Wintermoor Tactics Club
- September 10, 2020
- EVC Games
- 16h median play time
Wintermoor Tactics Club is perfect for newcomers to the genre, but doesn't offer much for experienced tactics players
In Wintermoor Tactics Club, compete in snowball fights and solve a mystery at a magical high school. Discover new friends and strategies as you lead your club to victory in tactical combat. Uncover the truth behind the school's strange competitions and protect your club from being disbanded.
Reviews
- Charming and wholesome story with relatable characters.
- Engaging tactical gameplay that balances simplicity with strategic depth.
- Beautiful art style and humorous writing that enhances the overall experience.
- Combat can feel too easy and lacks challenge for experienced players.
- Some characters and side quests may feel underdeveloped or clichéd.
- Limited replayability and no significant difficulty options for veterans of the genre.
- story369 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *Wintermoor Tactics Club* is a charming and lighthearted narrative centered around a group of students in a tabletop RPG club, blending themes of friendship, inclusivity, and personal growth. While some players found the plot to be simple or occasionally cheesy, many appreciated its humor, engaging characters, and the nostalgic nods to Dungeons & Dragons. The game effectively combines visual novel elements with tactical gameplay, making it accessible and enjoyable for both newcomers and fans of the genre, though it may lack depth for those seeking a more complex narrative experience.
“The story is lighthearted in tone and is quite short, at least compared to much longer contemporaries, but contains likable enough characters to carry the story to its end.”
“The story is fun, the writing is witty, and the battles are cleverly done.”
“This is a very cute story-driven game about a school D&D... I mean, 'Cats & Catacombs' club.”
“A lot of plot twists were fairly obvious, later characters start and remain fairly one-dimensional, and the last two chapters are about 80% too eye-rollingly woke.”
“The story is either acceptable or sucks major throbbing wiggly johnsons, depending on how much you're able to turn your brain off at the time of playing.”
“The story is simple and lighthearted, the characters can be a bit hit or miss but they eventually grow on you.”
- gameplay110 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Wintermoor Tactics Club" is characterized by its blend of simple tactical RPG mechanics and engaging narrative elements, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering enough depth for veterans through character variety and strategic options. While some players find the mechanics repetitive and the overall challenge lacking, the game is praised for its charming story, humor, and the integration of visual novel elements, providing a fun and lighthearted experience. Overall, it strikes a balance between being a casual tactics game and a narrative-driven adventure, appealing to fans of both genres.
“Every combat makes use of its fun core mechanics to never get boring or repetitive, the story is always wanting you to find out what comes next.”
“The gameplay is really engaging and has several little intricacies which are fun to learn and master.”
“The tactics gameplay is streamlined and approachable, but still has plenty of opportunities to experiment with different strategies and builds, especially as you unlock more options in the late game.”
“The gameplay consists of the actual tactical RPG combat and the hub exploration, which is really just a point-and-click experience on its own.”
“Gameplay-wise, Wintermoor Tactics Club remains barebones, especially when we're talking about enemy variety - here we face countless re-used assets.”
“85% of the game is talking to people and doing fetch quests; the other 15% is gameplay.”
- humor53 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, with many players finding the writing to be genuinely funny and engaging. While some jokes and character interactions resonate well, others may feel flat or overly simplistic. Overall, the game balances lighthearted humor with deeper themes, creating a delightful experience that appeals to fans of quirky narratives and tactical gameplay.
“Very funny game with a thoughtful message, and the gameplay was fun too (if a little simple).”
“The writing and sense of humor are excellent--I was as compelled by the eccentric characters and the jokes as I was by the combat.”
“The game is consistently funny and endearing.”
- emotional40 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming narrative, which emphasizes themes of friendship, empathy, and belonging. Players appreciate the charming art style, engaging dialogue, and the inclusive portrayal of characters, all contributing to a feel-good experience that resonates deeply. Overall, the game is celebrated as a delightful and uplifting journey, making it a standout choice for those seeking a lighthearted and emotionally fulfilling gaming experience.
“This is one of the most feel-good wholesome games that I've played in a long time.”
“The story, however, is just fantastic - comic, heartwarming without being sappy.”
“It has a lovely amount of depth that touches on things like having emotional intelligence, paying attention to cues from other people, empathy, understanding, and helping others become better versions of themselves.”
- music38 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its charm and ability to evoke nostalgia, though it often becomes repetitive over time. While the soundtrack complements the game's whimsical and cozy atmosphere, some players noted a lack of variety and depth, leading to moments of disengagement. Overall, the music enhances the experience but may not be memorable enough to stand out in the long run.
“The game is very charming, well-written, has solid art, and a lovely soundtrack that left me with a nostalgic feeling.”
“The music is nice, and you will likely find yourself humming the academy's tune as you go about your day.”
“The art and music are distinctive enough to give the game a unique feel, although many of the characters are presented as being somewhat ordinary at first, the consistency and depth to their writing is really there.”
“There are really no ambient soundscapes, leaving it all to the music instead, which is largely music tracks designated for certain emotions, with some catchy but repetitive battle tracks.”
“The soundtrack became repetitive fast and I muted the game after 2 hours.”
“Same song on loop 80% of the time.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Wintermoor Tactics Club" are characterized by a charming, hand-drawn art style that evokes a nostalgic 80s and 90s aesthetic, reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons. While the visuals are generally delightful and the character portraits are well-received, some players note that the animations can be choppy and the overall detail is limited, reflecting the game's low budget. Despite these shortcomings, the art style contributes positively to the game's cozy and inclusive atmosphere, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of light-hearted indie games.
“Adorable, wholesome, and inclusive with a lovely art style.”
“Wintermoor Tactics Club is a fun, laid-back tactical game with a cute hand-drawn aesthetic.”
“The artwork is absolutely delightful, the writing is better than most RPGs, and the game lasts just about the right amount of time to avoid reaching the point where the limited mechanics would start to feel repetitive.”
“The graphics and animations are where the low budget of the game can be seen more clearly: while not being terrible, the hand-drawn backgrounds and characters aren’t very elaborate or detailed, and the walking animation of the main character is very choppy. Still, you’ll get used to it quickly and it's not that bothersome.”
“The art style and animation are 2D and largely stiff, focusing on poses to portray character.”
“At first glance, I would say that the graphics resemble an old Anastasia cartoon, but without attention to detail.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Wintermoor Tactics Club is generally described as lighthearted and cozy, capturing the essence of friendship and a winter campus setting. While many appreciate its charming art and friendly vibes, some reviewers note a lack of depth in certain areas, particularly during interstitial quests, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as appealing, especially to fans of D&D, despite its simplified gameplay.
“With a lighthearted atmosphere throughout all of its facets, I certainly felt like there was a world with characters fighting a problem and learning along the way.”
“An atmosphere here has vibes of a frosty morning on a winter student campus near Christmas holidays.”
“Wintermoor Tactics Club has a pleasantly cozy atmosphere and presentation.”
“The second problem is a lack of atmosphere.”
“This is a problem because every interstitial quest involves walking all around the school and talking to people, and the lack of atmosphere makes these sections drag and ruins the pacing of the game.”
“Simple yet effective atmosphere.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game. While some find the missions and travel between locations to be somewhat tedious, many appreciate the engaging story and enjoyable dialogue that mitigate the grind. Additionally, several reviewers note that the game focuses more on strategy and character balance rather than traditional grinding for levels or gear, making the experience feel rewarding despite some repetitive elements.
“But, that process is enjoyable and not tedious at all so far.”
“The overworld portion of the game is simple but fine, although I will admit that towards the end of the game I was starting to find it to be tedious.”
“A bit grindy in having to go from place to place every chapter to make sure you didn't miss anything, but that may be the completionist in me.”
“A lot of grinding but feels rewarding.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally solid, running smoothly even on low-end devices, which allows for a satisfactory tactical experience. However, some users note issues with a clunky interface and subpar writing, indicating that while performance is stable, there are areas where the game feels underdeveloped. Overall, it is recommended for those who prioritize gameplay over polish.
“I like that it runs smoothly on my low-end device and that I can go back (after 22 hours of play and completion of the storyline) and play again to unlock additional achievements.”
“There's also a scoring system that gives medals based on mission performance.”
“After you complete a battle, you’ll be awarded medals based on your performance in various categories like how many turns it took you or how much damage your party took overall.”
“Recommended by a barely passing margin but recommended nonetheless if you're fine with a simple tactical experience with questionable optimization, clunky interface, subpar writing, and an irritating amount of lost potential in the art department.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its low replayability, with many users noting that battles feel repetitive and lack incentives to revisit once achievements are completed. While some players mention the option to experiment with different units or abilities, the general consensus is that there is little motivation to replay the game.
“Good game, though with limited replay value.”
“9/10, only lowered due to low replayability (you can repeat prior battles with different units or abilities, but there is no reason to do so if you've already gotten the achievements).”
“If there is one weakness to this game, it is that it has little replay value, since the battles are always the same.”
“Not a ton of replay value except to try to get medals or upgrades/trophies, perhaps.”
“No replay value, but it looks to be deliberately designed that way.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters are thoughtfully designed and well-developed, others feel like uninspired duplicates. The writing and overall narrative are praised for their charm, but the limited options for character growth and the game's tendency to direct player choices can make the experience feel constrained compared to other titles in the genre.
“The story is very cute, I love the character designs and writing.”
“The combat is more like a puzzle, but they're all well-done and the character development running alongside it is phenomenal.”
“Like some character designs are well thought out and clearly built upon with passion and good ideas, but then some of them are just lazy carbon copies.”
“The limited character development options and the frequent control the narrative takes over who you can play makes each scenario feel very directed in comparison to other games in the genre.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a stable experience with no significant bugs or glitches, although some minor lag in the menu UI was noted. The game performs well even on older hardware, indicating good optimization.
“As a bonus, it also runs great on my ancient, janky laptop. I did notice a little lag in the menu UI, but nothing terrible.”
Critic Reviews
Review – Wintermoor Tactics Club
Wintermoor Tactics Club could have made a profound political statement, but tries for intersectionality and misses, resulting in milquetoast dilution.
65%Wintermoor Tactics Club (Switch) Review
A decent school-themed tactics game that graduates without honors.
65%Wintermoor Tactics Club Review (PS4)
Just like its characters, Wintermoor Tactics Club has a lot of soul. It is not perfect by any means, but the turn-based combat proves to be fun, the RPG elements are well integrated, while the story is compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. Still, there is no real challenge in the game, no replay value and despite the producer’s best efforts, the encounters can feel somewhat repetitive. WintermoorTcatics Club is an indie game as all indie games should be: it is not flashy, overcomplicated, or very long, but manages to be fun and exciting without the AAA budget. It is a single-player experience that any RPG fan should experience.
80%