Let it snow

Water gets all the credit. When gaming companies want to show off new graphics technology, things tend to get wet; splashing waves that are only possible with the latest physics engine, or puddles that can reflect the world around them thanks to ray tracing. But there’s something special about snow. It might not be as technically impressive as water, but when it comes to creating a mood in a game, snow can be very powerful. And two recent releases — Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth and Froggy Hates Snow — really capture just what snow is capable of. Let’s start with the Moomins. Winter’s Warmth is the second game based on the iconic Finnish fairy tale creatures, but, as the title suggests, this one is set during the frigid Scandinavian winter. You play as Moomintroll, the only child in a family of rotund trolls that more closely resemble upright hippos. Usually at this time of the year, the family are all asleep, hibernating through the bleak winter. But something has woken him up early, and the game follows his adventures as he learns just what the world is like during this time when he’s normally asleep. As a game, Winter’s Warmth is fairly straightforward. In order to bring back spring, and keep busy while his parents slumber, Moomintroll basically becomes an errand boy for everyone in the valley. …