New exploration-based crafting game released in November is now trending on Steam with 90% positive reviews and launch discount

When one thinks of "cozy survival" games, they would think of a crafting game with softer edges. Winter Burrow takes the label somewhat more literally, since the cozy part isn’t just vibes, it’s the entire point of the game. You play as a mouse returning from the big city to find their childhood burrow in ruins, then rebuild it into something livable before winter bites back. The game was released in November 2025, and right before the end of the year, it has made its way onto Steam's "Popular New Releases" chart.

The main hook here is that comfort is treated like gear. The Steam description covers everyday tasks, like gathering resources, crafting tools, knitting warm sweaters, baking pies - but frames them as part of making it through the cold rather than simple optional side activities.

If we talk about the story, the game gives you a practical reason to head out into danger: your Aunt, who was supposed to look after the burrow, has gone missing. That pushes players into the frozen wilderness to collect materials, deal with insect wildlife, and gradually expand a "survival handbook" as they meet locals and piece together what exactly happened.

What’s nice is the way it pitches itself against the usual survival-game pacing we've gotten so used to. The store page describes Winter Burrow as a survival game you play "at your own pace," with room to customize your character, decorate your burrow, and choose a playstyle that fits your needs. It's easy to discern that this is a small but deliberate design choice: it wants to be a survival game that doesn’t feel like homework, or a chore that you have to go back to just because you paid for it.

Speaking of pricing, Winter Burrow is listed at $19.99 on Steam, and at the time of writing, it’s running a 20% launch discount (showing $15.99) with the promo ending January 5. Reception so far suggests it’s landing well with players. Steam currently shows Very Positive user reviews overall (and even for recent reviews), with the page sitting around 1,500+ total reviews and a high positive percentage. 

Before this full release, Winter Burrow spent time in early access, where the developers gradually shaped the game based on player feedback. That period was mostly about tuning the survival systems, expanding crafting, and smoothing out the pacing, before rolling into the current 1.0 version on Steam.

If your idea of a good survival loop is less "min-max hunger bars" and more "fix the house, stay warm, then go exploring," Winter Burrow is a rare game that actually builds its identity around that. On top of that, it's Steam Deck (curr. $840 for the 1TB/OLED variant) verified. You can check out the Steam store page for Winter Burrow here.