A Chill in the Air, and in the Cards
Journey south past the Spirecrest Mountains, and you’ll find Silverfrost – a land where winter never fades and the woodland critters of Everdell have learned to build warmth from within. Everdell: Silverfrost is a standalone game set in the same lush universe, offering the same cozy charm and strategic heartbeat as the original – only now with snow on its whiskers and a fire burning in every burrow.
Publisher: Starling Games
Designer: James & Clarissa A. Wilson
Players: 1-4
Playtime: 30-120 minutes
Genre: Worker Placement, Tableau Building
Release: 2025
The Frostbitten Frontier
If you’ve played Everdell before, you’ll feel right at home. You’re still placing workers, gathering resources, and constructing a tableau of cards to bring your woodland city to life. The difference is the cold – and the new way to push back against it.
The biggest addition is fire and snow. The fire is a new resource that drives much of Silverfrost’s economy. You’ll use it to warm homes, power certain constructions, and gain special advantages throughout the game. Learning how to manage fire efficiently – and stock up early – becomes a key strategy. Wait too long, and you’ll find yourself buried in the snow while your neighbors thrive.
It’s a clever thematic twist that feels right for the setting: survival through preparation and community. But mechanically, it also becomes a quiet race – those who adapt early, win early.
Mechanics & Flow
Alongside fire, Silverfrost introduces the chimney mechanic, where buildings can store fire and trigger specific effects. It’s cute – thematically spot-on – but not quite as functional or flexible as some of the original Everdell synergies. It adds flavor and visual charm, but veterans may find it more of a garnish than a game-changer.
The pace of play is slightly slower at the beginning compared to the base game. Your first few turns feel more like kindling – gathering small sparks before the fire truly catches. Once it does, though, the familiar Everdell engine comes to life beautifully, with card combos and worker synergies cascading into that satisfying late-game rhythm the series is known for. It started slow, but by the end, I still had my full 15-card city.
Theme & Components
If The Complete Collection was a feast for the eyes, Silverfrost is a snow globe come to life. The art once again steals the show, with new critters bundled in scarves, frost-covered constructions, and glimmers of warmth glowing through every card. Thanks to Enggar Adirasa and Lukas Siegmon on this one.
The production quality remains superb: thick boards, clear iconography, and that satisfying tactile joy of placing resources and workers. The winter palette is stunning – cool blues and soft whites accented by the golden glow of fire. The table presence is pure Everdell magic.
Ease of Learning & Accessibility
Despite the frosty theme, Silverfrost is warm and welcoming. The rules are clearly written, and anyone familiar with the base game will glide right in. New players can start here without issue – though they might find the early game a touch easier, it has a few fewer mechanics to understand.
It’s accessible, yes, but not shallow. The extra layer of managing fire adds just enough strategic tension to make decisions more meaningful without overwhelming casual players. And thematically, it’s hard not to get drawn into the cozy charm of critters huddling for warmth as snow falls over their city.
The Table Experience
Silverfrost has the same cozy personality Everdell is known for, but the table feel is noticeably different. The early game comes out of the gate slower – everyone kind of circles the board waiting for enough fire to exist, because without it, half your plans stay frozen in place.
Fire instantly becomes the “oh no, I need that” resource. Not optional, but a requirement. You’ll feel the pressure early (first season change), and you’ll see quickly who grabbed enough and who’s going to spend the next 20 minutes fighting to thaw their city.
The chimney mechanic is undeniably cute – thematically perfect – but it’s not the star of the show. Fire and snow are the things that really shape the table dynamic, and the group tension around it is real. You’ll understand as soon as winter hits for everyone.
Silverfrost has a bigger bite to it compared to the original, but in a good way.
You can purchase it here – https://tycoongames.com/products/everdell-silverfrost-collectors-edition
If you want to experience all the original has to offer, and it’s a good starting point, then check out this review.
Summary
A warm, snowy chapter of the Everdell world. Not groundbreaking, but absolutely worth playing – especially if you enjoy Everdell’s atmosphere with a little extra edge.
Pros
- Beautiful winter aesthetic and adorable new critters
- Fire/Snow mechanics add thematic depth and fresh strategy
- Familiar gameplay loop feels as satisfying as ever
Cons
- Chimney mechanic feels more thematic than functional
- Early game can feel slower to ignite
- Doesn’t drastically innovate for longtime players
