A Winter's Daydream

About

A Winter's Daydream is a single player simulation game with a kids theme. It was developed by ebi-hime and was released on October 15, 2018. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "A Winter's Daydream," nineteen-year-old Yuu returns to his hometown for New Year's, finding his younger sister as hostile as ever. Seeking solace, he visits his grandmother's snowy village, where a meteorite sighting leads to his grandmother transforming into a young girl. The player must uncover the reason behind his grandmother's unexpected change in this visual novel.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

story23 positive mentions

A Winter's Daydream features a beautifully written story that explores themes of family, nostalgia, and the passage of time, resonating deeply with players.
The visuals and soundtrack are well-crafted, enhancing the emotional experience and creating a cozy atmosphere that complements the narrative.
Despite its short length, the game effectively delivers a heartfelt and thought-provoking journey, making it a worthwhile experience for players.

Some players found the main character's initial portrayal as a 'loser' trope to be off-putting, which may detract from their enjoyment of the story.
The interactions between the protagonist and his younger sister can be annoying and repetitive, potentially impacting the overall experience.
As a kinetic novel with no player choices, some may find the lack of interactivity limiting, preferring more engaging gameplay mechanics.

story
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The story of "A Winter's Daydream" is a heartfelt and beautifully crafted visual novel that explores themes of family, love, and the passage of time. While it begins with a whimsical premise of a grandmother transforming into a young girl, it evolves into a touching narrative about reconnecting with loved ones and appreciating familial bonds. The writing is praised for its emotional depth, making it a memorable experience that resonates with players on a personal level.
- “A winter’s daydream is a story that started as a joke, but soon turned into a novel that is nothing shy of beautiful.”
- “The story beautifully develops, especially through the interaction with Yuu's younger sister.”
- “It's a story about life, about love, about humanity that seems lost these days.”
- “Minimal presentation weaknesses along with weak side characters do little to obscure timeless, yet easy-to-forget story themes that can leave you introspective.”
- “That's a good and bad thing: good because it's pretty easy to put together short little stories that don't have to deal with pacing or multiple conflicts, bad because you rarely get the kind of thematic and emotional payoff of a larger story.”
- “The plot sounds like something that came straight from a comedy movie, to be honest.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "A Winter's Daydream" is highlighted by its heartfelt exploration of family connections, nostalgia, and the importance of appreciating loved ones, particularly grandparents. Reviewers praise the game's ability to evoke deep feelings, combining humor with touching moments that resonate long after the experience. The art and writing enhance the emotional journey, making it a recommended short read for those seeking a heartwarming narrative.
- “What at first seems like a silly story turned into a thought-provoking journey that made me cry ugly tears.”
- “It's actually a rather touching story about reconnecting with family members and reminiscing about the past.”
- “The writing is very good in this game and it really got me to think about my grandparents and family. Even though it is only around 3 hours long, it was able to make me emotional and really get into the story.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The music in the game is generally praised for being relaxing, atmospheric, and well-suited to the storyline, enhancing the emotional experience without becoming overwhelming. While some users noted that a few tracks could be too loud in certain scenes, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack complements the visuals and writing effectively, contributing to a heartwarming and immersive gameplay experience.
- “The music hits just right and doesn't become overbearing or annoying.”
- “The art is also really pretty and the music fits perfectly for the plot at pretty much all times and made it even more emotional for me.”
- “The music feels slightly above average.”
- “The music and sound effects are on an equal par with the sprites and CGs, adding subtle yet detailed effects such as wind blowing, echoes of walking on flooring, door chimes, and more.”
- “All of this, veiled by music, ready to play on the strings of your heart; and pleasing art that complements the mood.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as heartwarming and well-integrated into the storyline, balancing comedic moments with deeper themes of acceptance and aging. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and relatable character interactions, particularly the humorous dynamics between generations. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke a range of emotions while maintaining a light-hearted and often hilarious tone.
- “This is a nice game - very heartwarming and touching with humor and great writing, art, great storyline, and I really liked the music along with everything else.”
- “Expect a rollercoaster of emotions as the writing takes you from heartfelt bonding with Umeko to comedic scenarios with younger Umeko, familiar (and hilarious) verbal battles with Otoko, and a romantic theme of reunion and memories.”
- “Though sentimental at times, the tone is generally light-hearted, even hilarious.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics in the game are consistently high-quality and visually stunning, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. Users appreciate the well-selected artwork and interface, noting that even with limited content, the visuals remain gorgeous and engaging. The relaxing soundtrack further enhances the aesthetic appeal of the game.
- “The visuals are quite gorgeous - as the game is short, there's not that much art in it, but everything is at a very consistent, high level of quality and is simply a joy to look at.”
- “The artwork is stunningly amazing too.”
- “Graphics, interface and music are all very well selected.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is enhanced by pleasant, standard visual novel music that effectively contributes to the overall mood, while also showcasing a fresh approach compared to previous titles by ebihime.
- “The music is very standard VN stuff, but pleasant and atmospheric enough to enhance the overall mood.”
- “There's something new compared to Ebihime's previous titles that brings the atmosphere to life.”