The Forever Winter

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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.

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Play Modes

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,178 reviews

gameplay830 positive mentions

optimization525 negative mentions

gameplay
3,947 mentions
21 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Forever Winter" has garnered mixed reviews, primarily due to its controversial water mechanic, which depletes in real-time even when players are offline, leading to significant progress loss if not managed. While many players find the core gameplay loop engaging and immersive, with a focus on stealth and scavenging amidst chaotic battles, others criticize the clunky movement, inconsistent AI behavior, and overall lack of polish typical of early access titles. Despite these issues, the game's unique atmosphere and potential for future development have kept a dedicated player base hopeful for improvements.
- “I like the gameplay loop and have been having fun with it, despite my gripes.”
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying.”
- “The gameplay has been addicting and so much fun!!!”
- “Like almost everyone has mentioned, the water mechanic in this game needs some reworking.”
- “I know this is an EA game and I'm okay with it being half-baked, but some of the devs' choices have me regretting supporting this game; the water mechanic is a real deal breaker for anyone with a life.”
- “The water mechanic is a mechanic that punishes players for not playing regularly, and it feels like a predatory mechanic that can actively negatively affect people by forcing them to play more than they want just so they don't have to play more later.”
optimization
1,942 mentions
8 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some users acknowledge the potential for improvement as the game is in early access, the current state is described as "horribly optimized" and "unplayable" for those with lower-end hardware. Overall, players are hopeful for future updates to address these critical optimization concerns.
- “The October 30th update improved performance a decent amount, and the update a few days after that even more so.”
- “For a game that relies on creating a high-stakes, immersive experience, stable performance is a necessity, not a bonus.”
- “The game is in an early stage and needs optimization, but it can definitely be worked around.”
- “Optimization is lacking, severely.”
- “However, the game is extremely unoptimized and I would have to suffer through a lag spike every minute on the lowest possible settings, which ruined the experience as a whole.”
- “The performance is pretty rough, AI is janky as heck, sometimes the AI factions spot me instantly and sometimes I can run through a crowd without issue.”
story
1,580 mentions
9 % positive mentions
87 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is currently underdeveloped, with most narrative elements conveyed through environmental storytelling and quest dialogues rather than a cohesive plot. Players have noted that while the world-building is intriguing, the quests often feel repetitive and lack depth, primarily revolving around fetch and kill objectives. Despite these shortcomings, there is potential for a richer narrative as the game evolves, with many players expressing hope for future updates to enhance the storytelling experience.
- “The quests have some story and reason behind them if you read about them.”
- “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 atmosphere is fantastic and it feels like there is a very compelling post-apocalyptic storyline to be told here.”
- “The quests aren't the best and are random and repeating.”
- “The quests are mostly fetch, kill, or collect x amount of items quests without much depth to them.”
- “The story, lore, and NPC quest interactions are as deep as they are cryptic.”
graphics
1,315 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Forever Winter" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the game's unique art style and atmospheric visuals that evoke a grimdark aesthetic reminiscent of works by artists like Zdzisław Beksiński. However, players have reported significant optimization issues, with many struggling to achieve stable frame rates even on high-end systems, often needing to lower settings to maintain playability. Overall, while the visuals are striking and immersive, the game's performance and graphical fidelity require substantial improvement to match the ambitious artistic vision.
- “The game's visuals are absolutely stunning, with beautifully rendered landscapes that evoke a sense of wonder and exploration.”
- “The art style is a refreshing departure from the usual tropes, creating a unique and immersive experience.”
- “The visuals find beauty among the bleakness: a range of distant housing blocks looks straight out of Zdzisław Beksiński, rebuilt by malfunctioning AI 3D printers only to be destroyed again and again.”
- “The game runs like absolute crap despite my pretty good rig, even in the hub area where there's only you, a few rooms and like 5 NPCs it lags so bad it's hilarious, on low graphics, let alone during a raid.”
- “I have a high end pc and get 60 fps in very low graphic setting.”
- “The graphics are not very good, even on ultra setting if you look up at the sky it is always pixelated.”
atmosphere
1,240 mentions
60 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Forever Winter" is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively capturing a grimdark, post-apocalyptic world filled with tension and danger. Players appreciate the stunning visuals, haunting sound design, and the feeling of being a small, vulnerable character amidst chaotic battles, which enhances the overall experience. Despite some technical issues and gameplay mechanics needing refinement, the game's atmosphere stands out as its greatest strength, promising a unique and engaging experience for fans of atmospheric shooters.
- “The atmosphere created in this game is incomparable to any other game I've ever played, AAA games included.”
- “The atmosphere is absolutely anxiety-inducing.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, and the levels are very obviously painstakingly crafted by hand for the player.”
- “The atmosphere is absolutely anxiety inducing.”
- “The atmosphere gives off a lot of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear vibes and I'm all here for it.”
- “The atmosphere is grimdark, every step could be your last, and you just keep trucking until you reach your extraction point.”
stability
686 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
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. While many appreciate the game's potential and immersive atmosphere, they also note that the clunky movement, erratic AI behavior, and frequent crashes can detract from the overall experience. Overall, players recommend caution for those sensitive to bugs, suggesting that the game is still in a rough state and may require further updates to improve stability.
- “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 game runs great on my 4070, and I haven't hit a bug since the patch.”
- “The game is a buggy mess, and the AI at the best of times barely functions.”
- “It's unbelievably buggy and takes no time for one to discover this game's janky feeling movement, horrible pathfinding for the AI, and mechanics like water which is just really bad and does not allow one to take a break from the game without losing all your progress.”
- “The game is buggy, it's very unpolished, and the flow is nowhere close to where it will be closer to full release.”
music
481 mentions
55 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Many players describe the soundtrack as phenomenal, with a mix of dark ambient, industrial, and metal influences that perfectly complement the game's grim setting. While some critiques mention occasional jarring moments, the majority agree that the music significantly contributes to the game's tension and emotional depth, making it a standout feature.
- “The gameplay randomly gives you stark moments of striking artistry, the music amplifies this dark hell-scape perfectly, the sound design crunches like few AAA games even dream of, & it's still in early access.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the sound design, the art, all of it is truly phenomenal.”
- “The music captures the vibe of desolation and perseverance immaculately, I don't think I can put into words just how amazing this game's visuals are.”
- “Buying the speakers doesn't allow the player to choose music in the hub or have actually anything play from those speakers.”
- “The music when extracting from a mission is completely jarring and doesn't fit the vibe nor does it fit the rest of the soundtrack.”
- “The way the enemy paths around and how their AI works, along with how awful the game's optimization, along with the awful controls/UX, along with the jarring music choices all together makes it feel very amateur.”
monetization
138 mentions
4 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy has been positively received, with developers committing to a model free of pay-to-win mechanics and aggressive microtransactions, which many players appreciate as a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape. However, some concerns remain regarding the implementation of daily login mechanics that could penalize players for inactivity, which feels contradictory to their anti-monetization stance. Overall, players express optimism about the developers' transparency and dedication to ethical practices, viewing the game as a passion project rather than a cash grab.
- “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.”
- “I really don't want another Cyberpunk 2077 early game release treatment and instead of fixing the game to what it is supposed to be, only to fall short and die with all the cash grab games in the market.”
- “It feels like a cash grab and I get deja vu from all the early stupid early access stuff that never gets done before the devs abandon it.”
- “On the one hand, the devs are taking a hard stance against anti-consumer bullshit like microtransactions, yet one of the core 'metagame' mechanics they have implemented is 'daily login' bullshit with you losing all progress if you don't log in in x days.”
humor
128 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, such as flying tanks and erratic AI behavior, which players find amusing rather than frustrating. Many reviews highlight the contrast between the game's dark, dystopian themes and the comedic moments that arise from its janky mechanics, creating a unique blend of tension and laughter. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to evoke laughter through its chaotic and unpredictable gameplay, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends.
- “Kinda funny when all the lore is meant to be brutally dystopian and kafkaesque but the tanks are sliding around like wet beach balls.”
- “I normally get quite mad when I die in games, but with this one I usually end up laughing.”
- “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.”
grinding
126 mentions
2 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the water mechanic both a source of stress and a manageable challenge. While some appreciate the sense of achievement that comes from grinding for resources and character progression, others feel that the necessity to constantly farm water can be tedious and detracts from overall enjoyment. Overall, the grind is seen as integral to the game's strategy, but opinions vary on whether it enhances or hinders the experience.
- “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.”
- “Right now grinding quests is pointless because your faction ratings change absolutely nothing during gameplay as the AI seems to still be shoot-on-sight mode, which is lame considering a post-apocalyptic army would need to trade with scavengers to survive on the battlefield.”
- “I put the hours in, I learned most of the maps, attempted most quests, and nearly fully maxed out a character after grinding to get all the stuff that's available in the game, but it quickly becomes a tedious slog.”
- “The water system sucks since it incentivizes playing every single day and farming, which is frustrating, but it's still early access and the devs are very active.”
replayability
59 mentions
24 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed positively, with many players appreciating the variability in maps, enemy spawns, and quests that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some users note that repetitive item appearances and certain bugs detract from long-term replay value, suggesting that while the game has solid foundations, it still requires further development to fully realize its potential. Many players express optimism about future updates improving the game's overall playability and replayability.
- “Replayability in this game so far has been pretty solid, with the different time cycles giving alternate states of the maps and enemies. It certainly adds enough variability (and sometimes terror, those body collectors are terrifying when you first encounter them up close) 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.”
- “Between the minor changes to the same maps, randomized spawns, and occasional single factions, the game currently offers greater than expected replayability.”
- “The idea is good, however there is not much for long replayability yet.”
- “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
48 mentions
48 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its impressive character design and distinct NPCs, which contribute to a memorable atmosphere. However, many reviewers criticize the lack of substantial backstory and narrative depth, suggesting that character development feels minimal and is primarily conveyed through text dialogue and environmental hints. Overall, while the visual aspects are highly praised, the depth of character development leaves much to be desired.
- “The character designs are equally impressive, with each NPC feeling distinct and memorable.”
- “The character design is made with love, and the world setting and art style are really enjoyable.”
- “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.”
- “- character development, by which I mean prestige levels and little upgrades every time you prestige making the experience a little easier.”
- “And of course this stupid thing takes up so much screen real estate for no other reason than the character designers never in their life considered anything less than a bed frame could hold such incredibly 'hard' to hold things like cans of water, ammo boxes, and guns.”
emotional
38 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed responses, with many players expressing a deep emotional engagement and appreciation for its heartwarming messages and the love evident in its development. Some players found the experience to be both uplifting and painful, evoking laughter and tears, while others felt emotionally burdened by mechanics that detracted from their enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as having significant potential for emotional impact, though it currently faces challenges that may hinder full immersion.
- “Came for the heartwarming message in the interview/dev diary, stayed for the pain and the punishment.”
- “One of the most emotionally engaging games of the last years.”
- “Great game, happy to have supported and continue to, this is a game that actually made me feel some deep thoughts while locked into a desperate attempt at enough to survive!”