Showcased at BIC 2026 by the Korean indie team Ortus Games, 'Winter of the Arbyen' is an action-adventure and management simulator that masterfully combines survival, shop management, and a heartwarming narrative within a cold, apocalyptic setting.

At the start of the game, you take on the role of Will, who returns to his hometown, the mining village of Arvien, after receiving a letter from his missing father. Through a brief monologue, Will introduces the 'Last Winter'—a time when the world was engulfed by endless blizzards and extreme cold. He takes over his missing father's shop and begins to uncover the secret of 'Ignis Stones,' the only hope for surviving the eternal winter.

The core gameplay loop revolves around a cycle of resource gathering, survival, and shop management. You must venture out into the freezing, blizzard-swept wilderness to secure food and fuel while battling ferocious wild animals. A key feature of the game is that this process is presented through simple side-scrolling platformer action. However, since you cannot face wild animals empty-handed, you must consistently gather branches and other materials from nearby thickets to keep your weapons stocked.

While most wildlife does not use ranged attacks, players must approach with caution, as some creatures, like weasels, have unexpected patterns, such as throwing stones. Because the world is a desolate winter wasteland, there are virtually no ways to restore health until players have conducted sufficient research. Even in the early demo, one could see the foundations of the simulation elements: starting with primitive weapons like stone axes, wooden spears, and stone pickaxes, players gradually progress to upgrading rare skills. However, since venturing out for rarer materials is impossible without protection against the cold, players will likely need to balance their tech tree between crafting technology and survival necessities.

The demo showcased how players use gathered resources to keep the hearth fire burning through the night and prepare food to restore health and endure the cold. The full game will follow Will and his family as they rebuild their shop, sell goods to customers to fund their survival, and explore the forests and underground areas near Arbyen to uncover the secrets behind the endless winter and the village itself.

'Winter of the Arbyen' is a title that might be easy to overlook at first glance. While its calm pixel art captures the quiet, lonely atmosphere of a desolate winter landscape, its understated, minimalist aesthetic means it doesn't immediately grab the eye. However, the game builds anticipation by systematically depicting the process of gradually adapting to and surviving the bitter cold. The controls are simple, but weapons wear out quickly and hypothermia sets in easily. As players navigate these challenges, the unfolding narrative threads pique curiosity about the story that lies ahead.

'Winter of the Arbyen' is currently holding a playtest in conjunction with its participation in BIC, with a full release targeted for 2027.