Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth Review – Even In The Darkest Night

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is the latest video game adaptation from Tove Jansson’s kind world, now focused on its gentle protagonist.

Every winter, the Rideau Canal freezes over. Accustomed to the harsh season, the people in Ottawa take this temporary opportunity to skate all over the world’s largest skating rink. Making the most of it, nearby pastry shops offer “beaver tails” (deep-fried dough) and warm chocolate sprinkled with marshmallows. In sub-zero temperatures, sipping a boiling hot beverage gives a cherished moment of respite amid the inclement weather. Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth evokes this contrast by portraying its central character against an ever-present danger with love.

Heavily inspired by 1957’s Moominland Midwinter, Tove Jansson’s sixth book in the series tackled heavy themes like death, loneliness, and personal growth. Much like it, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is what seems like the most faithful recreation of the Moomin teachings, carving a balance between its characters’ plights and the fun you can have covered deep in snow. Where 2024’s videogame adaptation Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is all about the pointy-haired troubadour, this focus on the sensitive Moomintroll allows for a more gentle kind of storytelling.

In the Moomin stories, the beginning of winter is always carried by a tinge of sadness. Because Snufkin and Moomintroll are the best of friends, it hurts when the musician must part to let the hippo-like goofball hibernate through each cold season. Our story picks up right after one such farewell. Moominmamma and Moominpappa are ready to go to bed, and so is the young Moomintroll. Suddenly, Moomintroll is abruptly awoken by a small, shadowy figure. Unable to go back to sleep, the plot is afoot.

Moominvalley is a true winter wonderland. A nonstop snowstorm covers every inch of land, making some areas inaccessible without a shovel or an axe to cut down tree trunks. What’s worse is that Moomintroll has finally taken hold of one of the figures that woke him up. Called the Winter Beings, these cute black shapes tell Moomin that spring cannot arrive until a ceremony dubbed the Great Bonfire is celebrated. Winter, or The Lady of The Cold, will never leave Moominvalley.

In video game terms, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is straightforward. There is the main quest, and there are side quests. The main goal is to obtain copious amounts of wood to light the giant bonfire, recruit a musician, and invite several friends to the party. The tale is recognizable if you are familiar with the series. Each character, from the mischievous Little My to the pearl-clutching mother figure Fillijonk, represents a characteristic challenge for Moomin to grow.

Chief among them is Too-Ticky. An independent, self-sufficient woman who tells Moomin where to go and upgrades his tools to survive in this weather, she is crucial in his coming-of-age journey. To learn that this character was originally based on the author’s life partner warms the heart. Actually, every little thing in the game serves the purpose of the main message. Once a helpless, insecure young child, Moomintroll is faced with life-threatening situations that he is able to overcome with the support of his friends.

Of course, there are a few annoying details, like the fact that Moomin’s short legs make him move rather slowly and that drags when backtracking. Some side quests require returning to previous areas once a tool, like the axe, has been acquired, and that could tire some players. Then again, the wondrous piano soundtrack eases any stress. And the technology that traces every step you take in the snow along Moominvalley is quite impressive as well. Not to mention the gorgeously recreated artstyle.

Learning about life’s more difficult lessons is never easy. It is said that Tove Jansson believed fear was an important detail to add in children’s books. Losing someone or growing as a person are scary prospects. What Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth does kindly is show these struggles from different characters’ perspectives, never losing its trademark humor. Delivering a heartwarming message that will resonate with both kids and adults, this is a story that wears its heart on its sleeve. Through its curious protagonist, we are reminded to look on the bright side of things, even when the night is darkest.