First Snow

About

Having moved away from her friends and family to attend community college, Allison Merlo is a fresh student struggling with the day to day challenges of life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 481 reviews

story157 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

First Snow offers a heartwarming and realistic portrayal of a lesbian relationship, making it relatable and engaging.
The art style is unique and charming, with beautiful backgrounds and character designs that enhance the overall experience.
The game features a soothing soundtrack that complements the story well, creating a cozy atmosphere for players.

The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 4-5 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
There are no choices or branching paths, making it a linear experience that may not appeal to those looking for interactivity.
Some players found the character development to be lacking, particularly in the supporting cast, which could have added more depth to the story.

story
364 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
56%
1%
The story of "First Snow" is a heartfelt and engaging yuri romance set in a college environment, focusing on the relationship between two female students, Allison and Eileen. While the narrative is linear and lacks player choices, it effectively captures the complexities of first love and personal growth, resonating emotionally with players through its relatable themes and well-developed characters. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and predictability, many reviewers found the story to be charming, touching, and beautifully presented, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visual novels.
- “The story and the characters feel so full of soul and the energies that bind us as mortals together; I cannot recommend this game enough. The stories it inspires and creates leave me yearning for the zest of life that this story suggests we can achieve with time.”
- “The story is a very grounded, realistic take on romance that will resonate with you emotionally because of its realism.”
- “This visual novel tells the story of Allison Merlo, a girl feeling quite overwhelmed by upheaval in her life in the form of a new school, new living situation, new friends, and new feelings with respect to one Eileen Turner.”
- “This visual novel, apparently a prologue story arc, is a particularly dull slice-of-life scenario which is further plagued by a one-dimensional cast of shallow stock characters.”
- “The story is predictable, but I must say that the writing is fine and some characters (Eileen and Rose) have the right amount of depth to make them not look shallow, even though they don't stray that much away from archetypes, which, sadly, is not the case of the main character.”
- “Bored so I gave this free game a try and it was filled with shallow characters with a plot that dragged with zero choices to freshen it up.”
graphics
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the charming and unique art style that evokes a cozy, winter atmosphere, while others criticize the inconsistency in character designs and CG artwork. The hand-drawn aesthetics and detailed backgrounds are highlighted as standout features, contributing to an overall warm and inviting visual experience. However, some players note that the varying art styles can detract from character recognition and cohesion within the game.
- “The stunning visuals and serene landscapes create a cozy atmosphere.”
- “With its beautiful art style, engaging romance, and cozy yet subdued soundtrack all set against its wintry backdrop, First Snow is a perfect visual novel to enjoy while bundled up with a nice hot drink.”
- “The art style is absolutely beautiful; it's both simple and charming, giving this warm feeling of comfort and familiarity.”
- “The graphics fare much worse in the CG department.”
- “Shame about the inconsistent -- usually poor -- CG artwork.”
- “The CGs are all well-done, but the art style seems to change, most likely drawn by different people.”
emotional
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of *first snow* is widely praised for its heartwarming and relatable portrayal of a lesbian relationship, evoking a range of feelings from joy to bittersweet nostalgia. Players report being deeply invested in the characters and story, often shedding tears of happiness and sadness, while appreciating the game's realistic depiction of romance without unnecessary drama. Overall, it is celebrated as a touching and wholesome visual novel that resonates emotionally, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
- “I found myself emotionally invested in the story to the point I cried happy tears, sad tears, and sad-then-happy tears.”
- “The story is a very grounded, realistic take on romance that will resonate with you emotionally because of its realism.”
- “The story is heartfelt and emotional, and is one of three pieces of fiction in the past four or five years to make me cry.”
music
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, featuring a soothing jazz-inspired soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the ability to replay tracks through a jukebox feature, and many find the music perfectly complements the game's art style and narrative, creating a cozy and immersive environment. While some noted a lack of variety in the tracks, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack is a standout element that enriches the visual novel experience.
- “The soundtrack is full of calm and atmospheric jazz-inspired tunes.”
- “With a soothing soundtrack, it’s a perfect escape for anyone looking to unwind.”
- “The music is fitting; my favorite track is the one used for heartwarming moments.”
- “The soundtrack is gentle and usually fades invisibly into the background of scenes, which I think works pretty well for this story.”
- “This visual novel is really good from the story to the graphics having the ups and downs as you read it out loud or in your head it makes you happy being able to watch the moments the main characters have between them and then you have the music while repetition is in use its still able to make it feel like something else entirely like as in if you heard it before but its something new, it really makes you feel something while reading this story especially as you feel the characters' emotions as if you are them yourself.”
- “I loved almost everything about it, from the artwork to the music, but the story itself was...eh.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The gameplay is characterized by a relaxing and minimalist approach, emphasizing exploration and observation rather than complex mechanics. While this design choice enhances the atmospheric experience and emotional engagement, some players may find it lacking in depth and replayability, leading to mixed feelings about its overall engagement.
- “The gameplay is relaxing, allowing players to explore at their own pace.”
- “With its stunning visuals, emotive storytelling, and minimalist gameplay, the game offers a unique departure from the norm, focusing on evoking emotions and igniting self-reflection.”
- “Gameplay in First Snow remains intentionally minimalist, with interactions that are focused on exploration and observation.”
- “While the brevity aligns with the game's contemplative approach, it could also lead to a sense of wanting more depth and engagement, particularly for those seeking a longer gameplay experience.”
- “This 'game' has no gameplay features (i.e. no choices or different endings) and its main 'selling' point is the game's story.”
- “No gameplay aspects or replayability, 6/10 story, 8/10 art style, free, great uncut patch, story is quite short.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a calming blend of jazz-inspired music, stunning visuals, and serene landscapes that create a cozy and immersive experience. The deliberate simplicity of mechanics allows players to fully engage with the enchanting environment, enhanced by charming character designs and a magical, snow-themed backdrop. Overall, the art style and soundtrack contribute to a soft, comforting atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The stunning visuals and serene landscapes create a cozy atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of it all whisks me away, its theme of snow lending a magical chill feeling to the romance.”
- “The scene transitions fade in as sketches which are quickly washed over with color, and the character sprites have a 'paper child' aesthetic going for them that is really charming against the soft and atmospheric backdrops.”
- “Atmosphere: 2/5”
- “It's obvious it has the same kind of 'atmosphere' and storytelling of Katawa Shoujo.”
- “The lack of complex mechanics is a deliberate choice that enables players to absorb the atmosphere without distraction.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
Character development in the game is noted for its impressive designs and aesthetics, but many players feel it lacks depth and pacing, leading to a less convincing portrayal of characters. While some characters shine, others, like Wallace, are criticized for insufficient development, making them feel underutilized. Overall, there is a desire for more substantial character arcs and storytelling to enhance the experience.
- “Well-made and great character designs; I just love the fashion of so many characters.”
- “Beautiful backgrounds and stunning character designs to just get lost in.”
- “The artwork is wonderfully crafted, as well as the music and character designs.”
- “With its relatively fast pace, the character development doesn't feel entirely convincing.”
- “I would have liked more character development and a little bit more story at the end.”
- “The only thing I didn't really enjoy was Wallace since he didn't get the attention and character development he needed; he felt shoehorned in just to add a male character.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by clever writing and amusing character interactions, with standout moments that contribute to its charm. While some of the humor leans towards sexual content, it remains accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience. Overall, players find the humor to be a significant highlight, enhancing the game's appeal despite its short length.
- “The only guy in the game looks a bit like a girl with a beard, which is quite funny.”
- “I can't forget about the funny moments throughout the story, but I don't want to spoil it for the people who haven't played this game yet, so you gotta play it to know more!”
- “Short game (takes between 3 and 4 hours to read) but very cute and funny; I call it a success!”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively time-consuming, often likening it to needing a "second life" to manage the repetitive tasks required. This has led to a perception of grinding as tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's replayability is limited due to its linear structure, meaning players will have seen all content after completing the story. However, the inclusion of a jukebox for music replay and the option to experience additional scenes through an uncut patch offer some incentive for revisiting the game. Overall, while the core experience lacks replay value, there are minor features that can enhance it.
- “Additionally, because this game is linear, it also means that it has no replayability. Once you're done, that's it; you've seen what there is to see.”
- “The music titles are also replayable within a jukebox after completing the story.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization approach in the game is subtle and effective, with minimal distractions from ads or branding, allowing players to immerse themselves in the setting without feeling overwhelmed by commercial elements.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting no bugs or glitches during gameplay.