The Forever Winter

About

In "The Forever Winter", survive in a post-apocalyptic world covered in eternal winter, where massive war machines dominate the landscape. Engage in dynamic encounters with intelligent enemies, using strategy, stealth, and firepower to endure. Loot, adapt, and navigate the power struggle between two superpowers in this grim, ecologically-devastated future.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 24,709 reviews

gameplay2k positive mentions

optimization1.2k negative mentions

The gameplay loop is engaging and addictive, with a strong atmosphere that immerses players in the world.
The art style and visuals are stunning, creating a unique and atmospheric experience that enhances the gameplay.
The music is exceptional, effectively enhancing the game's dark and immersive atmosphere.

The controversial water mechanic is frustrating, requiring real-time management that can lead to significant loss of progress.
The game suffers from severe performance issues and optimization problems, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The story and character development are underdeveloped, with repetitive quests and minimal narrative depth.

gameplay
9,541 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
69%
10%
The gameplay of "Forever Winter" has garnered mixed reviews, primarily due to its controversial water mechanic, which depletes in real-time and can lead to significant loss of progress if players do not log in regularly. While many players find the core gameplay loop engaging and the atmosphere immersive, they express frustration over clunky movement mechanics, inconsistent AI behavior, and the punishing nature of the water system. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the unique premise and potential for future improvements, suggesting that the game could evolve into a compelling experience with further development.
- “Overall, very promising, addictive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is engaging and does a great job of getting you back into play after a raid, downtime between raids for me is less than 5 minutes, especially if I died the previous run where most of that time is spent selling loot.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the world/maps they have created are soooo atmospheric.”
- “The water mechanic is a deal breaker for me.”
- “The water mechanic is terrible and I hate that it uses real life timer instead of in game timer.”
- “The water mechanic that requires you to replenish it and its consumed while you are not playing is very poor considering how flawed the gameplay is.”
optimization
4,500 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
65%
27%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism from users, with many reporting severe performance issues even on high-end hardware. Players have noted frequent frame drops, stuttering, and inconsistent performance across various settings, leading to an overall frustrating experience. While some acknowledge that the game is in early access and expect improvements over time, the current state is deemed unacceptable by a large portion of the community, with calls for urgent optimization efforts from the developers.
- “Despite the obvious complaints about the water mechanic and how unoptimized it is, the game is fun and the gameplay loop is rewarding.”
- “The game is very fun when you get past the terrible performance and sometimes janky AI.”
- “The developers are already talking about not being able to add some functions as they would add too much extra performance requirement.”
- “Game barely runs on my RTX 3060 laptop even on the lowest settings at 720p and the resolution turned down so much you can't tell what you're looking at; apparently optimization is a foreign concept to modern game devs.”
- “This game is horribly optimized, so much so that I have all the settings on low and am getting 15 fps with decent mid-grade hardware.”
- “The absolute terrible optimization will bring your machine to its knees if you have less than a 4090 and the latest 13th or 14th gen Intel or AMD equivalent processor.”
story
3,781 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
86%
5%
The story aspect of "Forever Winter" is currently underdeveloped, with many players noting a lack of cohesive narrative and character development. While the game features environmental storytelling and quests that hint at a larger world, the quests often feel repetitive and lack depth, primarily revolving around fetch or kill objectives. Players express a desire for more lore and a structured storyline to enhance immersion and engagement, suggesting that the game has significant potential for growth in this area as it continues to evolve in early access.
- “The environment does a great job telling the story of what has been happening, and the map is impacted directly by the time you are scavenging.”
- “What truly sets Forever Winter apart is its story.”
- “The level of love and soul that went into this game is remarkable and it is apparent in the environmental storytelling, missions, and lore.”
- “The quests don't seem to have any progression outside of the tutorial section and they simply refresh whenever you complete them, and can even complete the same quest multiple times in a row.”
- “The story is bare bones at the moment, however what is there tells a story like no other.”
- “The little dialogue from quests tells you almost nothing about the setting and the quests themselves are very basic.”
graphics
3,168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The graphics of "Forever Winter" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning art style and atmospheric visuals that create a unique and immersive experience. However, players have noted significant performance issues, particularly with optimization, leading to low frame rates even on high-end systems. While the aesthetic is often described as breathtaking and reminiscent of a living art book, the game's technical execution is still in need of refinement, especially for those with mid to low-range PCs.
- “The art style and world-building are on par with the best in the industry.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with beautifully rendered landscapes that evoke a sense of wonder and exploration.”
- “The art style is raw, haunting, and unapologetically gritty, perfectly complementing the game’s dark atmosphere.”
- “The only issue I have in regards to the graphics is the ridiculous system requirements that they bring.”
- “Not optimized and runs like shit, graphical style cool but graphics themselves can be pretty rough at times, gameplay is jank and frequent bugs are annoying... but still a cool game.”
- “The graphics are not very good, even on ultra setting if you look up at the sky it is always pixelated.”
atmosphere
2,941 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The atmosphere of "Forever Winter" is widely praised as its standout feature, characterized by a grimdark aesthetic that immerses players in a haunting, post-apocalyptic world. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and the sense of tension and danger that permeates gameplay, creating a unique experience that feels both oppressive and engaging. While many acknowledge the game's early access state and associated bugs, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is compelling enough to keep players invested and eager for future improvements.
- “By far the most grimdark and atmospheric game I have played in a very long time.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, and the levels are very obviously painstakingly crafted by hand for the player.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the sound design, the art, all of it is truly phenomenal.”
- “The atmosphere created in this game is incomparable to any other game I've ever played, AAA games included.”
- “The atmosphere is heavy and oppressive, the air full of despair and darkness, and you're a looter whose main objective is to... survive.”
- “The atmosphere is so thick you can cut it with a knife.”
stability
1,614 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting a wide range of bugs, glitches, and performance issues typical of early access titles. Many have experienced frustrating AI behavior, collision problems, and frequent crashes, which detract from the overall gameplay experience. While some players find enjoyment in the game's potential and atmosphere, the consensus is that it requires substantial improvements and optimization before it can be recommended for a broader audience.
- “The game runs great, and the multiplayer has been working excellently.”
- “This game ticks a ton of boxes; even in early access, it's pretty bug-free and offers a lot of gameplay time.”
- “Great game, very well optimized, and it runs great on my gaming laptop.”
- “The controls are buggy and delayed and the AI is severely lackluster from what the game advertises, at some points not seeing 5 ft in front of themselves or sometimes seeing through walls.”
- “The game is buggy, online isn't working, and it might be a little lacking in content (stuff I expect to all get fixed eventually).”
- “The game is buggy, it's very unpolished, and the flow is nowhere close to where it will be closer to full release.”
music
1,146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers praising its haunting, immersive quality that complements the game's dark and gritty visuals. The soundtrack is described as a standout feature, effectively synchronizing with gameplay moments to amplify tension and emotional impact, making it a key element of the gaming experience. While some players noted a limited selection of tracks, the overall consensus is that the music is exceptional and significantly contributes to the game's immersive environment.
- “The music (spot on masterpiece; all tracks) synchronizes with not just the environment/backdrop, but with whatever situation you are about to get yourself into or will be experiencing at that very moment!”
- “The soundtrack is both haunting and beautiful, perfectly capturing the game’s bleak yet hopeful tone.”
- “The music is absolutely amazing in this game, it's dark, it's grim, it can be hopeful yet bleak.”
- “The music is irritating to me, it's not for me, I turned it completely off.”
- “Buying the speakers doesn't allow the player to choose music in the hub or have actually anything play from those speakers.”
- “The music during missions overpowers everything else.”
monetization
337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
16%
81%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the developers' commitment to avoiding aggressive microtransactions and ensuring that all future content will be free, some remain skeptical, fearing it may still turn into a cash grab. Overall, players express optimism about the game's potential, provided the developers stay true to their promises and continue to improve the game's performance and mechanics.
- “Lastly, if the devs remain true to their word, this game will never contain pay-to-win microtransactions or paywall game mechanics.”
- “Worth noting that the devs have said there will be no aggressive monetization and players will still be able to play the game even if all the servers close down and the studio goes under.”
- “The devs are very proactive in their communication with players, have a strong vision for the game, and have drawn a line in the sand against in-game monetization that detracts from the core experience.”
- “The game is still in beta, but I can't shake the feeling that this is a cash grab instead of an actual fantastic game, but I would love to be proven wrong.”
- “It feels like early access in this decade just means 'underdeveloped cash grab'.”
- “I feel like the ads third-person mode when you're not aiming down sights needs to be swapped with the shoulder camera mode, or just make both have the slightly further away third-person camera, because that's better in my opinion.”
grinding
327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
7%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly due to the water mechanic that requires regular farming to avoid losing progress. While some players appreciate the sense of achievement that comes from grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially for those with limited playtime. Overall, the game is seen as heavily reliant on grinding, which can be frustrating for casual gamers but may appeal to those who enjoy a more dedicated playstyle.
- “It's not too grindy because XP can be earned relatively easily, but having to reset always makes me a little sad lol.”
- “As for the water mechanic, it's relatively easy to get water in the game. Playing for maybe 30-60 minutes and getting just 2 tanks of water will already set you up for 2 days. It's really not that grindy, though I agree there should be an option for players that have a life to turn it into in-game days or something of the sort, though it takes away the majority of the reason to be playing the game.”
- “I played 6 hours without farming water, and I have a month's worth.”
- “Why would anyone want to play a game that literally says 'spend your time grinding or suffer the consequences'?”
- “Grinding is supposed to be a play-style choice, not mandatory civil service.”
- “Imagine losing all of your progress and stuff because you stopped playing for a few weeks because you didn't feel like grinding water.”
humor
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, particularly the absurd physics that cause tanks to fly across the map or perform unexpected maneuvers, which players find both hilarious and entertaining. Many reviews highlight the comedic potential of playing with friends, as chaotic moments often lead to laughter, despite some frustrating gameplay elements. Overall, the game's blend of dark themes and lighthearted jank creates a unique experience that keeps players amused, even amidst its early access challenges.
- “It is fun as it is, and hilarious to see T-90 tanks glitch out and fly across the map.”
- “Watching tanks being flung across the map is utterly hilarious and makes my day every time.”
- “The physics are jank but in the most hilarious way; I watched a T-90 fly to low orbit, land in the middle of a cluster of enemy AI units, then chaos ensued.”
replayability
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it engaging due to varied quests, character upgrades, and randomized enemy spawns, others feel that the gameplay loop becomes repetitive after a few hours. Many reviewers express optimism about future updates improving the game's replay value, but currently, issues like identical loot placements and limited map variety detract from long-term enjoyment. Despite its early access state, the game shows potential for increased replayability as developers continue to refine and expand its content.
- “Replayability on this game so far has been pretty solid, with the different time cycles given alternate states of the maps and enemies. It certainly adds enough variability to make doing multiple runs a varied and challenging prospect.”
- “The quests are varied, fun, and replayable, allowing you to farm resources or test different strategies.”
- “Gameplay loop is great, lots of replayability with all the various characters to level, missions to complete, and weapons to level and customize.”
- “The issue is the loop becomes rinse and repeat after 4 to 8 hours; I don't see much long-term replay value.”
- “Seeing the same items over and over defeats replay value.”
- “Identical loot often seems to appear in exactly the same places run after run, while identical enemy compositions often appear in the same location, reducing replay value in maps that are surprisingly small and linear already.”
character development
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
Character development in the game is noted for its impressive character design and artwork, which many players find vibrant and unique. However, there is significant criticism regarding the lack of narrative depth and backstory, with most character insights conveyed through minimal text dialogue or environmental hints. While the character designs are celebrated for their creativity and distinctiveness, players express a desire for more substantial character development and representation, particularly in terms of backstory and progression.
- “I think the character design is very interesting and I enjoy seeing the various outfits and such; it is nice that your character can look interesting without grinding for cosmetics.”
- “The character designs are equally impressive, with each NPC feeling distinct and memorable.”
- “The art direction, map visuals, character design, overarching theme, and dev team philosophy are absolutely astounding.”
- “- lack of story, there's no character development or backstory; what little things you learn is through text dialogue or subtle hints in the level design.”
- “- the character design of the starting character especially (old man) is utterly horrendous.”
- “The character design is grotesque to say the least, and not in a fun horror grotesque way.”
emotional
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from fear and powerlessness in intense survival situations to moments of hope and connection with other characters. Players appreciate the immersive storytelling and the emotional weight of the protagonist's journey, although some express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from the experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its profound emotional engagement, making it a standout in the survival genre.
- “I went into this expecting just another post-apocalyptic experience, but what I got was so much more – a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant journey through an endless, frozen landscape that feels as unforgiving as it is breathtaking.”
- “The main protagonist’s journey is emotional, filled with moments of hope, despair, and unexpected bonds with other survivors.”
- “One of the most emotionally engaging games of the last years.”

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9h Median play time

12h Average play time

5-16h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 370 analyzed playthroughs

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