A Winter's Daydream

About

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

A boy returns to his countryside home after spending half a year in the city, only to discover the unimaginable — his elderly grandmother has transformed into a cute young girl! Hijinks ensue.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

story23 positive mentions

Heartwarming and beautifully written story focusing on family bonds, aging, and acceptance, evoking strong emotional responses and nostalgia.
High-quality art and visuals with pleasant music and sound effects that complement the mood and atmosphere of the story.
Short and well-paced kinetic novel experience that delivers meaningful themes without overstaying its welcome.

Some character portrayals, especially the younger sister, can be irritating and feel cliched or off-putting.
Inconsistent art style due to different artists contributing, leading to a slight lack of visual cohesiveness.
Minor technical issues like absence of adjustable text box transparency and occasional typographical errors.

story
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The story of "A Winter's Daydream" is a heartfelt, mature, and beautifully written visual novel focusing on themes of family, love, aging, and reconciliation. Though it begins with a seemingly whimsical premise, it evolves into a touching and introspective journey about relationships, memories, and personal growth, resonating deeply with players and evoking strong emotions.
- “What at first seems like a silly story turned into a thought-provoking journey that made me cry ugly tears.”
- “The writing is very good in this game and it really got me to think about my grandparents and family and even though it is only around 3 hours long, it was able to make me emotional and really get into the story.”
- “A winter's daydream is a story about the passage of time, of getting older and missing people that now are gone. But it's also a story of love, family, and it makes you think: time doesn't stop for no one, and just like it happens to everyone else, it will get to you and to everyone you care about.”
- “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.”
- “They aren't the focus of the story, so it's easy to understand why this might happen, but it still feels off.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply touching and heartwarming, exploring themes of family, friendship, and nostalgia with memorable writing and art. Players often experience a rollercoaster of emotions, from heartfelt bonding and humor to thought-provoking moments that evoke genuine tears. Overall, it's a short but impactful visual novel that resonates strongly with those seeking a cozy, emotional journey.
- “What at first seems like a silly story, turned into a thought-provoking journey that made me cry ugly tears.”
- “The writing is very good in this game and it really got me to think about my grandparents and family, and even though it is only around 3 hours long, it was able to make me emotional and really get into the story.”
- “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.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
38%
8%
The music in this game is consistently praised for being relaxing, well-chosen, and fitting perfectly with the storyline and mood without becoming overbearing. It effectively enhances the emotional impact and atmosphere, complemented by subtle sound effects, making it a standout aspect alongside the art and writing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered pleasant, atmospheric, and integral to the game's heartwarming experience.
- “The music and sound effects are on an equal par with the sprites & CGs, adding subtle yet detailed effects such as wind blowing, echoes of walking on flooring, door chimes, and more.”
- “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.”
- “Music feels slightly above average.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is heartwarming and subtly woven throughout a touching narrative, balancing comedic scenarios and witty dialogue with themes of acceptance and growing older. It offers a light-hearted yet emotionally rich experience, blending funny moments with heartfelt storytelling.
- “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 (or should that be verbal bashing!) with Otoko and a romantic theme of reunion & memories.”
- “Well written, thought provoking, sweet, and often funny, this is one of my new favorite games by Ebi-Hime.”
- “Though sentimental at times, the tone is generally light-hearted, even hilarious.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are consistently high-quality and visually stunning, contributing to an overall enjoyable aesthetic. Alongside a well-selected interface and relaxing soundtrack, the visuals stand out as a strong point, even though the game's short length limits the amount of artwork.
- “Graphics, interface and music are all very well selected.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is enhanced by pleasant, standard visual novel music that effectively sets the mood, with noticeable improvements compared to Ebihime's previous titles, bringing the game world to life.
- “The music is very standard visual novel style, but pleasant and atmospheric enough to enhance the overall mood.”
- “There's something new compared to Ebihime's previous titles which brings the atmosphere to life.”