If your kid has spent the last few years calling everyone "sus" and obsessed with the betrayal mechanics of Among Us, Project Winter is the natural (and much more difficult) evolution.

It’s an 8-person multiplayer game where you are "survivors" trapped in a frozen wasteland. You have to gather resources, repair structures, and eventually call for a rescue vehicle. The twist? Two players are "Traitors" whose only goal is to stop the survivors from escaping—by any means necessary.

Unlike the colorful, bouncy world of Among Us, Project Winter is a survival game first. You have to manage hunger and warmth while avoiding wolves and bears. If you don't freeze to death, a "friend" might just stab you in the back while you're mining for ore.

Let’s be real: kids love the "Ohio" energy of this game. It’s chaotic, unpredictable, and feels "grown-up" compared to the brain-rot content they might see on YouTube.

We need to talk about the voice chat. In Project Winter, communication isn't just a bonus; it’s the entire game. You cannot effectively play this game without a microphone.

Because the game relies on convincing others you aren't a traitor, kids are often forced to talk to complete strangers. While many players are just there to have fun, gaming lobbies are notorious for "lobby rot"—trash talking, swearing, and occasionally much worse.

If your child is playing in "Public" lobbies, they will hear things you probably don't want them hearing. This isn't a game where you can just "turn off chat" and still enjoy the experience. To play it right, you have to engage.

Learn more about the risks of proximity chat in gaming

At this age, the mechanics might be a bit overwhelming, and the social pressure of being "found out" as a traitor can actually lead to real-world tears. If they really want to play, the best move is a "Private Lobby" with friends they already know. Playing with strangers at 11 is a recipe for a bad Saturday afternoon.

This is the target demographic. They’re old enough to understand the nuance of social engineering and can handle the survival difficulty. However, this is also the age where they are most likely to pick up some "salty" language from older players.

If they can handle Fortnite or Call of Duty, they can handle this. At this point, it’s more about time management than content concerns.

Unlike some of the mindless clicker games on Roblox, Project Winter actually requires a functioning brain. It teaches:

Some kids take in-game betrayal personally. If your child is the type to get genuinely upset when a friend lies to them in a game, Project Winter might cause more drama than it’s worth. It’s a game built on the foundation of lying.

Yes, there are cosmetics. No, they aren't necessary for gameplay. It’s the standard "buy a cool hat" model we see in Fortnite. It’s not as predatory as some mobile apps, but keep an eye on the credit card.

Check out our guide on how to talk to your kids about "Gacha" and in-game spending

If your kid is asking for Project Winter, or they’re already playing it, here are a few conversation starters that don't sound like a lecture:

If Project Winter feels a little too "intense" or you’re worried about the voice chat, check out these alternatives:

The classic. It’s simpler, shorter, and the "Quick Chat" feature allows kids to play without ever needing to hear a stranger's voice. Great for ages 8+.

If they like the survival and crafting part of Project Winter but you want to skip the betrayal and the voice chat with strangers, this is the gold standard. It’s pure teamwork against a very hostile world.

This is strictly a social deception game. No walking around, no survival—just talking and deducing. It’s text-based, which removes the "proximity chat" danger but keeps the "who is lying?" fun.

A free-to-play alternative that is very similar to Project Winter but set in space. It’s a bit more "shooter" focused, so if they like Fortnite, they might prefer this.

Project Winter is a fantastic game for developing critical thinking and social skills, but it’s played in an environment that isn't always "kid-friendly."

If your teen is playing, they’re essentially entering a digital social club. As long as they have the maturity to handle a few "sus" strangers and the emotional intelligence to realize that being lied to in a game isn't a personal attack, it’s a great way to spend an hour.

But for the younger ones? Stick to Among Us or a private Minecraft server until they’ve got a bit more "digital armor" built up.

Ask our chatbot for more survival game recommendations for teens