Wildfrost
Review
Winter is coming
by JackCarter
reviewed on PC
Don't be afraid to die
Don't be fooled by Wildfrost's charming, cartoon-like visuals, this game wants to kill you. Honestly, it would be surprising if it only killed you once. In my playthrough, I died more times than I'd like to admit, but I still found myself coming back for more.
If you've played a rogue-like card battler before, then you'll be familiar with the basics of Wildfrost. The point of the game is to learn by dying, and in doing so, come back stronger than before. That doesn't mean the game gets easier, as there's a certain level of randomization that is meant to keep players on their toes.
Leaving home
In Wildfrost you'll start at your hubtown (which can be bypassed if you want to get right into the action), then from there you'll select your tribe (when first starting out you'll only have one tribe but as you progress you unlock more) and your character, choosing wisely which stats you like the most, after that you'll be on your journey. You're given different paths, items, and warriors to unlock, giving you a chance to best strategize your approach. Do you choose a character that does little to no damage but gives you a shield point for damage they take, or do you go for the glass cannons – the heavy hitters that can be taken down in a moments notice if you're not careful?
Deciding how to build your deck can be the difference of a quick death or surviving another round. Obviously, strategy inside combat is just as, if not more important. Deciding if you should take out the big bad guy with the ridiculous amount of health first, or focus on his underlings that, when defeated, give their boss a +1 to attack, can yield some anxiety inducing moments.
Challenging
The main detriment to Wildfrost's fun factor, and your mileage may vary with this, is it's difficulty spike. Overcoming challenge is what a lot of us find fun when we sit down to play games, but only when that challenge feels fair. Every time I felt like I was getting the hang of the game, or beating a difficult boss by the skin of my teeth (I really hate that phrase), the game seemed to loathe my progression and would try to end my run in what felt like exceedingly unfair ways. Now, I want to emphasize that that is all hyperbole and in no way did the game become sentient and bloodthirsty, nor does this unfairness permeate the entire game. I had loads of fun getting destroyed by not building the right deck and starting all over again. The frustration comes from the game placing you in seemingly unwinnable situations too early on. It's like fighting Margit in Elden Ring, then going straight to Malenia right after. I, as a player, did not feel like I progressed enough to face the challenge. Again though, your mileage may vary. The game is randomized, so your experience might not mirror my own.
Wildfrost is highly recommended, especially if you're a fan of the genre. The fun visuals will draw you in, but the addicting gameplay will keep you there. Just be prepared to die, a lot.
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8.5
fun score
Pros
Great Art Style, Fun Deck Building
Cons
Occasionally felt Unfair
