Info about The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood:

Official game description:
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a thought-provoking narrative experience from the creators of The Red Strings Club. Featuring a richly diverse cast of characters, Tarot-like card creation, divination, and a branching story that spans time and space, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood explores themes of identity, community, and personal responsibility in a beautifully hand-crafted universe.
You play as Fortuna, a Witch living exiled on an asteroid who forms a pact with a forbidden creature in the hopes of regaining her freedom. Reconnect with your Witch friends after a 200-year-long exile, meet new Witches, and use the cards you created to pierce through their pasts and futures. As you delve into this universe, you will see yourself immersed in the complex web of interests that surround your coven, leading to a political plot that will define the fate of the Cosmic Witch society.
Spellbinding Story
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Enjoy a complex narrative spanning decades as Fortuna comes to terms with her power and the impact her decisions have on others and the fate of her Coven.
Arcane Deck Building
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Craft unique divination cards from hundreds of possibilities to help you understand and determine the fate of the characters you encounter.
Magical Music
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More than 3 hours of bewitching original music by the celebrated composer fingerspit.
Enchanting Visuals
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Savour the stunning hand-crafted pixel art visuals and a huge cast of deliciously designed witches from all walks of life.

Release date: 16 Aug, 2023

Categories: Visual Novel, Deckbuilding, Single-player Story, Multiple Endings, Crafting, Management Simulation, Interactive Fiction


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Highly engaging and replayable (weight 0.9): Players consistently praise the game for its overall quality, unique experience, and high replayability. Many found themselves immediately starting new playthroughs to explore different paths and outcomes, highlighting its engaging nature and lasting appeal.
- Compelling story and characters (weight 0.82): The game's narrative is frequently lauded for its depth, intrigue, and emotional impact. Players formed strong connections with the well-developed, diverse, and memorable characters, finding their interactions and stories compelling.
- Innovative card creation mechanic (weight 0.65): The innovative tarot card creation and customization mechanic is a major highlight. Players enjoy the creative freedom it offers, finding the process of designing and using their own cards to influence the narrative highly engaging and unique.
- Stunning art and visual design (weight 0.57): The game's visual presentation, particularly its pixel art style, is consistently praised as beautiful, unique, and meticulously crafted. Character designs and overall aesthetics contribute significantly to the immersive atmosphere.
- Meaningful player choices (weight 0.55): A standout feature is the meaningful impact of player choices. Decisions, even minor ones, are noted to have significant and often surprising consequences on the plot and character destinies, greatly enhancing replay value.
- Emotionally impactful and thought-provoking (weight 0.53): The game deeply resonates with players on an emotional and philosophical level. It explores complex themes with sensitivity, prompting introspection and often evoking strong feelings like joy, sadness, and a sense of connection.
- Relaxing and immersive experience (weight 0.36): Players found the game to be a relaxing and cozy experience, particularly in its early to mid-sections. The engaging world-building and narrative pacing contributed to a satisfying and immersive playthrough.
- Explores diverse and mature themes (weight 0.34): The game is recognized for its creative exploration of diverse and mature themes, including fate, identity, relationships, and social issues. Its inclusive representation, particularly of LGBTQ+ and feminist perspectives, is well-received.
- Exceptional and moving soundtrack (weight 0.3): The game's soundtrack is highly praised for its quality and ability to perfectly complement the narrative and emotional tone. Many players found the music, especially during key moments and endings, to be deeply moving.
- Charming witch theme and characters (weight 0.15): The game's unique 'cosmic witch' setting and the diverse, charming designs of its witch characters are a significant draw. Players appreciate the imaginative world-building and the distinct personalities of each witch.
- Innovative visual novel experience (weight 0.1): The game is lauded for its innovative approach to the visual novel genre. It offers a highly interactive and engaging narrative experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional interactive fiction.

Common complaints:
- Unsatisfying Endings & Limited Choice Impact (weight 0.92): Players are highly dissatisfied with the game's endings, finding them abrupt, inconsistent with choices, or emotionally unsatisfying. The lack of meaningful impact from player choices throughout the game, especially in the latter half, contributes to a feeling of being railroaded and undermines replayability.
- Shallow and Unengaging Narrative (weight 0.72): The overall narrative, including plot, character development, and world-building, is perceived as shallow, unengaging, and lacking depth. Many players felt the story was too short, rushed, or failed to capitalize on its initial potential, leading to a sense of emptiness or disappointment.
- Disliked Political Campaign Segment (weight 0.22): The shift in the latter half of the game to a political campaign simulation is widely disliked. Players found this segment boring, tedious, childish, and disconnected from the game's initial themes, detracting significantly from the overall experience.
- Problematic Save System (weight 0.19): The game's save system, primarily autosave without manual save options or chapter selection, severely hinders replayability. Players find it tedious and time-consuming to explore different choices or endings, as they are forced to restart the entire game and cannot skip previously seen dialogue.
- Weak Card & Tarot Mechanics (weight 0.17): The card customization and tarot divination mechanics are criticized for lacking depth, impact, and clarity. Players found the card crafting tedious or pointless, and the tarot readings felt superficial with predetermined outcomes, failing to integrate meaningfully into the gameplay or narrative.
- No Abramar Romance Option (weight 0.1): A significant number of players expressed disappointment and frustration over the inability to romance the character Abramar, despite perceived flirtatious dialogue options and a strong connection to the protagonist. This unfulfilled romantic potential led to dissatisfaction with his role in the story.
- Inferior to Previous Title (weight 0.06): Many players who enjoyed 'The Red Strings Club' found this game to be a significant disappointment in comparison. They felt it lacked the depth, narrative coherence, emotional impact, and overall quality of its predecessor.
- Tedious Dialogue & No Skip (weight 0.05): The game's dialogue presentation is criticized for being monotonous, lengthy, and lacking visual variety. The absence of a skip-seen-dialogue feature makes replaying the game or navigating conversations tedious and frustrating.
- Poor Value for Price (weight 0.05): Many players felt the game's content and overall experience did not justify its full price, suggesting it is only worth purchasing during a sale.
- Negative Emotional Impact (weight 0.04): Players experienced strong negative emotional reactions, including dejection, emptiness, and anger, due to unexpected plot twists, forced character actions, or a sense that their choices were meaningless, leading to a feeling of wasted time.

Gameplay feedback:
- Deep Card Creation System (weight 0.37): The core gameplay revolves around players designing and crafting their own unique tarot or oracle cards. This involves combining various elements, symbols, and images, which then influence the card's meaning and narrative impact. Players spend a significant amount of time in this creative process, finding it engaging and highly customizable.
- Short with High Replayability (weight 0.29): The game is relatively short, with a single playthrough typically lasting 5-8 hours. However, it boasts high replayability due to its branching narratives, multiple endings, and the impact of player choices, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes and content.
- Narrative-Driven Visual Novel (weight 0.23): Primarily a narrative-driven experience, the game functions as an interactive visual novel or 'choose your own adventure'. It features extensive text, dialogue choices, and branching storylines that significantly impact the plot and lead to multiple endings.
- Witchy Tarot Divination Core (weight 0.21): The game centers on the protagonist, Fortuna, an exiled witch who uses her custom-made tarot deck for divination. Players engage in fortune-telling for other characters, with card readings and interpretations directly influencing the story and character fates.
- Mid-Game Political Shift (weight 0.15): In its latter half, the game introduces a significant shift to a political election simulation. Players engage in a campaign, making strategic decisions that influence the outcome and add a new layer of gameplay and thematic depth.
- Meaningful Player Choices (weight 0.14): Player choices are paramount, deeply impacting the narrative, character relationships, and overall game progression. Decisions feel weighty and have significant, often irreversible, consequences, making players feel like true authors of their story.
- Simple, Light Gameplay (weight 0.05): The game features simple, light mechanics with no combat or quick-time events. It is slow-paced and primarily focuses on narrative and decision-making, making it accessible and less demanding in terms of traditional gameplay skills.
- Autosave Reinforces Fate (weight 0.05): The game utilizes an autosave system with no manual save slots, reinforcing the theme of fate and irreversible choices. This means players cannot 'save scum' and must live with the consequences of their decisions, often requiring a full replay to explore different paths.
- Diverse Witch Community (weight 0.05): The game's universe is populated by a diverse community of sci-fi witches, including LGBTQ+ characters. The narrative explores themes of sisterhood, relationships, and political dynamics within this unique magical setting.
- Exiled Witch's Pact (weight 0.04): The central premise involves Fortuna, an exiled witch, making a contract with the powerful Behemoth Abramar. This pact grants her the ability to create her own unique tarot deck, which is crucial for her journey to regain freedom and rewrite destiny.
- Explores Philosophical Themes (weight 0.03): The game delves into serious and philosophical topics, including gender identity, sexual liberation, and ethical dilemmas. It integrates these themes into its mechanics and narrative, prompting players to consider their own values and the consequences of their choices.

Performance notes:
- Fullscreen and resolution limitations (weight 0.05): The game has specific issues with fullscreen mode, often failing to maintain it or displaying incorrectly on certain screen ratios (e.g., 16:10, 21:9). Additionally, resolution options are limited, with some users only able to achieve 1280x720/780.
- Good Steam Deck compatibility (weight 0.03): The game generally performs well on the Steam Deck, with many users reporting a flawless experience, even with external monitors. Some minor configuration adjustments, like remapping buttons, can further enhance the experience.
- Stable performance for some (weight 0.01): Some players reported a stable and smooth experience, with the game running at a consistent 60 frames per second without any noticeable bugs or glitches. This contrasts with other reports of significant issues.
- Unable to exit game (weight 0.01): A critical bug prevents players from exiting the game normally, requiring a forced shutdown. This significantly impacts user experience.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended Game (weight 0.5): The overwhelming sentiment from players is highly positive, with many recommending the game and giving it high ratings. It's frequently described as a favorite and a worthwhile experience.
- High Replayability Value (weight 0.19): Many players express a strong desire to replay the game multiple times to explore different choices, endings, and unlock achievements, indicating significant replayability.
- Appeals to Mystical/Narrative Fans (weight 0.16): The game strongly appeals to fans of mystical, witchy, and tarot-themed narratives. Players who enjoy deep, philosophical, and story-driven experiences with a calm atmosphere will find it engaging.
- Similar to Other Narrative Games (weight 0.06): The game is frequently compared to and recommended for fans of other narrative-driven titles like 'The Red Strings Club' and 'Coffee Talk', suggesting a similar appeal.
- Promising Developer, More Content Desired (weight 0.03): Players are impressed with the developer's work and are eager to see future projects from them, including potential sequels or expansions within the same universe.
- Masterpiece/GOTY Potential (weight 0.03): Several players consider the game to be a masterpiece or Game of the Year material, highlighting its exceptional quality within the indie game space.
- Concerns About Writing Quality (weight 0.02): Some players found the writing inelegant or the dialogue rhythm jumpy, leading to a less enjoyable experience for those who prioritize strong narrative execution.
- Unique Card Creation Mechanic (weight 0.02): The unique card-making mechanic, which allows players to create their own tarot cards, is a significant draw and is enjoyed by those interested in occultism and creativity.
- Desire for Abramar Romance Route (weight 0.02): A specific desire among some players is for a romance option with the character Abramar, with requests for future DLC to include this storyline.
- Divisive Political Themes (weight 0.02): A segment of players noted and reacted to perceived political leanings or 'forced' themes within the game's narrative, which negatively impacted their experience. This appears to be part of a review-bombing campaign.

Other player notes:
- Short, Engaging Playtime (weight 0.12): The game offers a modest runtime, typically ranging from 5 to 8 hours for a single playthrough. While some players found it a short, enjoyable experience, others noted its brevity and expressed varied interest in replaying.
- Similar to Red Strings Club (weight 0.1): Players frequently compare the game to 'The Red Strings Club,' noting similarities in plot, art style, philosophical themes, and overall tone. Many reviewers are fans of the developer's previous work and appreciate the consistent style and thematic links.
- Rich Witch & Cosmic Themes (weight 0.09): The game centers around a rich witch-themed universe, featuring cosmic witches, esotericism, and space. Players appreciate the unique blend of magic, sci-fi, and the exploration of witch lore, often expressing affection for the witch characters.
- Strong Female & LGBTQ+ Focus (weight 0.07): The game prominently features diverse female and non-binary characters, including transgender representation. Its narrative resonates strongly with women and LGBTQ+ individuals, exploring themes of identity, sisterhood, and gender dysphoria.
- High Replayability & Choices (weight 0.07): The game offers significant replayability through multiple choices and branching paths, leading to different outcomes and endings. Players are encouraged to explore various decisions, making it akin to a 'choose your own adventure' interactive narrative.
- Prominent Political & Social Themes (weight 0.06): The game contains explicit political and social themes, including queer and left-leaning perspectives, which may not appeal to all players. It is recommended to review content warnings beforehand, as these topics are central to the game's identity.
- Compelling Story & Characters (weight 0.04): The game is highly praised for its compelling, narratively driven story and its cast of unique, charismatic, and deeply human characters. The strong personalities and individual stories contribute significantly to the overall engaging experience.
- Desire for More Content (weight 0.04): Players expressed a strong desire for more content, including story continuations, DLC, or a sequel. Some also wished for more player agency or an open-world RPG format, indicating a deep engagement with the game's universe and characters.
- Card System Complexity (weight 0.02): The card creation system, while unique, can be initially complex, especially with a controller. Players suggested improvements like presets or a creative mode to streamline the process and enhance usability.
- Extended Development Period (weight 0.02): The game's development took five years, with significant delays attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released in a competitive year for Game of the Year contenders, highlighting the challenges faced by the small development team.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.2): Players felt satisfied by the game's strong narrative, well-developed characters, and the impactful choices they could make. The unique card-making mechanic, beautiful art style, and immersive atmosphere also contributed significantly to a positive overall experience and replayability.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment stemmed primarily from unmet expectations regarding choice impact and narrative depth, particularly a perceived shift to a superficial political plot in the latter half. Players also expressed dissatisfaction with limited romance options, abrupt or unsatisfying endings, and a lack of depth in character development or thematic exploration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Players enjoyed the game due to its engaging story, well-written dialogues, and memorable characters. The creative card-making mechanic, appealing art style, and the overall cozy fantasy atmosphere provided a fun and interactive experience, encouraging replayability.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): Admiration was frequently expressed for the game's exceptional artistry, including its visuals, music, and unique art style. Players also praised the masterful storytelling, innovative gameplay ideas, and the profound philosophical themes explored, highlighting the developers' consistent quality and bold narrative choices.
- Frustration (weight 0.06): Frustration arose from technical issues like game-breaking bugs and a restrictive auto-save system that hindered replayability. Players also expressed annoyance with perceived meaningless choices, a sudden and unwelcome shift to political themes, and a lack of text skip options, which made replaying tedious.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Joy was experienced through the game's high quality, charming characters, and beautiful visuals. Players particularly enjoyed the creative card-making, the emotional impact of the story, and the game's ability to provide a fun, relaxing, and often personally resonant experience, especially regarding queer representation.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement was driven by the game's engaging story, unique deck-building mechanics, and the anticipation of exploring various choices and endings. The high replayability and the desire to uncover all narrative paths fueled a strong urge to continue playing and recommend the game to others.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players expressed deep affection for the game's overall quality, including its art, story, and characters. The unique concept, engaging mechanics, and the emotional impact of the narrative contributed to a strong personal connection and made the game a clear favorite for many.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation was shown for the game's unique design choices, such as the no-savescumming mechanic, and its beautiful execution in art, sound, and writing. Players valued the game's inclusivity, thoughtful handling of complex themes, and the overall craftsmanship that created a special and immersive experience.
- Engagement (weight 0.03): Players felt engaged by the game's deep thematic content, the impactful nature of their choices, and the immersive narrative. The captivating characters, intriguing world-building, and the interactive card-making system encouraged players to invest deeply in the story and reflect on its themes.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise often came from the game's unexpected depth, unique mechanics, and narrative twists, particularly the sudden shift to a political plot. Players were also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the pixel art, the emotional impact of certain scenes, and the inclusion of diverse characters.
- Awe (weight 0.02): Awe was evoked by the game's profound philosophical depth, stunning artistic quality, and the emotional impact of its story and choices. Players were particularly moved by the game's ability to challenge their thinking and provide an intense, unique, and often existential experience.
- Reflection (weight 0.01): The game prompted reflection through its themes of fate, choice, and consequence, encouraging players to consider their own decision-making patterns and personal values. The narrative's emotional impact and philosophical discussions led to introspection about life and responsibility.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players expressed a desire for more content, including additional story branches, character interactions, and romance options. There was also a wish for quality-of-life improvements like manual saves and text logs, and a general longing for more games within the same universe.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness arose from the game's emotional moments, including character fates, difficult choices, and the impact of predetermined outcomes. Players felt a sense of loss or melancholy, particularly with depressing endings or the fading presence of beloved characters.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion stemmed from unclear plot points, inconsistent character motivations, and unexpected shifts in gameplay or narrative focus, especially the sudden introduction of a presidential election. Players also felt a lack of clarity regarding card mechanics and the game's overall identity.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest was sparked by the game's unique concept, particularly the tarot card mechanism and the intriguing space witch setting. Players were drawn to the story's mystery, the attractive world-building, and the potential for replayability to explore different outcomes.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom was primarily caused by the repetitive and unengaging political campaign section in the latter half of the game. Players found the lengthy dialogues, monotonous gameplay, and lack of meaningful card combinations tedious, leading to a loss of charm.
- Inspiration (weight 0.01): The game inspired players to explore real-world topics like Tarot and Wicca, and to engage in creative pursuits. Its harmonious atmosphere, philosophical themes, and messages of femininity and support motivated personal growth and a desire to connect with similar communities.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement was found in the game's humorous elements, including its political correctness, the unexpected election plot, and witty dialogues. Players also enjoyed making bizarre cards and appreciated the game's self-awareness and unique character representations.}