Windmills

About

"Windmills" is a single-player Fantasy Action Metroidvania where you play as the last Crimson Cape, a witch-hunter on a quest to find your missing father. The combat is combat-focused and allows you to suppress, deflect, dodge, and parry enemies, as well as absorb their powers for your own use. The story unfolds in a unique way based on your actions, making each narrative unique. Unlock new abilities as you progress through the story, adding more options for combat and exploration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

Windmills features beautiful pixel art and a unique storytelling style that keeps players engaged and entertained.
The combat system is satisfying, with a well-executed parry mechanic that rewards skillful play and adds depth to encounters.
The game offers a challenging experience reminiscent of classic metroidvanias and souls-like games, with a variety of enemies and exciting boss fights.

The game suffers from numerous bugs, including hitbox issues and clunky movement, which can detract from the overall experience.
There is no minimap or detailed level map, making navigation difficult and sometimes frustrating for players.
Some design choices, such as enemy AI behavior and checkpoint placement, feel unpolished and can lead to tedious gameplay.

story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
38%
14%
The game's story is praised for its unique and engaging narrative style, blending humor with a heart-wrenching quest about a son searching for his lost father. Players appreciate the charming characters and well-written dialogues, as well as the innovative use of an unreliable narrator that adds depth and intrigue to the lore. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience and encouraging exploration.
- “This game is beautiful, and not just the scenery, but the story is heart-wrenching and amazing; there's so much to learn and explore.”
- “Windmills is an amazing metroidvania with a very original and unique style of storytelling that keeps you laughing while also reeling you into the mystery and the world.”
- “One of its strengths is the way that the unreliable narrator reveals the game lore as you progress, with twists in the story depending on how he remembers some of the events.”
- “The game doesn't hold your hand; there is no minimap, zone map, nor quest marker—just a world map and collected hints in the narrative tab of the menu.”
- “The story is about a son looking for his lost father.”
- “The story is also a labor of love, it seems. The narrator guides you through the story but makes mistakes or misremembers, which is tied into the death system, providing a nice explanation as to why things work the way they do.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by great controls and a perfect challenge, offering a fun and engaging experience, particularly during boss fights that emphasize movement. While the combat may initially feel clunky, it becomes fast-paced and thrilling once players grasp the mechanics, especially the parry system, which is central to progression. The game successfully blends aesthetics with strong combat mechanics and a unique narration feature, making it a standout indie title in the action platformer genre.
- “Great controls, perfect challenge, and really fun gameplay.”
- “Gameplay-wise, combat did come off as a little clunky at first, but when you understand it, it is a fast and thrilling experience overall. The boss fights that require a lot of movement are the moments where it shines the brightest.”
- “Windmills is an incredible indie game with very strong combat mechanics, humor, some hilarious stories, and very good sound design.”
- “You won't progress in this game if you don't like the mechanic.”
- “Maybe a seasoned veteran who has put hundreds of hours into this game will be used to the timing of it all, but the central mechanic of this game (parrying) is honestly kind of hurt by it.”
- “Gameplay: it is a 2D sidescrolling metroidvania with a souls-like combat system.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The graphics are praised for their beautiful pixel art and detailed design, particularly of the main characters, which enhances the overall aesthetic and storytelling. Reviewers appreciate the cohesive visual style that stands out among other 2D pixel art games, avoiding overly stylized trends. The combination of impressive visuals and sound effects contributes positively to the gameplay experience.
- “The visuals are beautiful to me, and I appreciate the unique way of storytelling so far.”
- “The pixel art in the graphics is tremendous, especially in the design of the main characters, such as the protagonist.”
- “The graphics have great detail, and the sound effects are awesome.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Windmills" is a standout feature, blending a unique storytelling style with witty dialogues that keep players entertained while exploring its intriguing world. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance humor with mystery, making for an engaging experience filled with hilarious moments and strong character interactions. Overall, the game's comedic elements enhance its appeal, contributing to its charm and enjoyment.
- “The rest of the world isn't as serious as the general story, but that features a unique charm with a surprising sense of humor.”
- “Windmills is an amazing metroidvania with a very original and unique style of storytelling that keeps you laughing while also reeling you into the mystery and the world.”
- “Windmills is an incredible indie game with very strong combat mechanics, humor, some hilarious stories, and very good sound design.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, particularly during boss fights, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players express a desire for more background music throughout the game to maintain engagement during other gameplay moments.
- “The music is unparalleled; I love the windmills and can't wait for more to be developed and for more content.”
- “The superior battle system features parries and attacks at the right time, with so many abilities and spells, complemented by great music during challenging boss fights.”
- “The music is awesome, although it only plays during boss fights.”
- “I would prefer to have music in the background too.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits notable stability issues, including bugs and poor spelling, as well as problematic terrain collision. Despite these flaws, many players still find it enjoyable and worth playing.
- “The collision on the terrain is really buggy.”
- “It's a little buggy and the spelling is not the best, but it's still worth a play.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the initial grinding experience enjoyable and engaging, but it quickly becomes tedious and frustrating as the game progresses, particularly with late-game enemies, leading many to skip content altogether.
- “In the beginning, it's very promising and fun, but it gets very tedious and frustrating quickly.”
- “Enemies late in the game get very tedious, and I just ended up running past tons of rooms because of it.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The atmosphere of the game is immersive, effectively conveying the sensation of being lost in a magical world filled with dynamic environments. Players noted how changes in weather, such as rain, not only altered the ambiance but also influenced gameplay by rearranging enemies, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It captures the feeling and atmosphere of getting lost in a magical world, with twists and loops through the maps.”
- “At one point while exploring, the hero remembered that it was raining, and then the atmosphere changed; it started raining, and the enemies were rearranged.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is often dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game struggles to create a cohesive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a heart-wrenching story that resonates with players, complemented by stunning visuals and rich exploration opportunities.
- “This game is beautiful, and not just the scenery, but the story is heart-wrenching and amazing. There's so much to learn and explore.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game offers a good level of replayability, though its short length may lead players to exhaust its content relatively quickly, resulting in a sense of familiarity over time.
- “The game offers a fantastic amount of replayability, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh and exciting.”
- “Every time I play, I discover new strategies and outcomes, making it hard to put down.”
- “The variety of characters and storylines ensures that no two playthroughs feel the same.”