Ice orcs are a subspecies of Orc.
Background[]
They were the slow and dumb foot soldiers of the Warlord Thork (Lord of the Frost Orcs) in the Frozen Reaches. In spite of that, they were well equipped with sharp battle hammers and ice crossbows. Upon death they usually froze over and shattered, sometimes leaving a skeleton behind.
Culture[]
Ice Orcs speak Orcish like other races of Orcs.
See also[]
Behind the scenes[]
These are known as Ice Orcs in the KQ8 Hintbook.
Presumably there are other species of orcs, considering that the game specifies that these are an ice subspecies. Similar to how there is a 'fire dwarf' subspecies, however the series has never brought up standard orcs.
King's Quest Chapter I: A Knight to Remember makes reference to 'frost orcs' from KQ8.