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At Winter's End

At Winter's End Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
character development, atmosphere
95% User Score Based on 82 reviews

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At Winter's End Game Cover

About

At Winter's End is a single player action game. It was developed by Slandercast Studio and was released on November 1, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

EVERY WINTER GIVES WAY TO SPRING. FOR MOST PEOPLE, THIS IS A PASSIVE EVENT: SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS NATURALLY THANKS TO THE POSITIONS OF HEMISPHERES AND STARS.BUT I KNOW THE REASON WHY WINTER ENDS. I KNOW BECAUSE THE WIND TOLD ME. At Winter's End is a cozy narrative dice-rolling RPG about 12-year-old Noel growing up in the forest of spirits. Explore the forest and complete quests while rolling dic…

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At Winter's End screenshot
At Winter's End screenshot
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At Winter's End screenshot
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At Winter's End screenshot
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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 82 reviews
story14 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming art style and soothing music, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere that resonates with players of all ages.
  • It tackles heavy themes of change and growing up in a gentle and meaningful way, making it a touching experience that can evoke strong emotions.
  • The unique dice-rolling mechanic adds an interesting twist to dialogue choices, allowing for a playful and engaging interaction with the story.
  • The reliance on RNG for dialogue choices can be frustrating, as it may lead to unwanted or inappropriate responses, making it difficult to explore all narrative paths.
  • Some players feel that the game lacks depth and structure, leading to a sense of aimlessness during gameplay, particularly for those seeking more complex interactions.
  • The short length of the game may leave some players wanting more content and exploration, as it can be completed in under an hour.
  • story
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is a heartfelt exploration of growth, change, and the transient nature of life, beautifully illustrated through the changing seasons and the interactions between a young girl and magical spirits. While the gameplay primarily focuses on exploration and interaction, the narrative resonates universally, offering a cozy and impactful experience that emphasizes connection and the inevitability of change. Despite some critiques regarding the integration of gameplay mechanics, the overall sentiment highlights the story's charm and emotional depth, making it a delightful journey for players.

    • “Be it friends, family, or treasured items, we have to learn to grow and change with the world around us, and this story illustrates that beautifully.”
    • “The story encourages you to think about the transient nature of life and the beauty that can be found in moments of connection, even if they’re fleeting.”
    • “At winter's end is a short but absolutely charming little story about friendship, growing up, and the environment... without ever coming across as preachy.”
    • “I enjoyed the dice aspect but wasn't invested in the story, which really seems to be aimed at children.”
    • “I rarely felt like my dice rolls mattered that much to the direction of the story, though I've only seen one route through and I can think of at least one point that seems to indicate a significant branch.”
    • “The rng nature of dice rolls making some narrative choices unavailable fits the moral lessons the game tries to teach, but it still feels unpleasant if you're trying to see alternative story paths or wrap up the achievements.”
  • gameplay
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay primarily revolves around a point-and-click mechanic, focusing on exploration and interaction with the environment, while the dice-rolling mechanic adds a layer of choice to the dialogue and narrative progression. Although the dice mechanic is generally well-received for its charm and integration into the story, some players find it can lead to tedious repetition and lacks depth, making the overall experience feel more suited for a younger audience. Despite these criticisms, the game's visuals and narrative are praised for creating an immersive and wholesome atmosphere.

    • “The dice mechanic is fun as well, and I like that all options are good, so no matter what you roll, it will turn out fine.”
    • “I enjoyed the mechanic of rolling the die in order to choose your answers, and that determined what kind of path and dialogue you would get.”
    • “The way that the dice-rolling mechanic is integrated into both the overall narrative and Noel’s own personal struggles is a highlight of the game and really elevates the story.”
    • “The gameplay itself is point-and-click, allowing you to interact with elements in the environment.”
    • “There are some slightly rough parts, and I had high hopes for the gameplay concept of the dice; however, in practice, I was a bit disappointed. It's definitely not as well fleshed out as it could be.”
    • “It's got the vibes of your *Animal Crossing* or *A Short Hike*, but moment-to-moment gameplay is strictly wandering around and interacting with various characters and environmental objects.”
  • graphics
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and adorable art style, featuring a soft earthy color palette that creates an inviting atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail in character design and the overall visual presentation, which complements the cozy and heartwarming narrative. The combination of delightful artwork and soothing sound design enhances the overall experience, making it appealing to a broad audience.

    • “With a soft earthy color palette, the visuals are inviting and comfortably engage with the part of the human mind that feels better when surrounded by nature.”
    • “The art style is so charming, as is the music, and the story is wonderful.”
    • “At Winter's End is a charming game with a beautiful art style, lovely sound design, and great characters.”
    • “The art style is so charming as is the music and the story is wonderful.”
    • “It boasts a heart-warming narrative, delightful and eclectic characters and charming artwork.”
    • “Such a cozy game with cute artwork and likable characters.”
  • emotional
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming narrative that resonates deeply with themes of growth, change, and the bittersweet nature of farewells. Players describe the experience as cozy and wholesome, often leading to tears, particularly towards the ending, as they connect with the beautifully crafted characters and the changing seasons that symbolize life's transitions. Despite some gameplay mechanics holding it back, the overall sentiment is that the game is a touching exploration of life's emotional journey.

    • “Truly, it is a wonderful piece that both connects with nature and with heart, touching gently on a topic everyone is bound to go through.”
    • “Just like the shift from winter to spring, the story reflects the emotional process of moving from one chapter of life to another.”
    • “The narrative made me quite emotional; the themes of growing up and having to say goodbye resonated very strongly with me.”
  • music
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is consistently praised for its relaxing and mellow qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as cozy and uplifting, perfectly complementing the charming art style and enriching the game's wholesome narrative. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's delightful and warm ambiance, making it a standout feature.

    • “Equal to the visuals, the soundtrack is very cozy and relaxing, being upbeat yet gentle.”
    • “The music is relaxing, mellow, and enriches the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Beautiful style and lovely, lovely music; thank you for the delightful mellow evening!”
    • “The soundtrack is very cozy and relaxing, being upbeat yet gentle.”
    • “The ambience of nature sounds combined with calm music is very relaxing.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is praised for its charming design and integration with the story, featuring well-executed animal and nature-inspired aesthetics. The writing and evolving dialogue enhance the player's connection to the characters, contributing to a wholesome and engaging narrative experience. Overall, the attention to detail in character design and the immersive audio elements further enrich the game's character-driven adventure.

    • “I love so much in this—the character design, art style, music and audio, writing, all of the inspection dialogue and how they change, the UI, turning indecision into a game with the dice, the eye for detail, and probably more I'm forgetting.”
    • “The character designs are either in the vein of animals with accessories or, in the case of the spirits, animals mixed with nature, which fits well and is perfectly executed here.”
    • “Quite wholesome and adorable story-driven point-and-click adventure. Despite there being less point-and-clicking, everything is well done from character design to level design, along with a great choice of ambient sounds and music.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity and growth.”
    • “The dialogue options are limited, which restricts the ability to shape the characters' personalities and relationships.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by familiar and charming scenery, complemented by relaxing and mellow music that enhances the overall experience. Players find that this inviting ambiance contributes to a sense of brevity in gameplay, making it feel even shorter.

    • “The music is relaxing, mellow, and enriches the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere makes it feel even shorter; after very little time, you become familiar with the scenery and cute characters.”
    • “The game lacks a compelling atmosphere, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “The environments feel bland and uninspired, failing to create an immersive experience.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily due to its short completion time of under an hour; however, the randomness of ice rolls and the inclusion of steam achievements provide some incentive for players to revisit it.

    • “It has some replay value as well.”
    • “It can be completed in less than an hour, with the randomness of the ice rolls and a selection of Steam achievements providing some replayability.”
    • “Has some replay value in it as well.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find that the humor in the game is enhanced by giving characters funny voices, which significantly improves the overall experience. The dialogue is engaging and encourages exploration, making it enjoyable to discover new and amusing interactions.

    • “Pro tip: your experience with this game will be significantly improved if you give all of the characters funny voices.”
    • “It was super fun just strolling around, looking for funny or interesting new dialogue, a very hard thing to motivate players to do!”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, as the reliance on dice rolls for decision-making can lead to frustratingly random outcomes. This randomness often necessitates restarting the game to achieve specific choices and unlock achievements, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “While I'm all for the interesting mechanic of rolling the dice to determine choices as a part of Noel's indecisiveness by leaving it up to fate, this makes attempting to get certain choices and achievements a tedious, repetitive task when certain options/routes are left up to chance and require starting from the beginning.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels endless and unfulfilling, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
    • “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over just to level up, which quickly became boring and frustrating.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

At Winter's End is a action game.

At Winter's End is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

At Winter's End was released on November 1, 2023.

At Winter's End was developed by Slandercast Studio.

At Winter's End has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

At Winter's End is a single player game.

Similar games include Sumire, Mutazione, Lost Words: Beyond the Page, Wide Ocean Big Jacket, SEASON: A letter to the future and others.