LostWinds

About

LostWinds is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Frontier Developments and was released on March 24, 2016. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"LostWinds" is a single-player action game with an interesting plot and wonderful gameplay. As the wind spirit Enril, players help Toku on his quest to lift a curse from Mistralis by wielding elemental powers, solving puzzles, and battling enemies. The game features sensational visuals and a splendid soundtrack, bringing the land of Mistralis to life in this enchanting adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 342 reviews

story40 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
The unique wind control mechanics provide an interesting and engaging gameplay experience.
The game is relaxing and suitable for casual play, making it a good choice for younger audiences.

The game is very short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price.
Controls can be frustrating at times, especially when using the mouse to manipulate wind, leading to occasional inaccuracies.
The story feels incomplete, ending on a cliffhanger and requiring a sequel to fully resolve the plot.

story
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The game's story is generally described as short, simplistic, and often left unresolved, requiring players to engage with a sequel for a complete narrative experience. While some players find the story charming and nostalgic, others criticize it for being generic and lacking depth, with many noting that it serves primarily as a setup for the next installment. Overall, the story is seen as adequate for a casual gaming experience, but it may not satisfy those looking for a more substantial plot.
- “Lostwinds embodies everything I want in a game - a beautiful art style, an emotional story, strong game mechanics, and a wonderful soundtrack.”
- “The story is simple but relatable, the graphics are pretty with a lot of attention to detail, and the music is very relaxing.”
- “The story is interesting, and the puzzles are not too difficult.”
- “The game is very short and the story isn't concluded in this game; you need to play part 2 for the rest of the story.”
- “The primary story conflict is left unresolved.”
- “The game leaves you on a cliffhanger just to make you buy the second game; it doesn't even end the story.”
gameplay
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique wind manipulation mechanics, which offer a charming and engaging experience, though many players find the controls clunky and imprecise, particularly when using a mouse. While the puzzles are enjoyable and the art style is appealing, the game is criticized for its short length and underutilization of mechanics, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness and missed potential. Overall, it provides a casual and relaxing platforming experience, but may not satisfy those seeking more depth or challenge.
- “Solid mechanics, and the combat and gameplay are fun.”
- “The gameplay is very unique and makes the experience more enjoyable than it would be otherwise.”
- “Enjoyable wind movement mechanic led the whole game experience to feel smooth.”
- “The controls/gameplay is very clunky at times and that's why I really can't recommend it.”
- “Gameplay is probably the biggest letdown.”
- “The biggest disappointment has to do with what I alluded to in the introductory paragraph, which is how minimal the gameplay is.”
graphics
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and cute art style, with many reviewers noting the colorful and well-designed visuals that create a relaxing atmosphere. While some comments highlight that the graphics may not be technically advanced by modern standards, they still hold up well and contribute positively to the overall experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic is appreciated for its appeal, especially to a younger audience, despite some critiques regarding control issues and simplistic design.
- “High-definition visuals, buttery-smooth controls, a relaxing soundtrack, and performance so light it practically floats.”
- “The graphics and art style are bright and charming.”
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful, and the music is wonderful.”
- “It's not the most advanced game in any way; graphics, story, and controls are all basic and by modern standards maybe even a little bad, but it's fun enough and on sale worth the low price.”
- “[b]Graphics and sound:[/b] would have been fine on Wii 15 years ago, now it's mediocre at best.”
- “The game's delivering okay graphics with okay puzzles, but nothing hooked me.”
music
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The music in the game is generally praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, enhancing the cozy atmosphere and aesthetic. However, many reviewers noted the limited variety, with only a few tracks that can become repetitive over time. Overall, while the soundtrack complements the visuals and gameplay well, some players expressed a desire for more music options or volume controls.
- “I absolutely loved the music; it was cozy and suitable for the aesthetic of the game.”
- “The music, world, and art design create a seamlessly cute experience that's worth checking out.”
- “The peaceful art style, music, and easy difficulty left me feeling rejuvenated and happy after each time I played it.”
- “As other reviewers have mentioned, the music is a big letdown.”
- “My biggest annoyance with the music is the transition to battle drums every time an enemy appears on the screen.”
- “I was initially very impressed by the soundtrack until realizing that the two songs I'd enjoyed were basically all there was.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant visuals and soothing soundtrack, creating a casual and immersive experience. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful art, calming music, and engaging sound effects, which enhance the overall ambiance. Despite some critiques regarding gameplay speed and story depth, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing to a delightful adventure.
- “A very cute little game, with a fun (although sometimes a bit finicky) mechanic of platforming with the help of wind spirits, with lovely visuals and a nice atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of lost winds gives the player a casual experience with a visually vibrant world, and a beautiful and soothing soundtrack.”
- “The music was soothing and the sound effects supported the atmosphere.”
- “I love the atmosphere of it.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization received mixed reviews; while some players experienced smooth performance and high-definition visuals after initial crashes, others noted poor optimization issues. Despite these discrepancies, many appreciated the beautiful art style and atmosphere. There is hope for improved optimization in a potential sequel.
- “High-definition visuals, buttery-smooth controls, a relaxing soundtrack, and performance so light it practically floats.”
- “Had no performance issues at all.”
- “With that said, it runs smoothly; the art style and atmosphere are beautiful.”
- “I hope the sequel is better optimized because I really want to play it.”
- “It's fairly poorly optimized.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted through amusing interactions with NPCs and their reactions to wind manipulation, which players find entertaining. Additionally, the irony of a 2016 game lacking gamepad support adds a layer of humor to the overall experience.
- “I liked pushing gusts of wind on people and seeing and hearing their funny reactions.”
- “The NPCs also take notice when you move wind near them, which causes them to be funny.”
- “No gamepad support; this is pretty hilarious for a game like this released in 2016.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of games to be deeply impactful, often describing experiences as wholesome and therapeutic. Titles like Lostwinds are praised for their beautiful art, emotional storytelling, and strong mechanics, contributing to a fulfilling and supportive gaming atmosphere. Overall, the emotional engagement in these games resonates strongly with players, enhancing their overall experience.
- “Lostwinds embodies everything I want in a game - a beautiful art style, an emotional story, strong game mechanics, and a wonderful soundtrack.”
- “Crystal Maiden: this crossover’s so wholesome it’s practically therapy.”
- “Riven: I’m just here to emotionally support whoever’s main-charactering.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of Lostwinds to be repetitive and tedious, primarily due to the reliance on mouse controls for movement and mechanics. While the game offers a unique experience and is considered affordable, the frequent crashes and the overall lack of challenge contribute to a sense of boredom during gameplay.
- “Is not a bad game - but controlling the mechanics just using the mouse felt repetitive and tedious.”
- “It's not a hard game, just a bit tedious.”
- “Boring and tedious game that keeps crashing.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The PC version of the game experiences initial bugs, particularly in the beginning area, requiring some players to restart. However, after this phase, it generally runs smoothly, though some users report occasional freezing when collecting items, necessitating a task manager intervention. Overall, while there are stability issues, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “Update: I played the game a bit and found that when you collect items, it sometimes freezes and I had to use Task Manager to close it.”
- “The PC version is slightly buggy in the beginning area, and I had to restart the game a few times, but after that, it ran smoothly and it was delightful!”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game has limited replayability, primarily due to its short length and lack of substantial content to revisit, with players able to achieve 100% completion in just a few hours. The only incentive for replaying is collecting statues in each area, but this task is not particularly challenging, making it less appealing for players seeking a deeper experience.
- “Each area has a collectible statue, which adds a layer of replay value. While it's not terribly difficult, I recommend collecting them all before facing the final boss.”
- “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With multiple character builds and different strategies to explore, the replayability is high, encouraging players to experiment with new approaches.”
- “Although it has no replay value and is stupidly short, you can achieve 100% completion in a couple of hours, and for that, it's not worth its full price.”
- “Each area has a collectible statue, which is kind of the only replay value, but it's not terribly difficult, so I'd say get them all before fighting the final (and only) boss.”