"Cozy" New Cross-Country Skiing Video Game Launched for Free
It's July. Across much of the U.S. and beyond, temperatures are broiling, the sun is shining, and many of us are just surviving from glass of iced lemonade to glass of iced lemonade. The invigorating chill of a winter morning couldn't feel any further.
A new, brilliant little Nordic skiing game makes the colder months feel closer, though. Aptly called Nordic and recently shared by ClubChaos on a subreddit dedicated to independent game development, the free game simulates cross-country skiing.
"It is a cozy game where I'm trying first and foremost to recreate the zen nature of cross-country skiing when you find that perfect cadence," wrote its creator.
The charming retro graphics belie the fact that Nordic is tough to master. The control scheme allows for turning, pole plants, and control of your avatar's individual legs, meaning that to keep the pace, you'll need to learn (or re-learn) how to cross-country ski.
The ability to switch between skate and classic adds another wrinkle. Thankfully, a well-constructed tutorial walks newcomers through the basics.
Then, it's time to set off and hit the digital courses. All the while, the sun rises and sets, making for sunset and night skiing opportunities (you can flip your headlamp on and off). I'm fairly certain I even spotted a deer going about its business in the woods.
Nordic joins a slew of other independently made ski games, some paid and some free. While it's been a while since a major studio depicted the sport-Steep and its spiritual successor Riders Republic are the most recent-ski fans with a knack for coding are keeping us well fed.
Earlier this summer, POWDERchatted with the creator of Jibbers, a challenging freestyle skiing simulator, and learned how it went from being a master's thesis to a cult hit. Other freestyle projects, like JIB and B-Dog: Bark n' Butter, are underway, too.
While a ski game can't, of course, make your nose cold or fully satisfy the powder itch, we could think of worse ways to spend those muggy summer evenings when it's too hot to move.
To give Nordic a try, click here.
Related: Jibbers Is the Hardest Ski Video Game I've Ever Tried, but the Payoff Is Worth It
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published July 13, 2026 at 11:39 AM.