Froggy Hates Snow – A Cozy Roguelite That Completely Caught Me Off Guard

Prefer watching over reading? The video above is an embedded VOD from my CheckpointVibes YouTube channel, featuring gameplay from one of my livestreams. It’s included as a companion to this review so you can see the game in action while reading—or simply enjoy the gameplay on its own.

First off, I’d like to thank the developers and publishers for providing us at TheDailyGamePad with a free copy of Froggy Hates Snow.

I originally played this during one of my 12-hour CheckpointVibes streams, and I’ve also included the VOD with this article. If you’re someone who would rather watch the gameplay than read through my impressions, feel free to check out the video. I break down a lot of my thoughts while playing, so hopefully it gives you a good look at what the game has to offer.

Now, let’s talk about Froggy Hates Snow.

I genuinely wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did.

In fact, the only reason I stopped playing was because I had a long list of games scheduled for the stream. If I hadn’t been trying to stay on schedule, I probably would have kept playing for another hour.

If you’ve followed my content for any amount of time, you already know I’m a huge fan of roguelites. They’re easily one of my favorite genres, so seeing another game enter the space immediately caught my attention.

What surprised me, though, was how relaxing this game felt.

I know that might sound strange to some people because when most players hear the word “cozy,” they immediately think of farming simulators or life sims. Personally, I’ve never believed cozy has to belong to one genre. To me, a cozy game is simply a game that helps you relax, and Froggy Hates Snow absolutely fits that description.

The gameplay revolves around surviving waves of enemies while gathering resources between each encounter. Those resources are then used to improve your little frog’s chances of surviving the freezing environment. Since frogs are cold-blooded creatures, staying warm is just as important as defending yourself.

That balance between exploration, resource gathering, and combat creates a gameplay loop that I found incredibly satisfying.

One thing I really appreciated is that progression doesn’t stop when a run ends.

As you level up, you unlock permanent upgrades, new starting equipment, artifacts, and additional abilities that make future runs even more interesting. During my playthrough I unlocked things like scarves, improved tongue attacks, carts that increased carrying capacity, and artifacts that boosted resource gathering.

Those permanent upgrades make every run feel worthwhile, even if you don’t make it all the way through.

Each enemy wave also rewards you with upgrade choices, so you’re constantly making decisions about how you want to build your frog. Do you focus on staying warmer? Increase movement speed? Improve combat? Carry more resources? There’s always another meaningful decision waiting for you.

I really enjoy roguelites that make every upgrade feel impactful, and this one definitely succeeds there.

Combat is straightforward and fun, but what really stood out to me was how much resource management plays into the experience.

Between enemy waves, you’re racing against the cold while gathering different colored resources, opening treasure chests, finding hidden bubble shelters, collecting keys, and deciding how much risk you’re willing to take before heading back to safety.

I found myself constantly thinking:

“Can I grab one more resource before the next wave?”

Those little decisions create a surprising amount of tension without making the game feel stressful.

Eventually I learned that yellow resources quickly became some of the most valuable materials for keeping my run alive, especially when healing started becoming more expensive later on.

One feature I really liked was the optional relaxed mode.

If you’re someone who enjoys the atmosphere more than the challenge, you can adjust the experience to make it much more laid back. From what I could tell, using that mode limits achievements, but I honestly appreciate that the option exists.

Whether you want a more challenging roguelite experience or simply want to relax after a long day, the game lets you choose how you want to play.

I always love seeing accessibility through gameplay options like this because everyone enjoys games differently.

By the end of my run, I had defeated the area’s boss, unlocked new artifacts, earned additional permanent upgrades, and opened the next location.

The entire run took around thirty minutes, which honestly felt like the perfect length. It’s the kind of game where you finish one run and immediately think,

“Alright…one more.”

That’s usually the sign of a really enjoyable roguelite.

Froggy Hates Snow ended up being one of the biggest surprises I’ve played recently.

It combines resource management, exploration, permanent progression, and roguelite gameplay into something that’s both relaxing and rewarding. The gameplay loop constantly kept me engaged, the progression system made every run worthwhile, and I genuinely found myself smiling throughout most of my time with it.

If you’re already a fan of roguelites, this is an easy recommendation.

If you’ve been curious about the genre but wanted something that feels a little more approachable, this is also a fantastic place to start.

I had an absolute blast playing Froggy Hates Snow, and it’s definitely a game I’ll be coming back to.

And once again, thank you to the developers and publishers for providing TheDailyGamePad with a review copy. Be sure to check out the gameplay VOD included with this article if you’d like to see the game in action before jumping in yourself.