In the upcoming title from Pine Creek Games, Winter Burrow, players will face the same harsh cold as in games like The Long Dark and Frostpunk. However, this chilly setting is contrasted with a sense of warmth and comfort, creating an intriguing blend of cozy atmosphere and survival gameplay. According to Benjamin Salqvist, CEO and Creative Director at Pine Creek Games, “We believe that the contrast between these two elements intensifies each other, leading to unique gaming experiences.
In an unexpected turn of events, Salqvist acknowledges that the survival game 7 Days to Die served as the main influence behind Winter Burrow. In a blog post about Winter Burrows on Xbox Wire, Salqvist expressed, “I envisioned a game where instead of humans surviving a zombie apocalypse, it was squirrels, hedgehogs, moles, and mice that were crawling in the trees and digging in the ground.
A human story told through the eyes of a mouse
Winter Burrow could be described as a story that appears to center around a small mouse and its woodland friends, but the narrative is uncompromisingly focused on human experiences. The family of mice leave their burrow for the city in pursuit of a better existence. In the city, they encounter nothing but laborious tasks and misery. Tragically, the little mouse’s parents pass away, prompting it to journey back to its childhood home. However, upon returning, it finds that the once familiar burrow is now in shambles and disarray.
In that scenario, it’s up to you to play the role of a determined mouse, setting out into the frigid wilderness in search of the essential items needed to restore your burrow to its once cozy state. You gather small twigs, blades of grass, and other tiny resources, gradually rebuilding your childhood abode while also adding personal touches along the way. The materials you accumulate from the forest floor can serve multiple purposes, such as crafting warmer clothing like sweaters and hats, or even constructing bridges to aid your fellow forest dwellers.
As a tech-savvy explorer, I’ve discovered that fellow forest dwellers can offer valuable resources. Some critters might share knowledge or tools, but not all are friendly. The pesky insect hordes could potentially turn my outdoor escapades into a perilous quest. It’s your call to decide how to manage the risks – either wait it out or gear up with courage and swat those pesky beetles away with my DIY weapon. If harsh winters or bugs spoil my expedition, I’ll just pass out and miraculously wake up refreshed the next day, snuggled back in my cozy bed at home.
Salqvist intended for the central theme of the game to center on the stark contrast between safety and peril, mimicking the sensation of coziness beneath a blanket during inclement weather outside. The goal was to delve into this sense of security and its relationship with an unforgiving, frigid wilderness.
At least you can bake a pie to soothe the wounds of a failed excursion.
Inspiration from games, art, and literature
7 Days to Die’s survival mechanics may have been the initial spark, but the choice to develop Winter Burrow in a 2D isometric forest style was influenced by both Don’t Starve and Animal Crossing. The game’s distinctive hand-drawn ink-lined comic book look was inspired by David Peterson’s Mouse Guard comic series.
The result is a friendlier interpretation of the typically harsh survival genre, where players don’t lose their advancements upon fainting, and a tweaked version of the tranquil life-sim genre that some may find too mild. However, this isn’t how it started. As stated by Salqvist from Pine Creek Games, the team experimented with various routes for Winter Burrow before the game settled on its current path. “These paths may appear as diversions today, but we are glad we explored them because they helped us grasp the game and its central concept better.
Despite the 2025 release window becoming increasingly tight, Winter Burrow is still undergoing changes. Recently, Pine Creek Games unveiled a revamped appearance for the playable mouse character. The fresh design aims to better align with the game’s snug, storybook atmosphere. Additionally, new artwork and a logo for the game have also been presented recently.
Pine Creek Games has teamed up with Noodlecake for the publication of Winter Burrow on Xbox and Xbox PC platforms. When we initially presented our game to both Noodlecake and Xbox, they quickly grasped our vision. They have been by our side since the beginning, offering encouragement and helping us believe in the potential of the game. A heartfelt ‘Thank you’ is extended to them for their support. – Salqvest.
From my perspective as an observer, I’m excited to share that the life-sim game with a wholesome survival twist is compatible with Xbox Play Anywhere. This means that if you buy the game once, whether it’s for an Xbox console or PC, you can play it on any Xbox platform. And
Moreover, I’m thrilled to announce that this game will be available on Game Pass from day one, not just for Xbox but also PC users. As you eagerly anticipate its release, a demo is conveniently accessible on Steam to help you get a taste of the game beforehand.
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2025-06-13 16:09