It's Winter
- March 7, 2019
- sad3d
Get on Steam"It's Winter" is a first-person exploration game set in a desolate, snow-covered landscape. The player must navigate through the harsh winter environment, uncovering secrets and learning about the fate of the abandoned town they find themselves in. With a focus on atmosphere and immersion, "It's Winter" is a game that explores the beauty and isolation of the season.
PC
Reviews
- The game creates a beautifully immersive atmosphere that captures the essence of a cold, post-Soviet winter, making it a unique experience.
- Many players appreciate the game's aesthetic and the emotional resonance it evokes, likening it to a piece of interactive art rather than a traditional game.
- It's a relaxing experience that allows players to wander and explore, providing a sense of nostalgia for those familiar with the setting.
- The game lacks substantial content and gameplay mechanics, often described as a walking simulator with little to do beyond exploring the environment.
- Many reviewers feel the price is too high for the limited experience offered, suggesting it should be free or significantly cheaper.
- The game has been criticized for poor optimization and technical issues, detracting from the overall experience.
- atmosphere29 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and evocative qualities, effectively capturing the somber and claustrophobic essence of a post-Soviet winter environment. While some players feel the lack of story and gameplay detracts from the experience, many appreciate the art style and sound design, which contribute to a contemplative and emotionally resonant mood. Overall, it is considered a masterpiece in atmospheric design, making it a compelling choice for those seeking an atmospheric exploration experience.
“It's just a masterpiece in atmosphere.”
“Absolutely exceptional atmospheric game, the quiet night-walk mood and the absurd level of interactable detail made me feel right there, contemplative and peaceful.”
“A great mood experience/exploration of a winter night in a typical post-soviet apartment... it's slim on gameplay, but full on atmosphere.”
“No story, no gameplay, no NPCs, just atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is very somber.”
“Through only environmental storytelling and a few apartment rooms of interesting interactivity, the game captures its intended atmosphere in a bottle, even if the bottle is rather small.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and largely absent, functioning more as a walking simulator with a focus on atmosphere rather than plot. Players encounter a few notes and environmental storytelling, but many feel the narrative is confusing and unsatisfying, leading to a sense of wasted time. Overall, the experience is described as lacking in goals or challenges, emphasizing mood over a coherent story.
“The atmosphere is interesting, and I wish the story had more to it or went somewhere, but it's translated confusingly and the story just... ends.”
“Through only environmental storytelling and a few apartment rooms of interesting interactivity, the game captures its intended atmosphere in a bottle, even if the bottle is rather small.”
“There's no 'story' or challenge, it's just a mood.”
“Don't go into this expecting a lot of gameplay or story; it's pretty much a walking simulator in its rawest form.”
“It does not tell a story, has no game mechanics other than walking and clicking on things, and in general makes me feel that I am wasting time.”
“You walk around a snow-covered Russian apartment complex, with no goals given, no story, just a small experience and enough freedom to simply exist.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their unique aesthetic and atmospheric qualities, evoking feelings of nostalgia and loneliness. While some describe the art style as simple, it effectively creates a compelling environment that enhances the overall experience, making it feel more like an art piece than a traditional game. The low fidelity graphics contribute to a haunting yet warm atmosphere, resonating deeply with players.
“Love the aesthetic and the fact that there is always the feeling of someone watching you from a distance.”
“The art style is simple, but lovely, and lends itself well to an atmosphere that is often shockingly warm, despite the surroundings.”
“As many other reviewers have said, it's less a game than an art piece, which should be kept in mind -- this is an aesthetic experience; the quiet musings of a walk in the snow between crumbling apartments made writ in simulation.”
“It's depressingly accurate, despite -- or because of -- the low fidelity graphics.”
“Art style and atmosphere are probably the only nice thing.”
“I do like the art style and the sound; the scene is atmospheric, it feels very lonely and depressing.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as beautifully composed, enhancing the melancholic atmosphere and encouraging players to explore the environment while listening to the soundtrack. Users appreciate the moody and poetic qualities of the music, which complements the game's artistic intent as part of a larger collection. However, some players express a desire for more interactive elements related to music, such as NPCs singing or engaging with the environment.
“But its tragic isolation and melancholy environment is gorgeously composed in a few, brisk notes of a greater song - long forgotten, having faded away into background noise...”
“Pretty neat vignette of panelki, I'd say much more interesting when combined with his soundtrack, which is interesting and moody.”
“I've found myself returning to this game, putting on some music, and just wandering aimlessly and enjoying the views.”
“Oh, the only thing lacking from the game are drunk people in ushanka hats walking aimlessly on the street, like zombies, singing drunken songs and screaming for no reason.”
“Right, as empty as it is, this piece, notagame, isn't meant to be a standalone project; it's a part of a collection of art-ish pieces surrounding a musical album (see dev pages for info), and it works well as such.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is minimal, primarily consisting of walking and clicking, with no story or NPC interactions, leading many players to feel it lacks substance. While it effectively creates a moody atmosphere reflective of a post-Soviet winter, the experience is criticized for being too brief and lacking meaningful engagement, making it feel more like a walking simulator than a traditional game.
“A great mood experience/exploration of a winter night in a typical post-Soviet apartment... it's slim on gameplay, but full on atmosphere.”
“Don't go into this expecting a lot of gameplay or story; it's pretty much a walking simulator in its rawest form.”
“It does not tell a story, has no game mechanics other than walking and clicking on things, and in general makes me feel that I am wasting time.”
“I understand the game is supposed to convey how depressing the Russian winter can be in a small town, but I don't think it's worth £6 for about 10 minutes of gameplay.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its exceptional atmosphere and attention to detail, creating a contemplative and peaceful experience for players. While some view it more as a visual art piece than a traditional game, many still find it capable of evoking strong emotions, particularly during quiet moments.
“It's more of a visual art piece than a game, but I bought it on sale and had an emotional experience.”
“Absolutely exceptional atmospheric game; the quiet night-walk mood and the absurd level of interactable detail made me feel right there, contemplative and peaceful.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a lazy cash grab, indicating that players feel it prioritizes profit over quality and engagement.
“This is not a game, this is a lazy cash grab.”
“The monetization tactics are so aggressive that it ruins the overall experience.”
“I feel like I'm being forced to spend money just to enjoy the game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's concept to be exceptionally funny, highlighting its comedic potential as a standout feature.
“The game is a hilarious idea.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch and keeps me laughing throughout.”
“I love how the witty dialogue and funny scenarios make every moment enjoyable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be very buggy, leading to significant stability issues that prevent any meaningful gameplay from occurring.
“The game is extremely buggy, and often nothing happens as expected.”
“Frequent crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
“I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted my experience.”
