual snow, so I tend to get my snowy landscapes through gaming instead.
Once the evenings start getting properly dark, I find myself wanting games I can spend a few hours getting stuck into. I love a good snowy adventure, but I'm just as happy decorating a little cottage, working through a management game or settling into something familiar.
And while there are plenty of Christmas themed games around, I wanted this list to cover the whole season, not just December.
Some of these games have proper winter settings, with frozen lakes, snowy forests and mountain villages. Others are here because they suit the colder months, whether that's building something, enjoying a slower routine or exploring somewhere a little darker.
So here are 20 cozy games I'd recommend playing this winter, including some of my favourites and a few newer indies worth checking out.
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Find Your Next Cozy Game
Whether you want a relaxing farming sim, a gentle puzzle game, a cozy adventure, an emotional story or something easy to play on the sofa, my Cozy Games Directory is full of ideas to help you choose what to play next.
And for the days when you’re choosing a game based less on genre and more on how you feel, my Cozy Games for Mental Health collection brings together comfort games for anxiety, burnout, loneliness, sleep, stress and low days.
What Makes a Game Perfect for Winter?
For me, a lot of it comes down to the setting.
I love exploring snowy forests and little villages, especially in games where you can return to a warm cabin or spend time crafting indoors. Winter Burrow is a particularly good example of that.
But the weather doesn't have to be the main attraction. Games with a satisfying routine, like fishing, farming or decorating, are also high on my list once I'm spending more evenings at home.
I also quite like the darker side of winter. Nordic folklore, gloomy forests and atmospheric adventures fit the season just as well as Christmas lights and snowmen.
That's why I've included a mixture of relaxing games, snowy adventures and a few that are a little more challenging.
Winter Burrow
Game Image: Winter Burrow, Developer Image: Noodlecake
Available on: PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Winter Burrow follows a little mouse returning to their childhood home, only to discover that the burrow has fallen into disrepair. You'll explore a snowy forest, gather supplies, knit warm clothes, bake pies and gradually restore your home.
I really enjoyed the combination of crafting, decorating and light survival mechanics. You need to prepare before heading out into the cold, and there's something satisfying about returning to your little burrow to warm up and get on with your next project.
The illustrations remind me of Beatrix Potter, which I loved growing up. It's easily one of the most wintery games I've played, although be aware that there are insect encounters if you're sensitive to bugs or have arachnophobia.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth
Game Image: Moomintroll: Winters Warmth, Developer Image: Hyper Games
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Playstation
Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth is a story-driven puzzle adventure inspired by Tove Jansson's Moomin stories.
When Moomintroll wakes unexpectedly from hibernation, he discovers that Moominvalley is covered in snow and his family is still asleep. He sets out to explore the unfamiliar winter landscape, meeting new characters, helping others and solving puzzles along the way.
The illustrated environments capture the look of the original Moomin stories, while Moomintroll's isolation adds a slightly melancholic side to the adventure.
Game Image: Cast n Chill, Developer Image: Wombat Brawler
Available on: PC,Mac, Nintendo Switch
Cast n Chill is a relaxing pixel-art fishing game where you explore different locations, catch fish, upgrade your equipment and spend time enjoying the scenery.
I gave it five stars when I reviewed it earlier this year. I loved the simplicity of the fishing mechanics and how easy it was to spend an hour playing without feeling like I needed to accomplish anything in particular.
Its winter update adds ice fishing at Frostbite Flats, with frozen waterfalls, snowy wildlife and a snowmobile for travelling across the ice.
Game Image: A Short Hike, Developer Image: Adamgryu
Available on: PC, Mac, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
A Short Hike is a small open-world adventure where you play as Claire, a young bird visiting Hawk Peak Provincial Park. You'll explore trails, meet other visitors, collect golden feathers and gradually make your way towards the mountain summit.
As you climb higher, the greenery gives way to snowy mountains and frozen ponds, with the final stretch of the hike taking place in the snow.
I've always loved how much freedom A Short Hike gives you. There's no pressure to rush towards the summit, and it's easy to get distracted by fishing, chatting to other characters or gliding around the island.
Tiny Glade
Game Image: Tiny Glade, Developer Image: Pounce Light
Tiny Glade is a relaxing building game where you can design cottages, castles and villages without worrying about resources, budgets or objectives.
Its building tools are flexible, letting you create detailed structures without needing to place every brick or window manually.
The winter environments let you build snow-covered cottages, mountain villages and castles surrounded by frosty scenery. With adjustable snow and fog, you can experiment with different weather conditions as you build.
There's no management system or progression to worry about, so you can concentrate entirely on the buildings themselves.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Game Image: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Developer Image: Nintendo
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Winter is one of my favourite seasons to revisit Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Once the snow arrives, your island looks completely different. You can catch snowflakes, build Snowboys, collect seasonal crafting recipes and decorate your home and island for the colder months.
December also brings Toy Day, while the rest of winter has seasonal items, creatures and activities to collect.
I particularly enjoy changing my island decorations throughout the year, and winter gives me an excuse to get all the festive furniture and fireplaces out again.
Roki
Game Image: Roki, Developer Image: Polygon Treehouse
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Röki is a narrative puzzle adventure inspired by Scandinavian folklore, following a young girl named Tove as she searches for her missing brother.
You'll explore snowy forests, investigate abandoned buildings, solve puzzles and encounter creatures inspired by Nordic mythology.
The illustrated environments take inspiration from Scandinavian landscapes and fairytales, with frozen woodland, abandoned ruins and mysterious creatures. There's also an emotional family story running through the adventure, with darker moments as Tove uncovers what's happened to her brother.
Blanc
Game Image: Blanc, Developer Image: Casus Ludi
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Blanc is a black-and-white cooperative adventure about a wolf cub and a fawn who become separated from their families during a snowstorm.
Two players control the animals as they travel across frozen landscapes, using their different abilities to solve environmental puzzles and help each other progress.
The story is told without dialogue, relying entirely on the animals' movements and the hand-drawn environments.
It's a relatively short game, and because it's designed around cooperation, you'll need someone to play alongside you.
Dorfromantik
Game Image: Dorfromantik, Developer Image: Toukana Interactive
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch
Dorfromantik is a relaxing tile placement game where you gradually build landscapes by connecting forests, fields, rivers, villages and railway tracks.
You can concentrate on completing objectives and improving your score, or switch to Creative Mode and build without restrictions.
The Midwinter biome replaces the usual green countryside with snowy landscapes and little villages surrounded by frost.
Dorfromantik has been one of my favourite puzzle games for a long time. I love gradually building up an enormous landscape and seeing how different areas connect, especially when I just want something fairly simple to play.
Game Image: TOEM, Developer Image: Something We Made
Available on: PC, Mac, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
TOEM is a black-and-white photography adventure where you travel between different locations, meeting characters and completing quests by taking photographs.
Its snowy mountain region, Kiiruberg, has plenty to explore, with characters to help, objects to photograph and little puzzles to solve.
Some tasks involve finding specific subjects, while others require a little creative thinking with your camera. The game also has a good sense of humour, with plenty of unusual characters and situations throughout your travels.
Game Image: Wildfrost, Developer Image: Deadpan Games, Gaziter
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
Wildfrost is a colourful roguelike deckbuilder set in a world trapped in an endless winter.
You'll build decks of companions, weapons and abilities, travelling through increasingly difficult battles as you attempt to bring an end to the frost.
I spent more than 30 hours playing Wildfrost and found it incredibly addictive, although it's definitely not an easy game. There's a lot of strategy involved, particularly when planning attacks and managing the timing of enemy turns.
The cartoonish artwork and snowy environments make it look far more forgiving than it actually is!
Snowman Story
Game Image: Snowman Story, Developer Image: Odencat
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Snowman Story is a short pixel-art adventure about Chris, a snowman who discovers that he'll melt when spring arrives.
Determined to survive, he sets off towards the North Pole, meeting woodland animals and other characters along the way.
You'll solve icy puzzles and uncover stories about other snowmen who attempted the same journey. Despite its cute appearance, the story deals with some emotional themes surrounding friendship and the passage of time.
You can also skip the puzzles if you'd prefer to concentrate on the story.
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build
Game Image: A Good Snowman is hard to Build, Developer Image: Alan Hazelden, Benjamin Davis
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch
A Good Snowman Is Hard to Build is a puzzle game about a little monster who wants to build snowmen.
You'll move around a snowy garden, pushing and rolling snowballs into the correct positions to create your new friends.
The challenge comes from working out how to stack snowballs of different sizes without trapping yourself or blocking the path ahead.
It starts simply enough, but the puzzles gradually become more complicated as you move between the different areas of the garden.
Game Image: Bear and Breakfast, Developer Image: Gummy Cat
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Playstation
Bear and Breakfast is a management game where you play as Hank, a bear who decides to open a bed and breakfast in the woods.
You'll renovate buildings, furnish guest rooms, gather resources and gradually expand your business into new areas.
One of those areas is Winterberry, a snowy mountain resort where keeping guests warm becomes another part of managing your accommodation.
Alongside decorating rooms, you'll need to think about facilities, furniture quality and what your guests expect from their stay. The management becomes more involved as you take responsibility for additional properties.
Game Image: Spirittea, Developer Image: C
heesemaster Games
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
Spirittea is a management and life sim where you move to a small town and discover that you can see the spirits living there.
With help from a rather grumpy cat spirit, you'll restore an old bathhouse and look after the supernatural visitors who come to use it.
The town changes with the seasons, including winter, when the surrounding landscape becomes covered in snow.
Most of your time is spent managing the baths, cleaning the facilities, heating the water and looking after visitors. Outside the bathhouse, there are townspeople to meet, activities to try and mysteries involving the spirits to investigate.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Game Image: Disney Dreamlight Valley, Developer Image: Gameloft
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS4, PS5
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a life sim where you explore a magical valley alongside Disney and Pixar characters, completing quests, collecting resources, cooking and decorating your surroundings.
The Frosted Heights biome is covered in snow throughout the year, with icy paths, frozen ponds and plenty of space to decorate.
You can use seasonal furniture to create winter villages, decorate your house and change the appearance of different areas of the valley.
There's also plenty to do outside decorating, with character quests, farming, crafting and resource gathering.
Game Image: Stardew Valley, Developer Image: Concerned Ape
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
Stardew Valley is one of those games that works in pretty much every season, but I particularly enjoy the change of pace when winter arrives.
With regular crop farming slowing down, you suddenly have more time for fishing, mining, upgrading your farm and getting to know the people in Pelican Town.
I usually end up using winter to catch up on all the things I've been ignoring while trying to make money from farming.
The town also looks completely different when the snow arrives, and there are winter festivals and seasonal activities to enjoy.
Spirit of the North
Game Image: Spirit of the North, Developer Image: Infuse Studio
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Spirit of the North is an exploration and puzzle adventure inspired by the landscapes and folklore of Iceland.
You play as a red fox who becomes connected to a mysterious spirit fox associated with the Northern Lights. Together, you'll travel through snowy mountains, explore ancient ruins and uncover the history of a lost civilisation.
There's no traditional dialogue, so the story is told through the environments, puzzles and discoveries you make along the way.
The game also includes platforming sections and environmental puzzles that can take a bit of figuring out.
Above The Snow
Game Image: Above the Snow, Developer Image: Above the Desk
Available on: PC
Above the Snow is a cozy management game set in the snowy Alps during the harsh winter of the 1960s.
You'll take charge of a mountain resort, welcoming guests, decorating your lodge, managing supplies and building trails through the surrounding mountains. There's also a story to follow, with plenty of characters to get to know and the occasional emergency to deal with.
I particularly like the contrast between the freezing mountain landscapes and the warm, inviting interiors. There's something very appealing about managing a little Alpine retreat while the snow falls outside.
It's a great choice if you enjoy management games with a bit of strategy and want something you can spend several winter evenings playing.
Koira
Game Image: Koira, Developer Image: Studio Tolima
Available on: PC, Mac, Playstation
Koira is a hand-drawn narrative adventure about a forest spirit who befriends a lost puppy in the middle of a snowy forest.
You'll explore the woodland together, solve environmental puzzles, meet other animals and avoid hunters as you make your way to safety.
The story is told through animation, music and the relationship between the two characters rather than dialogue.
Much of the game involves exploring the snowy forest and interacting with your puppy, although there are tense moments when you need to hide from hunters or protect your companion.
Which Cozy Games Are You Playing This Winter?
I always seem to end up playing more games during winter. The darker evenings and wet weather certainly help, especially when I've got something new to get stuck into.
This year, I'm looking forward to spending more time ice fishing in Cast n Chill, although I know I'll probably end up back in Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing at some point too.
I've included quite a few snowy adventures this time, along with some management games and shorter puzzles for evenings when I don't want to start something enormous.
If you've got a favourite winter cozy game I've missed, let me know in the comments. I'm always looking for more recommendations!
And if you're not quite ready to leave autumn behind, you can also explore my 20 Best Cozy Games to Play This Autumn for more seasonal recommendations.
Looking for more Cozy Games by Season?
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Looking for cozy games to play this winter? From snowy woodland adventures and winter villages to relaxing management sims, here are 20 games for the colder months.