Project Winter

The social deduction and cabin fever game Project Winter is currently free, for Windows — 100% free to keep — in a limited-time Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Don’t miss out, as Project Winter normally costs US$9.99!

Project Winter is an independent social deduction game featuring survival mechanics and a theme involving Cabin Fever that takes place in a remote location where some players must escape a blizzard while others try to sabotage their efforts. The game was developed by Other Ocean Interactive and initially released on May 23, 2019.

The game is an online multiplayer experience, playable with 5 to 8 players per match. Most players take the role of Survivors, who interact with the icy environment to find a way out. Traitors, on the other hand, are the ones who seek ways to disrupt their plans. Both sides must manage health, warmth, hunger, and threats from local wildlife.

Published by Other Ocean (Other Ocean Group Canada Limited) itself and available on Windows, Windows App, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Switch, Project Winter was received with generally positive reviews, frequently being compared to the hit Among Us, and getting some awards. As of this publication, it has hundreds of very positive reviews on Steam.

You can get the game here! There also should be a Free Pass on Steam.

Trailer

Gameplay

Project Winter combines survival mechanics with social deduction. Matches feature 5 to 8 players, typically six Survivors and two Traitors. The Survivors’ goal is to complete a series of objectives to call in a rescue vehicle and escape the area before a deadly blizzard hits or the 30-minute match time runs out. To do this, they must explore the map for bunkers and other structures containing parts needed to repair objectives, as well as equipment to improve their chances of survival. Items can also be crafted using the game’s crafting system.

Objectives vary from match to match and may include, for example, repairing power generators. These require specific materials that can be found in bunkers — often requiring two or more players to open — or crafted at the main cabin. Once two objectives are repaired, Survivors can call for a rescue vehicle, such as a helicopter, and win if they manage to board it.

Meanwhile, Traitors work to prevent the escape. They can sabotage objectives and use exclusive crates and secret passages to gain equipment and strategic advantages. Since Traitors start at a numerical and power disadvantage, they often need to infiltrate the Survivors, earn their trust, and choose the right moment to act.

In addition to completing objectives, players must manage basic survival needs. Health, warmth, and hunger bars must be maintained to avoid dying. Improvised campfires or the cabin fireplace increase body temperature, while food like berries or cooked meat restores hunger. If a character goes too long without food or warmth, they may pass out. Players can also exile suspicious individuals from the cabin, making survival more difficult for those exiled.

Communication is a central part of the game. Project Winter uses proximity-based voice chat, allowing only nearby players to speak with each other. Radios are also available for long-distance communication between players on the same channel, alongside text chat and emotes.

About the game

IN PROJECT WINTER, SURVIVAL IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

Work with your friends to escape the icy wilderness, but don’t get too comfortable. Traitors lurk among you, ready to lie, sabotage, and turn even the closest of friends against each other. Who will you trust?

ABOUT PROJECT WINTER

The ultimate test of friendship; do your friends have your back or will they put a knife in it? Betray your friends in this 8-person multiplayer game focused on social deception and survival.

Communication and teamwork are essential to the survivors’ ultimate goal of escape. Gather resources, repair structures, and brave the wilderness together. Just beware that there are traitors within the group working to sabotage your chances of getting out alive by any means necessary.

ROLES

Survivor

As a survivor you will have to complete a series of objectives in order to call in one of several rescue vehicles and escape to win the game.

Repair all the objectives to restore the cabin radio to working order.
Break rocks, harvest berries and herbs, and cut down trees to earn crafting materials used to repair objectives, and help keep you alive.
Explore crates found in the buildings scattered throughout the map which contain items that will help you survive and complete your objectives.

Traitor

As a traitor your goal is to stop the survivors from escaping without being identified or killed.

All of your teammates will be revealed to you at the start of the match and can be identified by a red traitor symbol, much like yours. You will start with a red radio to communicate with your fellow traitor.
Use traitor crates and hatches scattered throughout the map to gain advantage against survivors.

FEATURES

Teamwork

Survivors cannot escape unless they work together. Players who wander off on their own will have difficulty surviving the elements, can fall victim to hostile wildlife, or become easy targets for the traitors.

Communication

Communication is key if the survivors have any hope of escaping. There are several ways to communicate with other players:

proximity-based voice chat
private voice chat radio channels
text chat and emotes

Betrayal & Deception

The traitors are outnumbered and weak when the game begins, they may infiltrate the survivors and earn their trust while they build up their strength. Survivors can never be 100% sure of who to trust. The traitors can take advantage of this by spreading lies, and pitting the survivors against each other.

Customization

Play the game how you want with multiple game modes including basic, normal and custom mode! Add some flair to your character with cosmetics that can be bought with our in-game currency earned after each match!