The Childhood Ruining Adventure of Winnie’s Hole Arrives in Early Access Jan 2026
It is time to accept that the Hundred Acre Wood isn’t safe anymore. In fact, it has become a breeding ground for biological nightmares. If you thought the recent slasher films were the peak of public domain horror, you haven’t seen anything yet. The highly anticipated and wonderfully grotesque Winnie’s Hole is finally ready to infect our Steam libraries. Developed by the Australian studio Twice Different, this roguelite strategy game officially launches into Early Access on January 26, 2026.
Since the announcement of this title became viral, we have been closely monitoring it. To be honest, it’s hard to resist a game in which you take on the role of a virus that completely alters the cherished bear. However, if you look past the shock value, you’ll find a really intricate strategy game that is worth your time.
A Twisted Take on the Hundred Acre Wood
The premise of Winnie’s Hole is as simple as it is disturbing. You are not playing as Christopher Robin or any of the friendly animals we grew up reading about in “Winnie-the-Pooh” by A.A. Milne. Instead, you play as a sentient virus. Your goal is to navigate the internal biology of the titular bear, capturing cells and forcing mutations that transform him into a monstrous entity.
As you progress through the game, Winnie changes visually. He sprouts extra limbs, tentacles, new eyes, and gaping mouths. These aren’t just cosmetic changes, as they serve as your weapons against enemies. It is a concept that developer Twice Different describes as a “holesome” experience, blending dark comedy with Cronenberg-style body horror. It is weird, it is gross, and frankly, I am obsessed with the creativity on display here.
Gameplay Mechanics Inside Winnie’s Hole
If you played Twice Different’s previous title, Ring of Pain, you know this studio understands how to make a compelling loop. Winnie’s Hole ditches the traditional roguelite node maps we are used to seeing. Instead, exploration happens by spreading your virus through the host’s body using tetromino-like block shapes. It feels like a mix of a dungeon crawler and a puzzle game, where you have to make gut decisions (pun intended) on where to expand next.
The combat takes place within Winnie’s brain. It is a turn-based system, but it moves faster than your typical deckbuilder. You build a deck of actions and unleash them in combo-driven battles. The strategy comes from how you evolve your virus blocks to create powerful synergies. With over 150 mutations and 100 perks available in the Early Access build, the build variety looks staggering. You can tailor your virus to be aggressive, defensive, or just plain weird.
What to Expect in Early Access
Twice Different has been transparent about what players can expect when Winnie’s Hole opens up later this month. The Early Access version is robust, featuring all core mechanics right out of the gate. Players can travel through two complete regions, each branching off with unique themes, enemies, and boss encounters.
The launch version includes over five unlockable virus strains, each offering a distinct playstyle. There are also over 50 research recipes to unlock, ensuring that you always have a new carrot on a stick to chase. The developers plan to keep the game in Early Access for about a year, using that time to add even more virus strains, story beats, and quality-of-life improvements.
Navigating Copyright with Creative Freedom
You may be asking how this kind of game is allowed. In 2022, the original “Winnie-the-Pooh” book became public domain due to U.S. copyright law. As a result, the figure was open to imaginative interpretations outside of Disney. The original bear is free to use, but Disney still controls its particular red-shirted version. This is fully utilized in Winnie’s Hole, which offers a unique art style that leans more toward the dirt of Brothers Grimm fairytales than the glossy appearance of contemporary cartoons.
Why We Are Excited
There is something undeniably appealing about a game that refuses to take itself too seriously while still offering deep mechanics. Winnie’s Hole manages to walk that fine line between pure meme potential and legitimate strategy gaming. It is gross, it is funny, and it looks incredibly fun to play.
The PC gaming space thrives on weird indie gems, and this looks to be the crown jewel of 2026 so far. Whether you are a fan of deckbuilders, roguelites, or just want to see what happens when you introduce a mutagenic virus to a childhood icon, this is one hole you might actually want to jump into.
Winnie’s Hole arrives on Steam Early Access on January 26. Don’t say we didn’t warn you about the tentacles.
