For today’s post I decided to make a compilation of indie games that you can play this season that will match your mood no matter where you’re based. I am also adding one game from my wishlist/backlog per season, so you will find 12 games in total down below.
I also made a list for Autumn/Spring last year, you can read it here. This time I chose to feature indie games exclusively. I hope you find a new interesting game to play, or maybe there could be a sign to pick one of these from your existing backlog?
So snuggle up with a blanket or grab some ice tea and let’s get to it!
Winter games ❄️
For my Winter picks, I made a selection of truly beautiful games with flawless icy vibes. While some of them have heartfelt stories, others are on the lighter side if that’s what you need to fight seasonal depression (I know I do).
1. Winter Burrow
Winter Burrow is a cozy woodland survival game about a mouse returning home to restore their childhood burrow. Explore, gather resources, craft, knit warm sweaters, bake pies and meet the locals. (Description from the Steam page)
If you’d like to read about my thoughts on the game, check out my (spoiler-free) review here. To summarize it, even though Winter Burrow can be heartbreaking at times when your little mouse is getting cold out there in the wild, I liked how the survival mechanics brought a much welcome challenge to the simulation genre.
Available for: PC, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
2. ILA: A Frosty Glide
Set foot on a magical island and explore a whimsical small open world as ILA, a spirited young witch-in-training searching for her lost kitty, Coco. With your trusty skatebroom, find secret places, collectables, and improve your magic and flying abilities as you reach the summit. (Description from the Steam page)
ILA: A Frosty Glide is a gorgeous adventure 3D platformer that does an excellent job combining winter with magical vibes, and the skatebroom mechanics feel just right. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to complete the game because some camera changes triggered my motion sickness, so beware of it if you’re also prone to that.
Available for: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
3. Wildfrost
The world has succumbed to the Wildfrost. Now only Snowdwell and its survivors stand as the last bastion against an eternal winter… Build up a deck of powerful card companions and elemental items, as you battle to banish the frost once and for all! (Description from the Steam page)
I dare say that Wildfrost is a must-play if you’re a fan of roguelike deckbuilders. The hand-drawn art and animations really bring its world to life, and the game has tons of replayability with different decks and things to unlock.
Available for: PC, mobile, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
4. Herdling
Head out on a grand alpine expedition with a herd of loveable beasts, as you ascend a mountain path, encounter eerie dangers and surprising obstacles, and forge your way to the mystery at the summit. (Description from the Steam page)
I’ll be honest, I didn’t finish Herdling yet even though it’s only a 3½ hour game (according to HowLongtoBeat). The truth is that I was trying it out on Game Pass and I cancelled my subscription. However, now I actually bought the game, I just need to get around to it. But yes, this is the type of game I don’t need to finish to recommend it.
Available for: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
5. South of the Circle
South of the Circle is a deep narrative experience of the emerging relationship between Peter and Clara, Cambridge academics involved in a political conflict. The story focuses on promises made in between career and true love, where our choices burdened by our past seem to be illusory. (Description from the Steam page)
South of the Circle is a game I played a few years ago, back when it was still on Apple Arcade, and I can’t recommend it enough for fans of narrative games/visual novels. It’s that kind of game that makes you feel like you’re watching a movie – a historical one in this case – with some gameplay sprinkled here and there. Go in blind for the best experience playing it.
Available for: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS
Choice from my wishlist: Fireside Feelings
Share your thoughts and discover those shared by others, in Fireside Feelings. Gather around the welcoming warmth of the campfire and take part in conversations between real people separated in space and time. Sometimes, we all need a good talk under the stars. (Description from the Steam page)
I’ve been keeping an eye on Fireside Feelings ever since watching the trailer in the Wholesome Direct 2025. I love its premise of creating a conversation among players anonymously. If you’ve played it, let me know if you recommend it!
Available for: PC
Summer games 🏖️
Games set in Summer (or that have Summer vibes) are a guarantee for some lighthearted and silly type of fun, right? Well, don’t fall for that cliche, because the first game in this list is a deeply emotional one.
1. A Space for the Unbound
A magical adventure about two high school sweethearts set at the end of their school days – and the end of the world. Explore a crumbling town and help friends face their inner demons, which could be the key to stopping reality itself disintegrating. And don’t forget to pet the cats. (Description from the Steam Page)
A Space for the Unbound is a stunning narrative, side-scrolling game set in 90s Indonesia that made me cry. I recommend going in totally blind for the best experience playing this game.
Available for: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS
2. Kabuto Park
Enjoy summer in Kabuto Park! Catch the cutest bugs, train them and win the Summer Beetle Battles Championship in this tiny bug collection game! Upgrade your equipment to find rarer, stronger and shinier little friends. (Description from the Steam page)
Kabuto Park is an adorable (and short) creature collector game where you can battle other kids during your summer vacation with the bugs you collected.
Available for: PC, MacOS, Linux
3. Kitchen Sync: Aloha!
Kitchen Sync: Aloha! is a cozy, story-driven cooking RPG. As head chef of your family’s restaurant in Hawaii, build a trusty team of chefs and dish up tasty Hawaiian food. Manage kitchens, build friendships, find romance, explore tropical venues, and discover the power of cooking together. (Description from the Steam page)
I had a lot of fun playing this underrated RPG cooking game that was released last year. Kitchen Sync: Aloha! really hit the perfect spot mixing up of the management gameplay with a visual novel-type narrative.
Available for: PC, MacOS
4. Luma Island
Seeking a fresh start, you’ve bought Old Man Jeffrey’s farm and rustic caravan on Luma Island. Explore, craft, mine, fish, uncover secrets, build your dream farm & collect magical Lumas in an awesome 1-4 player adventure. (Description from the Steam page)
I started Luma Island as of last week and I’m already loving it. Initially I sort of disliked the style of the character models, but now I’m truly impressed with the attention to every small detail and just how good everything looks even on my Steam Deck. The music and sound effects are the cherry on top. If you’re a fan of the life sim/farming sim genre, this is an instant recommend from me. Here’s to hoping they will release the game in more platforms in the future.
Available for: PC
5. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Even the smallest person can make a big difference. Join Alba, as she sets out to save her beautiful island and its wildlife. And possibly start a revolution. (Description from the Steam page)
Another short treat in this list, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a truly wholesome game where you play as a child visiting her grandparents for her summer vacation. It was really fun and chill to walk around a Mediterranean island cataloguing the local birds. I can also recommend this one as a great game to play with your child!
Available for: PC, MacOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, iOS
Choice from my backlog: Sheepherds!
Sheepherds! is a cozy co-op party game for 1–4 players, where you and your sheepdog buddies guide colorful flocks through beautiful landscapes to collect their wool. There’s no time limit: bark, run, and play together — or take on challenges to win even more rewards! (Description from the Steam page)
I’ve talked about Sheepherds! here on the blog before, but I haven’t got around to play it yet. I decided to add it to the Summer list as my backlog pick because there’s just something about the bright colors that screams Summer to me – even though they recently released a Winter update as well.
Available for: PC
Do you have a recommendation of just that right game to play during either Winter or Summer? I’d love to know!
-Luna
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