Rose of Winter
- October 17, 2016
- Pillow Fight
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Rose of Winter" , play as Rosemary, a knight-in-training, tasked with escorting four handsome princes through a perilous mountain pass. With challenging obstacles, unpredictable weather, and the princes' quirks to navigate, experience a charming visual novel filled with adventure, romance, and the possibility of heartbreak. Your choices will determine which prince you end up with, if any, in this fairytale-inspired game. Note: This game contains mature content and is intended for a mature audience. Please refer to the game's store page for a content warning.
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Reviews
- The art style is adorable and the music is beautiful, enhancing the overall experience.
- Rosemary, the protagonist, is a strong and relatable character, breaking the mold of typical otome heroines.
- Each route offers unique storylines and character development, making the game engaging despite its short length.
- The game is quite short, with each route taking about 30-60 minutes, which may leave players wanting more.
- Some players found the romantic developments rushed, as the characters fall in love within a very short timeframe.
- There is a lack of features common in visual novels, such as a CG gallery or a way to track which endings have been achieved.
- story178 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Rose of Winter" is a lighthearted and charming visual novel that follows the protagonist, Rosemary, as she helps one of four princes navigate a treacherous mountain path in pursuit of love. While the narratives are engaging and well-written, many players noted that the brevity of each storyline limits character development and choice impact, leading to a somewhat shallow experience. Overall, the game is praised for its cute art style and entertaining dialogue, making it a delightful, albeit short, romantic adventure.
“I really liked that each storyline fleshed out another chunk of the world, made it feel a bit more lived in despite the shortness of the game.”
“You'd think that the concept of a first time meeting, attraction, blossoming romance and departure all within a couple of days would lead to a complete hash of a rushed story, and reasonably so; and yet for the most part this is not the case due to some quite talented writing.”
“Each prince offers their own unique story of atypical romance (or sadness, depending on player choices).”
“However, the story makes it clear that the heroine chooses to be with them despite their differences, not that she is swept off her feet because they try to make her fall for them.”
“Rosemary's story has so much potential, but because the game is so short it doesn't really go anywhere.”
“The different choices don't really affect the storyline that much except for a few changes in dialogue, and of course the ending--other than that, everything is the same.”
- graphics108 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and charming art style, featuring a soft pastel aesthetic and endearing character designs that resonate well with players. However, some reviews note that the graphics can be simplistic and occasionally glitchy, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the artwork is often highlighted as a key reason for players' enjoyment, contributing to the game's whimsical and heartwarming atmosphere.
“The art style is fantastic and the story compelling.”
“The colour palette was gorgeous, and the artwork is just so adorable it hurts.”
“The graphics fit the tone and whimsical nature of the characters really well.”
“But the graphics are often glitchy (often giving a patchy purple background separate from the character sprites even after re-downloading), and the game itself is incredibly short.”
“I had a few graphical errors in Falkner's route and a few audio glitches when skipping to get the sad endings, but it wasn't too bad.”
“O no CG section and sadly no option to hide the window to see the characters' full artwork.”
- music84 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game, composed by Toby Fox, is widely praised for its charm and suitability to the game's various scenes, creating a heartwarming atmosphere. While some players noted the limited number of tracks and occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack enhances the experience without becoming grating. The combination of cute art and engaging music contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a delightful choice for fans of the genre.
“The soundtrack was created by Toby Fox, so even though there aren't many songs, they're all very easy on the ears and sound wonderful.”
“The art style, the story, alternate routes, the characters, the music (done by Toby Fox!); everything about this game is fantastic.”
“Though it sounded generic at times, the music fit the different moods in the game appropriately, and were still a pleasure to listen to.”
“I was so happy to hear that Toby Fox had done the music, but it loops and loops and loops.”
“4 soundtracks start to get annoying after a while.”
“Option menu also allows you to turn down or turn off the music, if you don't like it or it's too repetitive.”
- emotional48 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and wholesome experiences, with players highlighting the charming interactions between characters and the touching narratives across various routes. Many reviews note that even the sad endings carry a sense of warmth, making the overall experience both delightful and emotionally engaging. The game's art, music, and writing contribute to a sincere atmosphere that resonates deeply with players, fostering strong emotional attachments to the characters.
“After playing every route (4 happy / 4 bad endings), I would like to write a heartfelt recommendation for this little gem.”
“Still, I was impressed by the way that the components (distinct art style, music, story) were in tune with one another and with a charming cast of characters created a truly heartwarming experience.”
“It will warm the cockles of your heart and maybe even make you shed a tear.”
- humor36 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Rose of Winter" is consistently praised for its lighthearted and charming nature, with well-written dialogues that evoke a fairy tale feel. Players find the main character, Rosemary, to be endearing and funny, often delivering hilarious inner monologues and engaging in heartwarming interactions with other characters. The game balances sweetness with playful humor, including clever jokes and a touch of spice in its romantic elements, making it a delightful experience overall.
“Rose of Winter is very sweet, wonderfully funny, and awfully charming, with lovely artwork, a diverse set of engaging characters, and it's a delightful tale of fantasy adventure.”
“Strong humorous writing allows this simple four-arc visual novel to leave a memorable impression of its core characters.”
“The characters are endearing and funny, and the art and music are beautiful.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being repetitive and frustrating, with players feeling that attempts to extend playtime lead to irritation rather than enjoyment. Many describe it as a standard visual novel with simplistic choices that lack depth, resulting in a low-quality experience both mechanically and narratively.
“Maybe a 'visual sort story?' I also had an issue with some of this game's 'choices.' I don't know why games think choosing 'left' vs. 'right' is good gameplay, but that's a grievance I've had with numerous visual novels.”
“This seemed a pointless attempt to extend gameplay at the cost of player irritation.”
“I have about 4 hours of gameplay, and that netted me every achievement in the game save one (that required playing a route 5 times).”
“Mechanically, this is a standard small-scope visual novel.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highly praised, with each route providing unique and intimate interactions between the protagonist, Rosemary, and her chosen prince. The creators have been commended for designing a relatable lead character who is plus-sized and embodies an upbeat attitude, showcasing a nuanced approach to femininity that enhances the overall narrative.
“The character development is fantastic, and each route is unique, offering intimate moments between Rosemary and her chosen prince.”
“I adore her character design and want to thank the creators for making a lead female who's plus-sized, has messy hair, and possesses an upbeat attitude.”
“Magnolia Porter (the writer) and Aatmaja Pandya (the character designer) have created compelling characters, thanks in no small part to their nuanced treatment of femininity.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game offers a refreshing alternative to traditional grinding, favoring shorter, more engaging experiences that prioritize character interactions over repetitive gameplay. This approach is particularly appealing for players with limited time, as it avoids the tedium often associated with grinding for stats or resources. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a more concise and enjoyable narrative experience.
“I'd consider this one worth a look, and if your purse strings are a little tight these days, I'd put it on the wishlist as one worth biding over, especially if, like me, you work long hours and prefer the odd shorter, sweeter experience to endless time grinding out stats or baddies to see something that'll stick with you once the novelty's worn down.”
“The benefit of shorter routes in otome is that you can focus almost strictly on the back-and-forth between characters without it becoming tedious.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences some stability issues, including graphical errors and audio glitches, particularly during specific routes and when skipping content. While these issues are noted, they are not considered severe enough to detract significantly from the overall experience. Players recommend the game for its cute stories, but hope for future updates to address these glitches.
“I had a few graphical errors in Falkner's route and a few audio glitches when skipping to get the sad endings, but it wasn't too bad.”
“If you're interested in a few short cute stories with okay art, then I recommend playing this, but hopefully the glitches I encountered and the price will adjust for what this ended up as.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's heavy reliance on flavor text for choices diminishes its replayability, as many decisions lack significant impact on the ending. While this approach can be enjoyable in moderation, it ultimately restricts the incentive to replay the game.
