Wolfstride

High on style and characters that shine, Wolfstride is best considered an RPG-lite that is a fun journey with excellent writing.

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"Wolfstride" is a single-player Science Fiction RPG where you play as a team of three former criminals competing in a mecha tournament to turn their lives around. With a unique blend of humor and emotional depth, the game explores their complex pasts and the consequences of their choices. As you prepare for battles in the junkyard hangar, you can upgrade and customize your mecha, but beware - excessive grinding may be required.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 744 reviews

story180 positive mentions

grinding96 negative mentions

Wolfstride features a unique blend of visual novel storytelling and turn-based mech combat, creating an engaging experience.
The game boasts exceptional voice acting and a vibrant art style that enhances the overall atmosphere.
The characters are well-developed and memorable, with a story that balances humor and emotional depth.

The pacing can be slow, especially in the early game, with excessive backtracking and running between locations.
Some plot threads and character arcs feel unresolved or underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more clarity.
The combat can become too easy if players grind for upgrades, diminishing the challenge and excitement of battles.

story
597 mentions
30 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of *Wolfstride* is a rich, character-driven narrative that blends humor and drama, drawing inspiration from anime classics like *Cowboy Bebop* and *Gurren Lagann*. While many players appreciate its heartfelt themes and engaging character arcs, some criticize the pacing and convoluted plot points, noting that it can feel disjointed or overly verbose at times. Overall, the game is celebrated for its unique storytelling style, impressive voice acting, and the emotional depth of its characters, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy narrative-focused gameplay.
- “Everything from the visuals, to the exchanges of dialogue, to the story and setting and the relationships between the myriad of characters that comprise it all — it all coalesces into something akin to perfection.”
- “The story is top notch and the mech battles are fun.”
- “Wolfstride is an indie masterpiece, filled with gorgeous art, colorful characters, and a great story to wrap it all up.”
- “The story loves to push things forward and tends to leave rather important info off-screen or just expects us to roll with it.”
- “There are so many plot holes and story elements that either come out of left field or get introduced only to disappear for the rest of the game.”
- “The overarching story is confusing and kept insanely vague, so all you can do is focus on the characters.”
gameplay
202 mentions
34 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Wolfstride is a mix of engaging turn-based mech battles and exploration, but it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of depth in its mechanics. While the mech combat is enjoyable and easy to grasp, the overworld tasks and mini-games can feel tedious and aimless, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its charming art and music, many players feel the game leans more towards a visual novel with light gameplay elements rather than a fully fleshed-out gaming experience.
- “Mech fight mechanics are easy to grasp but not so simple as to be boring.”
- “Very fun gameplay and cool character designs!”
- “The gameplay, art style, and music are perfect, fitting each and every moment of the game, especially when you get near the ending.”
- “Overly repetitive gameplay with 0 respect for your time (lots of pointless walking, days with nothing new to do, combat usually boils down to using the same 1-3 moves over and over).”
- “The gameplay loop is weak and boring; the world isn't particularly interesting and the story is a convoluted mess that tries way, way too hard to find any semblance of sense in its overly contrived, neverending monologues.”
- “The actual gameplay loop is probably the weakest part of the game.”
music
138 mentions
54 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and fitting atmosphere, often described as catchy and reminiscent of influences like Cowboy Bebop. While many players appreciate the diverse and engaging soundtrack, some note that certain tracks can become repetitive during extended gameplay. Overall, the music significantly enhances the game's presentation, complementing its unique art style and character-driven narrative.
- “Underrated gem that will captivate you with wonderful music, good gameplay, and a stellar voice cast.”
- “The soundtrack for this game by Isadora Penna is sooooo good.”
- “From the intense music leading into a fight, to the actual showdown itself, to the chill music walking between areas, I've had my volume turned way up since I started playing and I'm yet to regret it.”
- “- decent music, though it does get very repetitive after hearing the same short loop over and over during a 6+ minute fight”
- “- the music is hit and miss”
- “Music: the goddamn mongoose drums are annoying as fuck”
graphics
131 mentions
51 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their unique and beautiful art style, reminiscent of classic anime influences like Cowboy Bebop and Gurren Lagann. Reviewers highlight the combination of black and white manga aesthetics with vibrant visuals, detailed character models, and a well-executed pixel art style, all contributing to an immersive experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and gameplay while showcasing impressive design discipline.
- “The visuals make you feel like you're playing something produced by Madhouse or Studio Trigger, who have produced some of the most famous anime of any generation, past or present.”
- “It oozes with style, with the visuals and sound design being nothing short of stellar, especially during fights.”
- “The art style is fantastic and unique.”
- “The black and white art style gets old rather soon.”
- “Not as a condemnation of the art style, but maybe the high contrast manga look was a bit too strong on the white; I dunno.”
- “The graphics are what is considered a mix of colorless pixel (16 bit?) and 2D animation using so-called 'motion tweens' and some special effects, all of them being very well made.”
grinding
96 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the minigames and side jobs excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly when trying to acquire resources like pineapples for upgrades. While some appreciate the charm and flexibility of the gameplay, the overwhelming need to grind for money and friendship levels often detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of frustration and monotony. Despite these issues, players who persevere through the grind may eventually find enjoyment in the mech combat and story progression.
- “Trying to get money and max friendships with people requires an excessive amount of minigame grinding.”
- “Don't bother grinding for pineapples via the side jobs that much, there's too much to grind for and it's mind-numbingly boring.”
- “The biggest fault: grindy as hell and a lot of running around the town map that simply wastes time and annoys.”
humor
85 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and charming, while others criticize it for relying on childish and toilet-level jokes that detract from the overall narrative. Many appreciate the clever writing and character interactions, though some gags miss the mark and can be irritating. Overall, the humor is described as both irreverent and heartfelt, often balancing comedic moments with deeper emotional themes.
- “It manages to be both funny and genuinely emotional, without those stepping on each other's toes, and while the main character can be very melodramatic, it's not like the game is unaware of that.”
- “This game is funny, irreverent, and a lot more clever than you'd expect from a game where the opening cutscene starts with one character on the toilet.”
- “The art's fantastic and the script is laugh-out-loud funny.”
- “The jokes are not funny.”
- “The jokes are not funny.”
emotional
39 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game successfully balances humor and genuine emotional depth, leading to moments that can be both touching and melodramatic. Players find themselves deeply invested in the characters and their stories, with emotional peaks that resonate long after gameplay. Despite some pacing issues and a mix of lighthearted and serious themes, the narrative delivers a surprisingly heartfelt experience that leaves a lasting impact.
- “The game picks up around day 9, when suddenly two really big things change: 1) virtual battles open up, and 2) you have an intense, emotional vignette with a character in a junkyard that let me know that this game was absolutely no longer messing around.”
- “Having finished the game with its emotional ups and downs, I wish it was more than it is, and I am left with a weird mix of wanting more, but also being satisfied by its ending.”
- “A beautiful game with a surprisingly touching story.”
- “You have to power through hours of boring story and annoyances in order to get to the mech battles, and it's painful.”
atmosphere
26 mentions
46 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique style, charming characters, and an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the experience, shifting from chilling to thrilling. While some areas may feel empty or repetitive, the overall ambiance and aesthetic are considered top-notch, making it a standout feature of the game. However, the frequent backtracking can detract from the enjoyment, as it may become tedious over time.
- “A truly incredible and unique experience, filled to the absolute brim with atmosphere and style.”
- “Another great plus would be the soundtrack as it provides perfect atmosphere that often shifts from chilling into thrilling.”
- “The music is just brilliant and often I would just chill in the hangar, enjoying the atmosphere.”
- “Some places and scenes also feel empty and rushed, but the overall atmosphere manages to smooth this out.”
- “While the overall atmosphere is very stylized, the characters are charming, and the 'mecha-anime' vibe is super rad, I cannot recommend this game.”
- “At this point, if it was just a pure visual novel, I'd probably dig it, just because of the atmosphere, the animations, the voice acting... they've just nailed it.”
character development
20 mentions
70 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised, with many reviewers noting its depth and engagement, particularly for the main cast. While the initial character arcs are compelling, some themes become repetitive, and certain interesting aspects feel underdeveloped. Overall, the combination of strong visuals and character design enhances the storytelling experience, despite occasional dialogue issues.
- “If you go in looking for character development, you'll find it in spades!”
- “Wolfstride is an anime-inspired, story-centric mech brawler with a great soundtrack, voice acting, and character development.”
- “The game itself is short, but packs in a lot of character development for the main cast.”
optimization
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for not adequately addressing the mechanics of moving between locations, which detracts from the overall experience. While the voice acting is highly praised for its quality and depth, the focus on character performance overshadows the need for better optimization in gameplay elements.
- “10/10 voice acting and really surprised me with how much of this game was voice acted. I really can't think of anything in the game that is not voiced; from random conversations to background NPCs, everyone has a voice that fits and is well performed.”
- “Each character is given so much life and emotion thanks to the cast who have blown it out of the park with their performances.”
- “I wish they focused more on the mech parts of the game, and optimized moving between locations.”
stability
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including persistent visual and sound glitches, frequent freezes, and random graphical anomalies. Players have reported that these bugs can disrupt gameplay, particularly during key moments, such as boss fights. Despite these technical problems, the overall story and gameplay elements are praised.
- “The game is buggy as hell; sometimes random white boxes appear on screen, sometimes the voice is delayed, and the game freezes.”
- “During the first fight against the 'worm god,' when his hand punches the mech's chest, the game freezes up and I had to skip the scene to get past this point.”
- “Otherwise, most of the bugs I encountered were persistent sound glitches that would reset on saving and reloading the save.”
replayability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Wolfstride offers limited replayability due to its conclusive ending, which diminishes the incentive to replay the game immediately after completion. However, players may find value in revisiting the story after some time, suggesting a potential for nostalgic enjoyment in the future.
- “It doesn't have much in the way of replayability, but I think Wolfstride is worth a playthrough.”
- “The only downside is that due to completing it all, there's no replayability appeal with the ending finishing up the story, but I wouldn't be surprised if I wanted to pick this back up and relive the story again in a few years or so.”
- “Replayable: not sure”