The Wolf of Derevnya
- April 4, 2023
- Nightwell Games
Get on SteamIn "The Wolf of Derevnya," a survival-horror narrative game set in Kievan Rus', you play as a hero accused of attacking the villagers of Derevnya. With over 1200 choices, a customizable protagonist, and multiple endings, this 87,000-word, illustrated choose-your-own-adventure game offers a rich, immersive experience as you hunt for the beast and confront your past. The game includes 40 high-resolution hand-drawn illustrations, creating a haunting atmosphere to enhance the story.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and immersive setting in ancient Kiev, enhanced by beautiful hand-drawn art and atmospheric music.
- The writing is compelling, with well-realized characters and meaningful choices that impact the story, reminiscent of classic choose-your-own-adventure books.
- Players appreciate the game's ability to create tension and a sense of dread, making it an engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs that can disrupt gameplay and prevent players from progressing.
- The writing includes untranslated Russian words that can confuse players, and the plot is criticized for being predictable with obvious twists.
- Some choices are time-sensitive and not clearly communicated, leading to frustration and immersion-breaking save scumming to explore different outcomes.
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is immersive and creatively written, effectively capturing the unique world of Kievan Rus, though it suffers from a predictable plot twist revealed early on, diminishing the impact of the narrative. While the story is relatively short, lasting about 1.5 hours, it offers significant depth and encourages exploration of different paths in subsequent playthroughs. However, the time-sensitive choices can lead to frustrating limitations, affecting the overall experience.
“The story is a bit on the short side for my taste (my first playthrough took about 1 and a half hours), but it achieves a lot within that short time.”
“It's fully immersive in the world of Kievan Rus and the story keeps you on your toes at all times.”
“A creative and thoughtfully written story that immersed me in the unique world.”
“Unfortunately, when the main plot twist is so blunt and recognizable in the first 10 minutes of the game, the rest doesn't really matter.”
“For a text game like this, both writing and plot issues are critical, so I don't recommend the game.”
“Many of these choices are gated behind time-sensitive events; for example, near the climax of the story, you have a choice to talk to several villagers, but you are not told that there is only time to talk to 2 of them, and which 2 you talk to actually have a drastic impact on the endings.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its minimalist sketchbook art style and moody background music, effectively creating a sense of isolation and dread. Reviewers praise the well-crafted tension and immersive world-building, enhanced by realistic dialogue and unique characters, which together contribute to a gripping and engrossing experience. The subtle sound design further complements the narrative, making it a standout visual novel filled with atmosphere and intrigue.
“It's minimalist sketchbook style drawings and moody background music come together very nicely to create a believable atmosphere of isolation and dread, leaving your imagination to flesh out the world from the text descriptions.”
“Great atmosphere and well-written tension, with just the right pace of background lore being slowly revealed.”
“A nice little visual novel full of atmosphere and tension (the subtle music and sound effects really complement the writing here), complete with a twist ending that felt right and I probably should have seen coming.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their unique hand-drawn art style, which enhances the storytelling set in ancient Kiev. Reviewers appreciate the compelling character designs and the rich, sketched visuals that invite players to immerse themselves in the game's world. Overall, the art style contributes significantly to the game's charm and narrative depth.
“I love the hand-drawn art style, and it's neat to see more stories taking place in ancient Kiev.”
“Well-written, compelling, and interesting characters, along with a very unique art style and user interface.”
“Zvezdana is a delight that makes sure I slow down to digest the scenes. Mila is fun and helpful, and there's a rich intrigue to it all, as well as a beautifully sketched style to all the portraits and visuals.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as moody and minimalist, effectively enhancing the atmosphere of isolation and dread. It complements the beautiful illustrations and writing, creating a tense and immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, the subtle sound design and musical elements significantly contribute to the game's emotional depth and storytelling.
“It's minimalist sketchbook style drawings and moody background music come together very nicely to create a believable atmosphere of isolation and dread, leaving your imagination to flesh out the world from the text descriptions.”
“Beautiful illustrations and musical accompaniment.”
“A nice little visual novel full of atmosphere and tension; the subtle music and sound effects really complement the writing here, complete with a twist ending that felt right and I probably should have seen coming.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features numerous humorous moments that provide a lighthearted distraction from the darker themes of the storyline, effectively balancing the overall tone.
“Plenty of funny moments to help you briefly forget how messed up your situation is.”
