If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers

About

In "If on a Winter's Night, Four Travelers" , players explore a masked ball on a train in the 1920s through the perspectives of four distinct characters. Carlo, in Rome, awaits his lover Patrick amidst rising fascism; Lady Winterbourne, grieving her husband's death, is plagued by fortune hunters; and Dr. Jordan Samuels dabbles in the occult to overcome his tormentors. Each character's story is filled with tension and dark themes, creating a rich, narrative-driven point-and-click adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,569 reviews

story381 positive mentions

grinding20 negative mentions

Beautiful pixel art and animations that create an immersive atmosphere.
Intriguing and well-written stories that explore dark themes with depth.
Engaging sound design and music that enhance the overall experience.

Slow walking speed that can make navigation tedious.
Some puzzles can be unclear or require pixel hunting, which may frustrate players.
The ending feels abrupt and may not provide satisfactory closure for all players.

story
794 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
51%
1%
The game "If on a Winter's Night, Four Travelers" is praised for its beautifully crafted pixel art and deeply engaging storytelling, which explores dark and mature themes through the narratives of four characters. Players appreciate the emotional depth and atmospheric presentation, although some find the pacing uneven and the gameplay simplistic, focusing more on narrative than complex interactions. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy rich, story-driven experiences, despite its short length and occasional frustrations with puzzle integration.
- “A beautiful dark storytelling experience of three characters' tragic lives.”
- “The story is captivating, very touching and the characters are believable and make a lot of sense.”
- “With its mesmerizing storytelling, delightful pixel art, and thought-provoking themes, this game offers a unique and immersive experience that will leave players both horrified and moved.”
- “My only complaint is that the first story is too short, and the fourth story isn't really a story at all.”
- “The story does not move on unless you hit the right items at the right time.”
- “This is very surface-level storytelling and doesn't require any thought process at all as the game basically holds your hand throughout and tells you every interaction you need to make.”
music
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its beautiful and haunting qualities. The soundtrack, which features a mix of classical pieces and original compositions, perfectly complements the game's emotional narratives and stunning pixel art, creating a deeply immersive experience. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's melancholic and engaging tone.
- “While this is a short game, I'd say it's absolutely worth the purchase as you are taken through interesting stories and well-crafted areas while listening to beautifully chosen classical music.”
- “The stories are heartbreaking and emotional, and the elegant piano soundtrack creates a melancholy atmosphere.”
- “The music is beautiful and eerie, the sound design perfectly disturbing, and the artwork is gorgeous!”
- “The music in the game is okay but nothing to write home about, and the graphics are exactly what you expect from the trailer.”
- “I'm guessing, however, that most if not all of the music used in this game must be freely available.”
- “The only thing that bothered me was one particular music track.”
graphics
287 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their beautiful pixel art style, which effectively enhances the atmospheric storytelling and emotional depth. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail, charming animations, and how the visuals complement the game's dark themes, creating a captivating experience. However, some criticism arises regarding the pixelated graphics making certain interactive elements difficult to identify, suggesting a trade-off between aesthetic appeal and gameplay clarity.
- “The pixel graphics are stunning.”
- “The graphics and sprite animations are lovely.”
- “The art style is so charming.”
- “So, in terms of visual quality and technical delivery, this features really godawful, lazy pixel crap 'art' instead of real graphics.”
- “Couldn't get into the story, plus the graphics made it difficult to tell what was even happening.”
- “The graphics are a bit too pixelized in my opinion, trying to imitate old timers.”
atmosphere
243 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
22%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning pixel art, haunting music, and emotionally resonant storytelling, creating an immersive experience that captivates players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a dark, melancholic mood, effectively enhancing the narratives and character struggles. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's length and abrupt ending, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric design and soundscapes significantly elevate the gameplay experience.
- “The stories are heartbreaking and emotional (the second one is particularly beautifully told) and the elegant piano soundtrack creates a melancholy atmosphere.”
- “The game's pixel art is stunning, creating a rich, atmospheric experience that draws you into its haunting world.”
- “The atmosphere, the designs (all the details!), the music, the dialogs - all of it deserves high praise indeed.”
- “All atmosphere and no substance -- like a ghost.”
- “The atmosphere was impeccable throughout and I'm so glad I played the entire game with headphones in because the sound design elevated the entire sense of mystery, dread, and intrigue.”
- “The gloomy atmosphere drips from every corner, supported by a fantastic soundtrack.”
gameplay
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
75%
9%
The gameplay of this game is primarily a simple point-and-click experience that emphasizes narrative over mechanics, featuring minimal puzzles and interactions that often feel repetitive or tedious. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and beautiful pixel art, many criticize the gameplay for being limited and lacking challenge, with slow movement and occasional pixel-hunting frustrations. Overall, it is recommended for those who prioritize story-driven experiences rather than complex gameplay.
- “This game has a unique blend of storytelling, art, and gameplay.”
- “Gameplay revolves around exploring environments, interacting with objects, and solving puzzles to progress the story.”
- “The gameplay is simple but the stories are dark, deep, and interesting.”
- “Dear lord it was draining, and the gameplay itself wasn't fun.”
- “The gameplay is a bit tedious at times, when you have to scan the screen for a small item you missed.”
- “I walked away from each one going either 'huh?' or 'huh.' the little gameplay that exists here is very tedious, actually scratch that - extremely tedious.”
emotional
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "If on a winter's night, four travelers" is widely praised for its profound storytelling and character depth, often leaving players heartbroken and reflective. The game effectively combines haunting narratives with a melancholic soundtrack and beautiful pixel art, creating an immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. However, some reviewers caution that its heavy themes may be emotionally taxing, suggesting that sensitive players approach it with care.
- “Overall, it's a heartfelt journey that leaves a lasting impression.”
- “The stories are heartbreaking and emotional, and the elegant piano soundtrack creates a melancholy atmosphere.”
- “A haunting little game whose emotional impact far exceeds what one might expect from such a short playtime.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players frequently criticize the grinding aspect of the game, noting that slow movement speed and tedious backtracking significantly detract from the experience. Many find certain puzzles overly complex or lacking clarity, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements, the overall consensus is that the pacing and repetitive gameplay can make sections feel excessively tedious.
- “The gameplay is a bit tedious at times, when you have to scan the screen for a small item you missed.”
- “The downside is the very linear nature which borders on the tedious.”
- “The slow movement speed means this should have only been done twice max, but the section takes up to like 10 minutes (which is saying something when the game is only like 1.5 hours long) and is ridiculously tedious.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The game's linear structure significantly limits its replayability, with many users noting that it is primarily engaging for a single playthrough lasting only a few hours. While some find it enjoyable enough for that duration, the consensus is that it lacks substantial replay value.
- “And 8/10 for replayability.”
- “🔲 infinitely replayable”
- “The game's linear nature limits its overall replay value.”
- “It's only worthwhile as a single playthrough; no replay value, and it only takes a couple of hours to play, so it's engaging for that time.”
- “The game probably doesn't really hold much replay value, but it's a couple of hours that's worth your time.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and morbid elements, creating an interesting juxtaposition with its point-and-click format. While some users find it lacking in traditional comedic elements, others appreciate the surprising and often disturbing humor woven into the rich narratives and visually stunning art style. Overall, the game is noted for its unique approach to humor, making it a standout despite its brevity and darker themes.
- “I love the art style, the oft-morbid humor, the rich characters, and rich writing.”
- “To me, there's something intrinsically humorous about the format of point-and-click adventures, so to play one that had such dark subject matter made for a very interesting juxtaposition.”
- “Three fantastic and visually beautiful point-and-click stories that, although they have obvious plots, still manage to find ways to surprise in the most disturbing and at times surprisingly humorous manner.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The optimization of the game is highly praised, receiving an 8/10 rating for overall impressions and performance, with users noting unparalleled performance and minimal bug-related incidents.
- “Unparalleled performance.”
- “Optimization: 8/10”
- “Overall impressions & performance”
- “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Frequent crashes and lag spikes ruin the experience, indicating a lack of proper optimization.”
- “The frame rate drops significantly in busy areas, which is unacceptable for a game of this caliber.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is highlighted by impressive character designs that enhance the overall tone, though some characters are introduced only briefly and do not reappear. Overall, players find the combination of art, sound, and character development to be enjoyable.
- “The character design was splendid and really added to the game's tone.”
- “I found the art, sound, and character development very enjoyable.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly a critical bug that causes it to freeze when attempting to save, forcing players to quit the program. This major flaw detracts from the overall experience and hampers gameplay progression.
- “I really like this, but there is a huge bug that freezes the game when you try to save, and the only thing to do is force quit the program.”
- “I couldn't save the game as it always freezes when I try to do so.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization model is praised for offering a high-quality game for free, with players expressing a willingness to support the developers through optional purchases like a supporter pack. This approach effectively showcases the developer's talent, generating interest in their other works.
- “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I appreciate the game, but the constant push for in-game purchases really detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating that so many features are locked behind paywalls, which makes it feel like a cash grab rather than a fair game.”