Winter Games

Year 1986, it was freezing outside, the monitor screen flickered in my room, and I was hammering the keys in a rhythm meant to simulate skiing. I didn't have legs at all, but Winter Games by Epyx forgave me that.

Winter Games is a sports compilation built on the same principle as the previous Summer Games — a set of winter disciplines loosely inspired by the Olympic Games, wrapped up in one package. There were several disciplines to choose from, including speed skating, ski jumping, biathlon, and figure skating. Each player selected a country to represent from a roster of about fifteen options, plus the developer Epyx itself as a funny sixteenth choice.

Gameplay rests on a simple, but back then completely standard principle: correct timing of key presses, or rhythmic tapping to achieve maximum speed. Each discipline has slightly different controls, which keeps the game alive longer than you'd expect. Figure skating was exceptional for its time — you'd input movement sequences and the game would rate your performance by a jury. Remarkably ambitious for 1986, in practice rather charming chaos. Ski jumping, on the other hand, worked well, and the feeling of beating your own record was real even without internet connection and achievements.

What set Winter Games apart from the competition was its multiplayer component. Up to eight players on one keyboard, taking turns, comparing results — that was a real social experience back then. Friends gathered around the monitor and almost tangible rivalry. The graphics on the PC version were never a strong point; other ports — especially Commodore 64 — looked and sounded better. The DOS version simply had to be content with what it had: relatively sparse visuals and sound from the system speaker. Today it's aged exactly as you'd expect.

Who would Winter Games appeal to today? Mainly those who grew up with similar games and want to refresh their memory — or those curious to understand how game design worked back then without tutorials, without hints, and without mercy. It works in a browser via emulation, disciplines are short, and the game requires no installation or preparation. Half an hour of nostalgic struggle with a friend beside you — that's exactly what Winter Games was for back then and what it's for today.