Winter Novel
- August 9, 2016
- DeXP
Get on Steam"Winter Novel" is a visual novel game set in a snowy village, where players uncover secrets and build relationships with characters through choices that determine the story's outcome. The game features a striking art style, immersive music, and a branching narrative with multiple endings. It revolves around a young protagonist investigating supernatural occurrences while balancing personal relationships and the harsh realities of survival in a harsh winter environment.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Charming winter atmosphere with unique ASCII art style that enhances the storytelling experience.
- Engaging storyline that explores relatable themes of work stress and personal connection, evoking empathy for the characters.
- Soothing and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the narrative, creating a cozy ambiance.
- Limited gameplay mechanics with no choices, making it feel more like a kinetic novel than an interactive game.
- Repetitive soundtrack and simplistic story that may become monotonous over time, lacking depth and complexity.
- Short playtime (around 30-60 minutes) may leave players wanting more, with some finding the ending abrupt and unsatisfying.
- story196 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of "Winter Novel" is characterized by its simple yet engaging narrative, focusing on relatable themes of work stress and human connection through the experiences of two protagonists, Sveta and Vlad. While some players appreciate the introspective storytelling and emotional depth, others find the plot predictable and the characters stereotypical, leading to mixed reviews about its overall impact. The game is primarily a visual novel with limited interactivity, which may appeal to those seeking a short, narrative-driven experience but may disappoint players looking for more complex gameplay.
“With its introspective storytelling, minimalist visuals, and focus on the power of words, the game offers a somber and meditative experience that aims to evoke a range of emotions.”
“While the game's simplicity and pacing might not cater to all gaming preferences, those who appreciate introspective narratives and the power of emotions in storytelling will find themselves immersed in the poignant world of 'Winter Novel,' where every choice and dialogue exchange is a step towards understanding the depths of human connection and the complexities of love and loss.”
“The story is about a workaholic girl who becomes depressed and loses the light of hope for living further as a human instead of being a machine.”
“Despite the unique art style, the story was boring and the characters bland.”
“The plot was very contrived and unrealistic, and the ending was very expected.”
“I easily got bored with the story, disliked the main characters immensely, and ended up just skipping through the whole game since the menu decided not to pop up.”
- graphics84 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Winter Novel" are characterized by a unique ASCII art style that evokes a minimalist and introspective atmosphere, enhancing the game's somber narrative. While some players appreciate the distinctiveness and expressiveness of the visuals, others find them hard to look at and lacking in engagement, leading to mixed opinions on their overall effectiveness. Ultimately, the art style is seen as the game's standout feature, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“A short and sweet visual novel with the most unique art style to date.”
“The graphics are made out of ASCII symbols and fit unexpectedly well with the story, giving a little fuzzy, cozy look.”
“The most remarkable aspect is, without a question, the art style.”
“However, the game's minimalist visuals might not resonate with players seeking more visually engaging experiences.”
“Everything in this game is shit, the story is boring, the art style is lazy and uninspired, and the only reason I played it was for the achievements.”
“The worst graphics (unique, I admit - in a very bad way!)”
- music68 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and atmospheric, effectively complementing the narrative and enhancing the overall experience. However, some players find the soundtrack to be repetitive, which can lead to monotony during extended gameplay sessions. While many appreciate the cozy and fitting nature of the music, suggestions for more variety and dynamic elements have been made to improve the auditory experience.
“The music is really atmospheric too, filling all pictures with a depth I wasn't expecting.”
“The music is also very nice and cozy, fitting for a winter's day or in this case a 'winter novel'.”
“It takes about 30-40 minutes to read through; the music is lovely and complements the story as it unfolds.”
“While Winter Novel features a soothing and atmospheric soundtrack, some players may find it to be repetitive over extended gameplay sessions.”
“Adding more variety to the soundtrack or incorporating dynamic audio elements could prevent monotony and enhance the overall auditory experience.”
“Repetitive 8-bit soundtrack on a mind-numbing loop.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Winter Novel" is praised for its emotional depth, offering players a heartwarming and contemplative journey that explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. While the narrative features touching moments and memorable characters, some players note that the simplicity of its presentation and varying pacing can affect the overall emotional engagement. Overall, it delivers a charming experience that resonates with players on a personal level.
“Players embark on a journey filled with heartwarming moments, emotional challenges, and meaningful interactions, enhancing the depth of the narrative experience.”
“"Winter Novel" invites players into a contemplative and emotional narrative journey, exploring themes of love, loss, and self-discovery against the backdrop of a wintery landscape.”
“The emotional depth and exploration of complex feelings stand out as the game delves into personal experiences and relationships.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Winter Novel" is primarily focused on storytelling and exploration, with limited mechanics and interactivity that may leave some players wanting more depth and variety. While the engaging narrative and soothing soundtrack are highlights, the lack of replay value and complex gameplay systems may deter those seeking a more interactive experience. Overall, it is a straightforward visual novel with a brief playtime of 30-60 minutes.
“Introducing more interactive elements and gameplay variety could enhance player engagement and replay value.”
“It is what it says it is, a 'visual novel' with '30-60 minutes of gameplay'.”
“Some players may find the gameplay mechanics of Winter Novel to be somewhat limited, with a focus primarily on storytelling and exploration rather than complex gameplay systems.”
“Don't expect any replay value or deep gameplay; it's story-based and not much else.”
“While its engaging storyline and soothing soundtrack shine, adding more gameplay depth and customization options could further enhance the overall experience.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming winter setting, characterized by snowy landscapes, cozy interiors, and festive decorations. While the soothing soundtrack enhances the experience, some players note that it can become repetitive during longer play sessions. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a delightful winter ambiance.
“Winter novel captures the essence of the season with its charming winter atmosphere, complete with snowy landscapes, cozy interiors, and festive decorations.”
“The music is really atmospheric too, filling all pictures with a depth I wasn't expecting.”
“Charming winter atmosphere with snowy landscapes.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with some suggesting that the addition of interactive elements and gameplay variety could improve player engagement and replay value. However, others note that the game is primarily story-driven, leading to limited replayability and depth.
“Don't expect any replay value or deep gameplay; it's story-based and not much else.”
“Introducing more interactive elements and gameplay variety could enhance player engagement and replay value.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and exhausting, often feeling unjust due to the excessive CPU usage while farming cards and engaging with a lackluster story. Overall, the experience is described as frustrating and monotonous.
“It all is tedious, tiring, and unjust.”
“No, this game loads one of your CPU cores to 100% all the time, while you are farming cards and reading a crappy story in this game.”
“It all is tedious, tiring, and unjust.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its engaging storyline, which is complemented by well-developed characters and intriguing plot twists, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
“The game features an engaging storyline filled with intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters.”
“The game features an engaging storyline filled with intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters.”
“The game features an engaging storyline filled with intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters.”
