First Winter

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 49 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • atmosphere
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"First Winter" is a 1982 cold war-era first-person horror game, where you explore a Soviet submarine in the North Pacific, suspected of carrying nuclear weapons. As you navigate the ever-changing environments, you must uncover the truth and prevent a nuclear catastrophe. With its unique retro style, "First Winter" has received positive reviews from PC Gamer, MrKravin, and GG Gab for its immersive and chilling experience.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 49 reviews
graphics7 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a compelling atmosphere and unique aesthetic, reminiscent of retro horror titles, which enhances the overall experience.
  • Despite its short length, the game is filled with intense moments, effective jump scares, and a well-crafted narrative that keeps players engaged.
  • The sound design and visual style contribute significantly to the game's creepy ambiance, making it a memorable experience for horror fans.
  • The game is very short, typically lasting around 30-45 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some puzzles can be frustrating and may require external help to solve, detracting from the overall flow of the game.
  • The story can feel abstract and inconsistent at times, leading to confusion about the game's themes and narrative direction.
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro aesthetic, heavily influenced by lo-fi and pixel-art styles reminiscent of the 90s and 80s. This unique visual approach enhances the game's atmosphere, contributing to its horror elements and overall experience, although some critics feel it may mask a lack of more polished artwork. Overall, the graphics are praised for their ability to evoke nostalgia while effectively supporting the game's narrative and mood.

    • “The graphics are charmingly retro and support the mood.”
    • “Great atmosphere and unique aesthetic!”
    • “There's something about [i]first winter[/i]'s lo-fi graphics that seem ultra-realistic to me.”
    • “Apart from the lo-fi graphics, the game doesn't have anything to make it stand out.”
    • “The filtered/pixelated art style is neat, but I can't shake the notion that it just covers up bland artwork.”
    • “I bought [i]first winter[/i] because I was drawn to the game's aesthetic, which is odd because lately I've been getting pretty tired of games that offer a cool visual style but no substantial story or worthwhile experience.”
  • story17 mentions

    The game's story is described as a short, abstract horror narrative that combines 90s graphics with themes of mental breakdown and Cold War fears. While some players appreciate the atmospheric visuals and the effort put into the setting and sound design, many find the story to be inconsistent and lacking cohesion, leading to confusion about its central themes. Overall, it offers a unique experience but may leave players wanting a more substantial and clear narrative.

    • “A very short horror story, with graphics from the 90s and themes from the 60s -- seemingly abstract at first, but comes together as it progresses.”
    • “For the most part, however, the game's story works really well despite a couple of inconsistencies, and I'd recommend it on the basis of that, its visual style, and its atmosphere.”
    • “I appreciate the effort put into it, in the story, setting, mood, sound design, and old-school look.”
    • “Although it is a great concept (the styling is fantastic, and really creates a great atmosphere), I'm still kind of lost as to what the story is.”
    • “Since the story the developer was going for while he was creating it isn't backed up by enough evidence, this might explain why there are a few scenes that don't feel linear to the game.”
    • “What begins as something that could be mildly interesting just gets bogged down with a hazy story (this whole thing could be an intro for a more fleshed-out game).”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively combining atmospheric sounds, unique aesthetics, and limited visibility to enhance the horror experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke fear and tension, making them hesitant to explore further, while also noting that the visual style contributes significantly to the overall ambiance. Despite some narrative inconsistencies, the atmospheric elements are deemed engaging and worth experiencing, especially given the game's low price point.

    • “The atmosphere and the environment are extremely well done, and you never want to turn around for fear of what you'll find!”
    • “I would encourage others to play this game - for its low price point but engaging and frankly fantastic atmosphere, I do recommend it :)”
    • “The limited view range also drastically enhances the chilling atmosphere, as what you cannot see is always the most frightening part of any horror excursion.”
    • “Clocking in at just around 40 minutes in length, even after finishing both endings, First Winter provides an ample amount of atmosphere and jump scares.”
    • “For the most part, however, the game's story works really well despite a couple of inconsistencies, and I'd recommend it on the basis of that, its visual style, and its atmosphere.”
  • gameplay5 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a blend of atmospheric horror and jump-scares, featuring simple puzzles and walking simulator elements. Its concise length keeps the experience engaging without overstaying its welcome, while the moving maze mechanics add an intriguing layer to the overall gameplay.

    • “The gameplay and puzzles are simple enough, but that shouldn't be seen as a negative.”
    • “It's a short experience that focuses on both atmospheric horror and jump-scares, while dividing its gameplay between walking simulator and puzzle solving.”
    • “The short size and scope of this horror game lands right in the sweet spot of being compelling enough to drive the player forward without wearing out the featured mechanics.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its polished integration with the environment and sound design, featuring nostalgic 80s tracks and elements like radio reports and cassette sounds that enhance the overall experience. The inclusion of 80s nostalgia, reflected in movie posters and references to classic technology, further elevates the game's appeal.

    • “Like 'imscared' or 'The Music Machine', every part of the game from the environment to the sound design adds to a very polished experience.”
    • “The 80's music and the radio report, cassette, and video game are great.”
    • “Plus, there was a good amount of 80s nostalgia with the movie posters, music, and Commodore 64, which is an instant thumbs up in my book.”
    • “The music in this game feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “While the game has some nostalgic elements, the soundtrack doesn't capture the essence of the era and feels out of place.”
    • “The sound design is underwhelming and fails to enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers limited replayability due to its short length and diminished impact on subsequent playthroughs, despite featuring multiple endings that encourage players to revisit it. While the experience is enjoyable and worth the price, many reviewers feel that the lack of significant new content reduces the incentive to replay.

    • “There are multiple endings, which incentivize replayability, but I can't imagine it would be nearly as creepy the second time through.”
    • “The game itself is short, but it offers a good experience for the price, even if it lacks significant replayability.”
    • “There are multiple endings which sort of incentivize replayability, but I can't imagine it would be nearly as creepy a second time through.”
    • “I would imagine that replayability isn't super high, but the experience was worth every penny.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be highly entertaining, often leading to amusing reactions that would make for great video content.

    • “I wish I had been filming myself playing because it would have made for one hilarious reactions video.”
    • “The humor in this game had me laughing out loud at every turn.”
    • “I can't remember the last time a game made me chuckle this much!”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is solid, delivering good in-game performance and an excellent atmosphere, despite limited voice acting. Players find it worth trying out.

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