Midvinter
- May 5, 2016
- Talecore
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Get on itch.io Store"Midvinter is a single-player, musical point-and-click game where you play as a gnome helping humans on an abandoned farm, while avoiding dark creatures and seeking aid from fair folks. The game features puzzles, riddles, unique music, and Swedish folklore-inspired art, taking place in 19th century Sweden. Developed by Anna Jenelius and composer Douglas Holmquist, Midvinter offers multiple endings and immerses players in Sweden's history."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and relaxing point-and-click game with beautiful artwork and soothing music, perfect for fans of Scandinavian folklore.
- Offers multiple endings and achievements, encouraging replayability despite its short length.
- Developed by a single person, showcasing a genuine passion for the subject matter, which adds to the game's charm.
- Extremely short gameplay, typically completed in under an hour, leading to concerns about value for the price.
- Voice acting is often criticized as awkward and unconvincing, detracting from the overall experience.
- Gameplay is very simple and lacks challenge, making it feel more suitable for children or casual gamers.
- story16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as simplistic and lacking depth, with some players finding it uninteresting and too short. However, others appreciate the charm of its folklore-inspired narrative and the impact of player choices on multiple endings, which adds a layer of engagement. Overall, while the story has its merits, many players desire a more complex and enriched narrative experience.
“The story is nice and your choices in the game lead to three different endings, which was fun as I am always a sucker for games where choices matter.”
“This charming, feel-good game is based on Scandinavian folklore, which was compelling enough reason for me to try it out, as I find gaming to be a great way to learn about various mythologies of interest when incorporated into this medium of storytelling.”
“Your actions during this time affect the events and the ending of the story.”
“The story (if you can even call 'monsters threaten to take child, you bring your big sister with you after doing groceries for her, monster leaves' a story) and the puzzles are all very straightforward and uninteresting, the art is bad, and the game is extremely short and absolutely not worth the price.”
“I wish it at least could have gone somewhat into depth of the backstory and lore of the various creatures and spirits we meet.”
“Point-and-click mechanics are very straightforward, the story is fairly basic and the voice acting isn't great.”
- music13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its soothing and atmospheric qualities, particularly appealing to fans of Scandinavian folk music. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's tranquil ambiance, although some wished for more musical variety throughout the gameplay. Overall, the music is described as beautiful and fitting, complementing the game's artistic vision.
“It is hard to say a lot about a game this short (approx 30 min), however, I must say that I loved the artwork and the music especially - very soothing.”
“This is clearly a labor of love, with lovely artwork and haunting music.”
“The soundtrack was soothing, and the voice acting, while not great, was fine.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“If you are into Scandinavian folklore and music, you are going to love this!”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the traditional and beautiful art style that evokes nostalgia and complements the game's mythology, while others find it lacking in challenge and exposition. Overall, the artwork is described as a labor of love, enhanced by soothing music, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
“I loved the artwork and the music, especially - very soothing.”
“The art style feels traditional and beautiful, which is what really grabbed my interest.”
“Graphical style is good and does great service to the mythology the game is based on.”
“There's no challenge, and there's very little exposition about the actual folklore, and I wasn't sold on the artwork.”
“The art style reminds me of some old fairy and gnome encyclopedias that my grandmother had when I was growing up.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay features straightforward point-and-click mechanics, but players note a limitation in movement options. While the story is simple, the overall experience is somewhat hindered by subpar voice acting.
“Gameplay: 8”
“Point-and-click mechanics are very straightforward.”
“Gameplay has a quirk that you can never simply move.”
“Point-and-click mechanics are very straightforward, the story is fairly basic, and the voice acting isn't great.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its beauty and immersive soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users feel that the gameplay is too simplistic and short, limiting the potential for deeper engagement with the environment.
“It really adds to the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere and music are good, and I'd like more to do so I can spend more time in Midvinter.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful as well as atmospheric.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally stable experience, with some minor glitches that can be resolved by reloading the game. The game's automatic save feature helps mitigate issues, and many players commend the stability given that it is primarily developed by a single individual.
“I am impressed that this is mainly a one-person development, with the soundtrack composed by a second individual, and I experienced no glitches or bugs.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes, which is impressive for an indie title.”
“I appreciate the stability of the game; it allows me to fully immerse myself in the experience without interruptions.”
“My only complaint was a few glitches that happened along the way, but they were easily fixed by reloading the game, which saves automatically every time you change to a new scene.”
“I am impressed that this is a mainly one-person development, with the soundtrack being composed by a second individual, and I experienced no glitches or bugs.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark and ironic contrasts, such as a well-meaning gnome assisting a deadly lake creature, which adds a layer of absurdity to the narrative. This blend of lightheartedness and macabre elements resonates with players, enhancing the overall comedic experience.
“I found it funny that a good guy gnome trying to save lives helps fix the violin of a lake creature that grabs passing humans and drags them to their deaths.”
“The humor in this game is brilliantly absurd, with characters that make you laugh out loud at their ridiculous antics.”
“I love how the game mixes dark humor with lighthearted moments, creating a unique and entertaining experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, primarily appealing to players interested in exploring all possible endings and completing achievements.
“Very little replay value unless you want to see all the endings and get all the achievements.”
