Winter War
- July 15, 2020
- The Strategy Game Studio
Get on Steam"Winter War" is a turn-based strategy game set in the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union. Players choose sides, with the Soviets having numerous but poorly organized forces and the Finns having superior quality and defensive positions. The game's 16 turns represent one week each from December 1939 to March 1940, and event cards provide full replayability with various diplomatic, military, and political situations. The balance of power shifts as both sides face potential weaknesses and the uncertainty of Stalin's resolve.
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Reviews
- The game offers a deep and realistic wargaming experience with engaging mechanics and a well-designed interface.
- It provides a unique historical perspective on the Winter War, with attention to detail in unit names and battle strategies.
- The multiplayer feature via email adds a fun and strategic layer to the gameplay, enhancing replayability.
- The AI is poorly designed, making single-player experiences frustrating and less enjoyable compared to other titles in the genre.
- There are several bugs and issues with game mechanics, such as problems with saving and turn progression.
- The campaign can feel overly scripted and lacks the depth and challenge expected from a wargame.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics and engaging card system, which enhances the experience without unnecessary complexity. It offers a blend of historical accuracy and strategic depth, making it easy to learn yet challenging to master, with high replayability due to varied outcomes based on different factions. Overall, players appreciate the fun and tactical nature of the game, likening it to a digitalized board game that rewards thoughtful decision-making.
“Game mechanics are good, and the card system adds to the game without complicating it needlessly.”
“The gameplay at first sight looks like a digitalized board game with cards and dice that offer good replayability and (theoretically) also a different outcome of the battles each playthrough.”
“Gameplay is fun, relatively easy to learn (read scenario description), but hard to master.”
“The gameplay at first sight looks like a digitalized board game with cards and dice that offer good replayability and, theoretically, a different outcome of the battles in each playthrough.”
“Both sides in conflict are represented true to history, and gameplay with the Finns will be a much different affair from the Soviet one.”
“I still don't manage all the game mechanics, but with a few more hours of gameplay, it should be enough.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are highly praised for their technical quality, featuring well-designed maps and detailed unit visuals. The interface is user-friendly, contributing to a smooth and fast gameplay experience.
“Technically, graphically, it's a great game.”
“Winter War has a beautiful map, high-quality graphics for the units, an easy-to-understand interface, and it plays quickly.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is well-received for its engaging historical context, providing players with a clear and enjoyable narrative structure that involves acquiring new cards, launching air missions, and engaging in combat.
“I have no words; I truly enjoy this historical game's story.”
“The game has a clear routine, from acquiring new cards to launching air missions, and then moving and fighting.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game evokes strong patriotic feelings and features a mix of hauntingly sad melodies that enhance the emotional depth of the experience. Additionally, the inclusion of period newspaper clips adds a unique touch, although they are limited in number.
“The music evokes patriotic feelings, and the fact that it starts playing some songs in the game is amazing.”
“The music is appropriately sad and haunting to the soul, for the most part, and the period newspaper clips, while not that numerous, are excellent.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's replayability, noting that its board game-like mechanics, including cards and dice, allow for varied outcomes in battles with each playthrough. This design encourages multiple sessions, as each game can feel distinct.
“The gameplay at first glance resembles a digitalized board game with cards and dice, offering excellent replayability and the potential for different outcomes in battles with each playthrough.”
“Each playthrough feels unique due to the variety of strategies and choices available, making the game highly replayable.”
“The random elements and diverse character builds ensure that no two games are ever the same, enhancing the overall replayability.”
