This Steam Next Fest Demo Is Basically Don't Starve as an Adorable Mouse, and It's My Next Survival Obsession

I sat down for a Steam Next Fest sampler expecting a quick vibe check and ended up spending the most wholesome 40-ish minutes with a shivering little mouse and a to-do list. Winter Burrow is a cozy survival game that feels like someone sanded down the edges of Don't Starve and swapped panic for pie crust.

The setup

You play a capable city mouse who bails on the grind and heads back to a childhood home tucked inside a hollow tree. There's a wrinkle: your aunt is missing, the burrow she left behind is in rough shape, and winter is not exactly gentle. So you move in, patch it up, and try not to freeze.

How the demo actually plays

It's a survival loop, just... kinder. You scavenge, craft, and keep an eye on your meters, but the tone leans soothing instead of stressful. The snow-covered woods are pretty, time outside is limited by the cold, and every small improvement at home feels meaningful.

• Gather basics: sticks and pebbles turn into a DIY axe; wood becomes a bed and other furniture.
• Forage food: nuts and insect bits keep your hunger in check.
• Respect the weather: the cold slowly creeps up and cuts your exploration short if you push your luck.
• The twist: boosting cold resistance isn't about min-maxing gear; it's about baking a pie or knitting a jumper. Knitting, in a survival game. I'm not mad about it.

Why it works

The whole thing has a gorgeous, paper-cutout look, and the tiny patter of the mouse shuffling through snow is dangerously charming. It taps into that specific winter itch: the urge to burrow under a blanket with a hot drink and fuss over a cozy little space while the weather does its thing outside.

Release timing

Winter Burrow is set to launch in full on November 12.