Do you enjoy winter?

[Mowdan]

My first winter is nearing the end, the winter just felt like it went on forever. The problem with winter is it locks you out of a lot of things. I have all these hides, metal, basic stone and wood. I need cloth which I can't grow, leather which I need to go far out to find lime or borax.With not much wild food and limited bag space, the cold, the snow that slows you down. It is a list of things that make you not go far outside. It really felt like it made the game a whole lot more boring. But idk people find different stuff in different worlds, they play differently so that is the question here.

Do you enjoy winter? Or are you like me and find them more of a drag and not as fun? The best part of winter is when it is not winter but you are preparing for winter... I don't know what do you guys think? I do feel like as I progress further the winter won't be as much of a big deal...

[Dilan Rona]

Winter gives me time to get crafting out of the way, and helps to pass the time. Its also when I spend a lot of time digging mineshafts, and exploring underground. First year though is usually spend just gathering as much food as I can. I also process hides into leather early on, so I have a full set of winter clothes ready to go by Autumn in the game (30 days per month game setting).

Only time winter really becomes a problem for me is when I run out of food. Which rarely happens, as I have a habit of storing too much, and loose a lot of meat to rot. Something I try to avoid by making as much cooked meals as I can, and sealing it with fat or wax, and storing it in a cellar.

[Bruno Willis]

I found winter boring, until I decided to chisel and make some slight improvements to the house. Then winter just flew by. I think it's a good time to get bored and then find something you wouldn't usually do, and do that.

[EnbyKaiju]

I love winter in game, it's the only reason I don't set up down in the tropical zones more.

If you leave yourself a bunch of stuff to do, stockpile stuff over the summer/autumn it can bring a real sense of joy to just be able to sit around doing little jobs where all you have to do is focus, and go with the flow.

So I'll usually spend that time chiselling decorations, processing metals, making charcoal, planning out stuff I wanna do in the new year, sifting bony soil, solid reorganisation of all the stuff. Then you take a walk out into the snow with a jug of wine and enjoy the quiet. Maybe take the elf for a spin over the snow. I tend to do longer months though, like 20-30 day months, so it makes the whole thing a lot more of an experience to find your peace in. You do what makes you happy

[Broccoli Clock]

Yes, in fact I just love the idea of seasons in general. It seems crazy that other survival crafting games do not lean into this. I've said before, though, that I think the threat from Winter is perhaps over emphasised. If you have spent long enough in the game to get there, it's very likely by that time you'll know how to survive on the minimal resources around you.

I think it's also important to point out not all Winters are the same. In the classic, and default, temperate climate spawn the severity of Winter really depends on the latitude you start at. For example, I've had temperate spawns where the Winter barely goes below -5'c, even at its height, meaning farming (albeit with a greenhouse) is possible all year round. Whereas I've had other temperate spawns where I'm forced to find the warmth of a fire, even while wearing crafted fur clothing, and crops are dying (even the hardiest, and even in the greenhouse). 

I'm a cottage core lover, so a couthie wee nook in the winter where I can cook, chisel, tend to my animals and just generally watch the season progress is what I pass my time with. Now, if Tyron, et al, could just introduce wool, knitting and weaving, I'd be set for those drawn out long Winter nights.

[Maelstrom]

I thoroughly enjoy winter in a temperate climate.  It presents another challenge to deal with, especially that first summer.   As others mentioned there's lots of things to do - spelunking, smithing/crafting, exploring far and wide.  Some chores around home like animal husbandry or building that new building.  And panning bony soil I've been collecting from summer explorations.

[LadyWYT]

I like winter. It's a prime opportunity for smithing and steel refining, especially since there's lots of wind to keep a helve hammer powered. Refining steel also means there's at least one warm spot outside to go warm up in as needed. Aside from that, winter also acts as a nice change of pace, slowing down the game for a bit and essentially letting the world sleep, as it does in real life. Once spring comes, it's exciting to see the world awaken once again, as well as nice to have a change from the winter colors.

10 hours ago, Mowdan said:

The problem with winter is it locks you out of a lot of things.

Well that somewhat depends on one's playstyle and climate. 

 

10 hours ago, Mowdan said:

I need cloth which I can't grow

Flax can't be grown in temperate winters, not even with a greenhouse, but it can grow over winter in the Warm climates(especially with a greenhouse). However, it's also worth noting that cloth can be purchased from traders as well, provided one is playing with lore content enabled.

 

10 hours ago, Mowdan said:

leather which I need to go far out to find lime or borax

This can also be done with relative ease in winter; you just need to remember to bring a bit more food and make a fire every once in a while to warm up(or stand near a hot spring, if available). Likewise, lime is also something that can be purchased from Commodities or Survival Goods traders.

 

10 hours ago, Mowdan said:

With not much wild food and limited bag space, the cold, the snow that slows you down

Hunting is still an option, but foraging isn't really. Bag space will be a limiting factor regardless of weather. Snow does slow one down, yes, but not to an absolutely detrimental amount, in my opinion.

 

10 hours ago, Mowdan said:

I do feel like as I progress further the winter won't be as much of a big deal...

Pretty much this. Winter will never be entirely toothless, unless one lives in a climate that doesn't really have winter, but once a player gets used to operating in the cold it's not really a big deal.

[wia]

I love winter in real life lol. In VS, it lasted SO LONG. It was mainly annoying for having to deal with snow if I needed grass or something...

[CABLES]

having decided to start my current save in a warm climate as opposed to the usual temperate, i surprisingly found myself missing winter. my home doesn't get snow at all except at high elevation, and the cold ended up being no big deal - the coldest it got was, like, -9 C. losing out on winter meant i fell a little too far into the usual routine instead of being forced to spend more time indoors decorating, building, and mining.

[OBAMFSpike]

I don't know, I might be slightly broken, but Im building a ski area. 

Yes, I am aware that there are no skis or snowboarding. But a seraph can dream. And honestly, I go out of my way to venture north to create my base all the time. the tallest mountain for the deadliest winds to power my forge that will be the most powerful forge in all of Armisteros. The snow is the most beautiful thing in the world. It cleanses all that would corrupt. Yes indeed, for a long enough winter and even the rot would be hard pressed to survive through another year.

Its blanket of white the most under appreciated custodian and keeper of the world ever known.

I love you snow.

You frigid seductress. 

[Dilan Rona]

Winter is also the one point in the game I can sit down and make some cheese (except for the elusive blue cheese that is).

[Krago]

I turn underground farming on in my worlds, and grow stuff happily when it's freezing on the surface.  I have some animals domesticated and never run short of meat, although I have nothing large enough to give me anything but small hides, as yet.  I did all this because my first winter laster from mid October to the starting days of May, which seemed to last a lifetime.

Edited December 11, 2025 by Krago

[Mowdan]

I guess I just like to be traveling around a lot. Also as noted I should of been trading with the traders more during the winter. I guess my overall planing just wasn't that good.To be fair I did craft a lot of iron and bronze tools during the winter, but it felt like that was all I was doing, mining and making metal tools.I guess the locked feeling was more of not using the traders.Seems like I am an odd one out when it comes to not liking winter that much. It was my first winter my world kind of had lots of berries which couldn't be stockpiled very well because I didn't have a press. Part of it is the way I like to play, and the other part was lack of planning or really just not knowing everything since it was my first winter.

TLDR sounds like I just need to mix up what I do during the winter.

[OBAMFSpike]

20 hours ago, Mowdan said:

Seems like I am an odd one out when it comes to not liking winter that much. 

Nope!

The curator of our server set spawn on the equator. I made it -24k blocks north and established my home. 

Long story. 

But it's cold and I love it. 

[Teh Pizza Lady]

20 hours ago, Mowdan said:

Seems like I am an odd one out when it comes to not liking winter that much. It was my first winter my world kind of had lots of berries which couldn't be stockpiled very well because I didn't have a press. Part of it is the way I like to play, and the other part was lack of planning or really just not knowing everything since it was my first winter.

This is the point where I would mulligan and start over. Now that you're armed with a whole summer and autumn's worth of knowledge, you can start a new world and quickly get yourself back up to speed. My friend and I like to see how far we can push it. We're currently sitting at 20-day months and +25% hunger rate and almost zero health regeneration, making bandages very much necessary for survival. We also use my two mods Expanded Stomach and Hungry While Injured to further enhance the hunger experience.

We push to have steel going during the first winter. So far, it's been doable. Would I recommend it to the new player? Not at all. It certainly comes with it's own challenges, but sitting under the cementation furnace while it's burning is definitely a hunger saver because it allows you to quickly warm up.

My best advice to surviving winter is to plan far far ahead and stockpile food into sealed crocks, especially meat and fruit that won't last very long. Grains and veggies have a MUCH longer shelf life and will last in storage vessels underground. Eat a hearty meal of meat and fruit in the morning (will last longer) and then top yourself off with grains and veggies at night.

[Loosebearings]

I got bored about halfway through my first winter after reorganising my chests and rebuilding my house but after deciding to prospect and mine for some iron it didn't seem too bad.

I feel like winter came at the perfect time for me to engage with some of the late game mechanics such as animal husbandry and iron making while a lot of the things I did during spring and summer were unavailable/more annoying due to the shorter days.

However I would recommend travelling further south for a shorter winter as on my first world the snow started in october and only stopped falling in late may/early june.

[HalfAxd]

I love how seasons ebb and flow in VS...  I find winters to be wonderful and atmospheric...  I get a lot done in winter, especially under ground.  

I recently strayed to a different survival-ish game (Medieval Dynasty) and am disappointed by the seasons just happening over night (poof!).   MD is really a village builder more than a survival game, beautiful but disappointing.  I mention this just as contrast to VS where weather, seasons, crop growth, etc. have such great pacing.  

Enjoy!

[Metalton]

Hmm.. changes up the gameplay a bit, but overall don't think they're -that- bad. One world I had played for a lil' bit, then decided I wanted 30 day months.. Found changing it morphed the current month (June I think..) into Feb. Found myself in the tail end of winter almost completely unprepared. Got to watch the few things I had planted die before I even got a single harvest out of 'em. Still managed to survive the 30 days on the bit of food stuck in the single storage vessel I had, limited hunting and a few hides for a fur coat instead of just tattered clothing (though I still couldn't range far from a fire).. Was actually kinda proud of that

Edited December 12, 2025 by Metalton

[ArgentLuna]

Yes and no.

Conceptuly yes but practically no as it impedes what i like to do a lot and leaves snow and ice around there-after because of how the map updates but i deal with it.

We are planning to move our home to a new map and i want to play on a Warm start for what the seed offers versus what the temprarte one does and my friend is less keen on it as he likes winter (however he also tends to not go anywhere beyond the local grounds most of the time anyway)

[hstone32]

You know what? I do like winter. I love the urgency I feel as it approaches, and the relief when it passes. It gives a sense of flowing time, especially since your daily chores tend to change around the season. If the differences between winter and other seasons were purely cosmetic, then I wouldn't really have a sens of history in my world, as the years would sort of just blend together.