Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth launches on September 18

This marks the second game from the Norwegian studio based on the works of Tove Jansson, following the release of Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley. The story follows Moomintroll as he wakes from hibernation to find winter still lingering. To wake his family and bring his best friend, Snufkin, back to Moominvalley, our hero must embark on a journey to bring back spring.

Visually, the game aims to replicate the feeling of an interactive storybook. Inspired by Tove Jansson's own artwork, the developers used a mix of 3D shapes and 2D painted elements within the Unity engine to achieve a distinct watercolor aesthetic. The goal was to make the colors appear as if they have tinted the paper, complete with the charming imperfections of traditional watercolor.

A notable technical detail is the treatment of snow. While the environments feature many flat, stage-like structures, the snow itself is designed to feel heavy and reactive. Using a deformable layer, the snow responds to the characters' movements, providing a sense of weight and texture as they traverse the landscape.

The game also weaves in personal elements from Jansson's life. For instance, the character Too-Ticky was inspired by her real-life partner, Tuulikki Pietilä.