Duke: Nuclear Winter

Duke: Nuclear Winter (DOS) – Christmas-Themed Expansion for Duke Nukem 3D

Duke: Nuclear Winter is a holiday expansion pack for Duke Nukem 3D on MS‑DOS, developed by Simply Silly Software and published by WizardWorks on December 30, 1997. Built on the Build engine, it swaps the Lunar Apocalypse campaign for a new festive episode packed with winterized levels, Christmas‑costumed enemies, and a showdown with Santa Claws. Load up, head north, and bring peace on Earth the Duke way. ❄️🎄

What’s Included in Nuclear Winter

• New episode with seven winter levels
• Christmas reskins for classic foes plus six new enemy types
• Single player and multiplayer support
• Retail CD‑ROM release for PC (MS‑DOS)

Episode Structure – Level List

• Deja Vu
• Where It All Began
• Land of Forgotten Toys
• Santa’s Corporate HQ
• The Backdoor
• Christmas Village
• Here Comes Santa Claws

New and Winterized Enemies

Classic enemies like Assault Troopers, Captains, Pig Cops, and Enforcers return in festive outfits. Nuclear Winter also adds brand‑new threats:

• Grunt – elf with dual SMGs
• Groan – elf with a shotgun
• Snowman – animated snow‑thrower
• Flying Frosty – airborne snowman firing Freezethrower projectiles
• Frosted Battle Mobile – snowman‑driven snowmobile, akin to the Pig Cop Tank
• Santa Claws – boss resembling Duke in a Santa suit, fights like a Dukebot

Story Summary

Aliens have brainwashed Santa Claus and teamed up with a radical group called the Feminist Elven Militia. Duke tracks the conspiracy to the North Pole, blasts through toy factories and frozen facilities, and aims to free the big guy before the holidays are ruined.

How It Plays

• Fast, Build‑engine FPS gunplay with holiday props and textures
• Key‑card hunts, traps, secret rooms, and classic Duke exploration
• Boss finale versus Santa Claws

Controls (Typical DOS Defaults)

• Move – Arrow Keys or WASD
• Fire – Ctrl
• Open/Use – Space
• Jump – Alt
• Run – Shift
• Inventory – Enter/Tab and number keys

Notes, Reception, and Quirks

• Reception ranged from negative to lukewarm; some praised the seasonal theme, others criticized map reuse and backtracking.
• No new Duke voice lines were recorded; Jon St. John was reportedly not contacted.
• Certain sprite replacements can make the original Duke 3D episodes behave oddly when the add‑on is active.
• Easter eggs include toys, posters, and a brief homage portal sequence referencing other classics.

Availability and Status

Nuclear Winter shipped on CD‑ROM for DOS and has appeared in select commercial bundles over time. Modern re‑releases of Duke 3D vary by storefront; check current bundles for inclusion of expansion packs.

Tips for New Players

• Save often; holiday reskins can hide tougher encounters than they look.
• Prioritize cold‑friendly weapons; explosive splash helps with clustered elves and snowmen.
• Hunt for secrets; armor, ammo, and health caches are frequently tucked behind holiday décor.
• Watch for sprite swaps if you mix this add‑on with the base episodes.

FAQ

What is Duke: Nuclear Winter?

A Christmas‑themed commercial expansion for Duke Nukem 3D on MS‑DOS that adds a new episode, winterized levels, and festive enemies.

How many new levels are included?

Seven maps in the Nuclear Winter episode, from Deja Vu to the final boss fight in Here Comes Santa Claws.

Does it add new enemies?

Yes. Alongside holiday variants of classic foes, it introduces elves with firearms, multiple snowman types, a snowmobile enemy, and Santa Claws as the boss.

Are there new Duke one‑liners?

No. The expansion reuses existing voice assets.

Can I play it today?

Yes. It can be run via DOSBox or found in select modern bundles that include classic Duke content. Availability may vary by store.