Howl
- January 23, 2024
- Mi'pu'mi Games GmbH
Howl is a turn-based tactical folktale set in medieval times. A sinister "howling plague" has ravaged the land, turning all who hear it into feral beasts. You play a deaf heroine plunging into danger in search of a cure.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store
Get on PS Store"Howl" is a turn-based tactical game set in medieval times where you play as a deaf heroine on a quest to find a cure for the "howling plague." This plague has turned people into feral beasts, and you must outmaneuver them using up to six steps of advanced planning and a variety of abilities. As you progress, you'll upgrade your skills and unlock more action slots, while also shaping your own prophecy through your choices in battle.
Reviews
- Beautiful art style and soothing music create a charming fairy tale atmosphere.
- Engaging and well-crafted levels provide a satisfying puzzle experience with a good level of challenge.
- The game offers a relaxing vibe and is perfect for casual play, making it a great snack for a few hours.
- The game lacks depth in mechanics and story, which may leave some players wanting more.
- The 100% completion challenge can feel tedious and not particularly appealing.
- Limited replay value due to predictable enemy movements and a straightforward narrative.
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as straightforward and simplistic, yet it is effectively narrated and complemented by charming visuals and music. While some players found the narrative engaging and appreciated its unique premise, particularly the representation of a deaf protagonist, others felt it lacked depth and complexity. Overall, the story serves as a sufficient backdrop for the gameplay, though opinions on its impact vary.
“The story is relatively straightforward, but nicely narrated as if it were a bedtime story.”
“Howl is a short and sweet little game with a very interesting story premise: a plague that turns people into beasts if they hear another beast's howl.”
“Having the hero be a deaf woman in a world overrun by werewolves whose very howls turn you into a beast is a story setup I absolutely adore.”
“There's not really any story or anything else to keep you going.”
“The story isn't super deep, but it's sufficient to add some narrative bones for a few hours.”
“I was not impressed by the story.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their soothing, storybook art style, which features a unique hand-drawn aesthetic that enhances the overall ambiance. Coupled with well-crafted music and narration, the visuals create an engaging atmosphere that draws players in, despite some simplicity in story presentation. Overall, the combination of visuals, audio, and gameplay elements is well-received, contributing to a captivating experience.
“The art style and ambiance in this game are soothing and somber, like a well-loved fairy tale, and the music and narration add so much as well.”
“I immediately liked the game's storybook visuals and was intrigued by the promise of challenging tactical gameplay.”
“The graphics have a very pleasant and unique 'hand-drawn' art direction, like you're looking at mobile ink on paper.”
- music10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and complementing the art style. Reviewers note that the soundtrack, featuring gentle guitar strums, perfectly aligns with the game's fairy tale-inspired ambiance, making it a significant aspect of the experience. Overall, the combination of music, narration, and visuals creates a captivating and immersive environment for players.
“The art style and music had me hooked immediately, as did the story, even if it is immediately a bit cliche.”
“The music perfectly suits the vibes of the game; the faint strums of guitar strings are exactly the kind of music I want for a puzzle/tactics game like this.”
“I really enjoyed the gameplay, music, and art; everything lends itself to a beautiful, fairytale-inspired atmosphere.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its charming tactical and puzzle elements, featuring intuitive mechanics that are elegantly executed within a fairytale-inspired atmosphere. While the mechanics are somewhat basic, they offer depth and multiple strategies for tackling increasingly challenging levels. The combination of beautiful art, a lovely soundtrack, and engaging gameplay creates an enjoyable experience that feels complete without overstaying its welcome.
“Very enjoyable puzzle game, not too many mechanics, but uses them elegantly.”
“A good depth to the tactics combined with neat mechanics that for the length of the game served well.”
“Intuitive mechanics, charming presentation, and just long enough to feel fully realized without overstaying its welcome.”
“The fight/hide mechanics are rather limited, but there are multiple ways to use them in a particular level, and with an ever-increasing number of enemies on each level, it's not easy to get through the game, especially if you're in for all achievements and don't use assist mode.”
“A good depth to the tactics combined with neat mechanics that, for the length of the game, served well.”
“It has beautiful art, a lovely soundtrack, a unique premise, and fascinating gameplay.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its charming storybook quality, enhanced by beautiful visuals, engaging music, and effective narration that complements the gameplay without being overwhelming. Players appreciate how these elements work together to create a captivating, fairytale-inspired experience.
“The narration was fun and really created an atmosphere without overwhelming the game.”
“I have little experience with strategy/tactics games, and I was lured in by the pretty visuals and music; both are great and add a lot to the atmosphere.”
“All with wonderful narration and stellar art that complement one another perfectly to create a super charming storybook atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game features visually appealing graphics and provides a solid challenge, while avoiding the tedium and stress often associated with grinding.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users note that while the puzzles are enjoyable to solve, the overall replayability is limited, suggesting that once completed, there isn't much incentive to revisit the game.
“While each puzzle is entertaining to figure out, there's not much replay value.”
“Once you've solved the puzzles, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The game lacks variety, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
Critic Reviews
Howl (Nintendo Switch)
Howl combines challenging turn-based gameplay, creative visual effects, and a somber story to produce a unique strategy puzzle game. Built-in repetition and a lack of instruction do slow things down, but, taken in smaller doses, there’s enough here to compel most puzzle fans through to its resolution.
70%Howl Review (PC)
Howl is very good without being too complex. It’s turn-based tactical gameplay has depth, designed to satisfy fans of this genre, but is accessible enough for newcomers. And the narrative elements are strong enough to keep both groups engaged, trying to collect as much confidence and skulls to open up new options. If a battle becomes frustrating, try as many different approaches as possible first but don’t hesitate to activate the Assist mode before frustration sets in. Howl is a great experience because it blends strong narrative and engaging combat in interesting ways. Review key provided by the publisher.
90%Howl Review - An Enchanting Walk Through Dangerous Woods
I felt that this was a very well put together, and engaging puzzle game. While it may not look like it from the onset, it does hold some tough challenges and touching moments inside. While it won’t be for everyone, if what I have said has interested you at all, I recommend giving Howl a shot.
70%
