Info about Gerda: A Flame in Winter:

Official game description:
Gerda: A Flame in Winter Modstand Bundle
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The Gerda: A Flame in Winter Modstand Bundle contains:  
Gerda: A Flame in Winter (main game)  
Gerda: A Flame in Winter Liva’s Story (DLC)  
Save your husband in the original Gerda's Story and lead a daring mission in the additional content Liva’s Story.
About the Game
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February 1945. The war is almost over but your fight is about to begin. You play Gerda Larsen, a young nurse who is torn between her community and her desperate quest to save her husband, Anders. Many other lives will come to depend on your decisions. 
Gerda’s journey will involve moral dilemmas, difficult conversations, and sticky situations. It’s a dangerous world and you must help her adapt to it with the choices you make, which always have both short- and long-term consequences.  
If you give away precious resources to somebody who needs them now, will you come to regret it later? Will there be consequences if you, as a nurse, help a person who is suffering even though they may later cause suffering to others?  
Make the most of what you have: your personality points, your allegiances, and your resources. Your relationship with people and factions will determine how your story unfolds. Level up Gerda’s mental skills by reflecting on her experiences in her diary to gain personality skill points. Use these skills during events and conversations to unlock special actions, gain others’ trust, or keep them from suspecting you. 
You can choose where to explore and when – but do so wisely, as people move around and events can be time sensitive. As you investigate and make progress, your choices will send you down many different narrative paths. Will you do whatever it takes to save Anders, or will you cling fiercely to your morals? Your actions will lead to several poignant conclusions and change the fate of your community in Gerda: A Flame in Winter.

Release date: Sep 1, 2022

Categories: Choice-based Narrative, Interactive Fiction, Historical Setting, Moral Decision-Making, Dice-based Gameplay, Multiple Endings, Character Progression, Faction Reputation System


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The community sentiment is split: many Chinese reviews label the full price ($19.99) as too expensive and suggest a fair price around $2 (15 yuan) for base game, while English reviews indicate the game is worth full price for supporters but better on sale. The frequent recommendations to buy on sale and the criticism of the original price point to a fair base range that sits below the current full price but above the deep sale prices. A range of $5–$15 balances the expectation of a reduced cost for a narrative-driven indie title versus the willingness of some to pay the full $19.99.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 14.0h
  - Story completion: 8.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 6.0h
  - Reasoning: The first review directly states the main story takes about 8 hours to complete, providing storyCompletion. The second review explicitly says achieving all achievements (100% completion) requires over 14 hours, setting gameCompletion. The difference between gameCompletion and storyCompletion (14 - 8 = 6 hours) is the time spent on additional playthroughs to unlock all achievements, representing endgame playtime. The third review indicates that the game is difficult to play for more than one hour straight, suggesting an average session length of roughly 1 hour or less, but since no precise number is given and a separate review mentions a 5-hour session with breaks, sessionLength is left as null due to insufficient quantitative evidence.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is generally found enjoyable from the start, with engaging gameplay and story, though one player reports it as tedious and homework-like.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: long intro sequence after the tutorial; slow movement speed
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: player expectation of action or plot twists; tolerance for deliberate slow pacing; interest in historical exploration and pathos
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Driven Immersionist (buy)
    - Motivation: Emotional storytelling and immersive moral dilemmas
    - Playstyle: Makes decisions based on intuition and empathy, replays for different outcomes
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story-driven; choose your own adventure
    - Reference games: Disco Elysium; What Remains Of Edith Finch; Life is Strange; Oxenfree; Telltale
  - Historical Empathy Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Learning about history through personal stories and moral complexity
    - Playstyle: Engages with optional history lessons, reflects on personal and historical consequences
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Attentat 1942
  - Cautious Story Seeker (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Story engagement but frustrated by gameplay friction
    - Playstyle: Careful with choices, may reload, concerned about missable content
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Disco Elysium
  - Completionist Narrativist (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Unlock all endings and achievements
    - Playstyle: Systematic replay, careful tracking of choices and achievements
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: achievement hunter
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Choice-based narrative with meaningful consequences (weight 0.83): Players frequently praise how their decisions visibly alter the story's outcome, affecting character fates and leading to multiple endings. This creates a strong sense of agency and replayability.
- Well-told story praised (weight 0.52): The narrative is widely celebrated for being well-written, engaging, and beautifully developed from start to finish. Many reviews highlight the game's excellent storytelling and captivating plot.
- Multiple endings and branching paths (weight 0.32): The game offers a wide array of choices leading to numerous endings and story branches, encouraging replayability. Players appreciate the scale and variety of outcomes based on their decisions.
- Beautiful art style (weight 0.31): The game's art direction, particularly its impressionistic and oil-painting aesthetic, is consistently praised. Players describe the visuals as beautiful, unique, and highly appealing.
- Overall positivity toward game quality (weight 0.31): General sentiments express that the game is well-made, tasteful, and enjoyable overall. Reviewers often mention liking the design, fitting music, and the overall experience.
- Engaging character development (weight 0.27): Characters are praised for being brilliant, vividly portrayed, and having depth with unique personalities. Their stories and interactions enhance the game's emotional impact and narrative quality.
- Excellent music and atmosphere (weight 0.19): The music is noted as beautiful and well-composed, complementing the game's atmospheric and immersive quality. The combination of sound and visuals creates an engaging, movie-like experience.
- DLC adds character depth (weight 0.18): The DLC is praised for enhancing character and worldbuilding, with some noting it improves upon the base game's character development. It is considered short but effective and totally worth experiencing.
- Strong protagonist in Gerda (weight 0.1): Gerda is highlighted as a great protagonist whose story is longer and fuller, providing a compelling perspective. Players find her character enjoyable and central to the narrative's appeal.

Common complaints:
- Political portrayal is controversial (weight 0.44): Some reviewers criticize the game's portrayal of Nazi occupation as too sympathetic, liberal, or toned-down, lacking any depiction of atrocities and even showing empathy for a Nazi character. The resistance is sometimes framed as comparable to the occupiers, which some find politically problematic.
- RNG dice rolls feel unfair (weight 0.43): Many reviewers are frustrated with the dice roll and RNG mechanics, reporting that easy checks often fail, results seem rigged, and the random factor reduces player agency. The lack of visible roll outcomes and required scores adds to the frustration.
- Manual save system missing (weight 0.42): A large number of players complain about the lack of manual saves and reliance on autosaves, which makes exploring different branches inconvenient and forces repetitive replays of sections. This is seen as unfriendly to achievement hunters and completionists.
- Choices have illogical consequences (weight 0.36): Players criticize the choices and dialogue logic, noting that options sometimes lead to unexpected or illogical outcomes, including supporting the wrong side or losing trust for trivial actions. This undermines the moral weight and strategic feel of decision-making.
- Graphics are underdeveloped (weight 0.33): Reviewers note that graphics are rough, pixellated, or stylized in a cheap way, with stiff animations and frequent clipping. The isometric view and general indie aesthetic fail to immerse some players.
- Limited interactivity and replay value (weight 0.33): Players note limited interactivity and exploration, with many branches but no clear hints or ability to backtrack. Replaying often leads to different outcomes, and the lack of content per playthrough increases repetition fatigue.
- Characters are underdeveloped (weight 0.31): Character development is seen as shallow, with stereotypes and poorly written roles that reduce emotional engagement. The resistance group is often portrayed as unhelpful or even negative, and the protagonist's relationships feel underdeveloped.
- Translation quality is poor (weight 0.3): The translation, particularly in Chinese, is frequently described as inaccurate or poor, with errors that change meaning, mistranslations of terms like 'occupier' as 'profession', and missing text. Players recommend playing in English, but the issue persists across languages.
- Pacing is too slow (weight 0.27): The game is criticized for slow pacing, both in terms of character movement and overall narrative speed. Several players found it difficult to play for more than an hour due to the drawn-out nature.
- Mechanics feel artificial (weight 0.26): Some reviewers feel the mechanics are too 'gamey' and artificial, with effects that are crude and not well integrated into the story. The reliance on checks and dice rolls seems out of place in a dialogue-heavy game.
- Frequent bugs and glitches (weight 0.26): Various bugs and glitches are reported, including unclickable dialogue, softlocks, freezes, missing visuals, and issues that forced restarts. Some bugs persist across multiple replays, significantly affecting the experience.
- Voice acting is lacking (weight 0.25): The lack of voice acting for characters, especially compared to narrated diary entries, is a common complaint. When voices are present, they are described as weak, artificial, and likely to break immersion.
- More visual novel than game (weight 0.25): The game is described as an interactive book rather than a full game, with heavy text and limited gameplay mechanics. Low production values and a lack of consequences for bad choices reduce the overall impact.
- Story is fragmented and flat (weight 0.24): Multiple reviewers report that the story feels fragmented, lacks logical coherence, and is ultimately superficial and unable to create empathy. Specific criticisms include a scattered plot, missing emotional highs and lows, and unmemorable characters.
- Game duration is short (weight 0.24): Players note that the base game is somewhat short, and the DLC is even shorter, leaving storylines unresolved. The main game's full completion is tied to the DLC, which some find problematic.
- Choices lead to grim outcomes (weight 0.22): Players often feel that most choices lead to negative consequences and that the game punishes attempts to help others. Resource hoarding and stealing are rarely rewarding, and many characters end up dead or worse.
- Unfriendly to completionists (weight 0.2): The game is not friendly to completionists due to limited exploration, strict save points, and mutually exclusive choices. Getting all endings requires multiple full playthroughs, which is seen as tedious.
- Achievements require excessive replay (weight 0.19): Achievements are considered tedious and difficult, requiring many playthroughs (up to nine) and discouraging completionists. The effort for achievements is seen as excessive relative to the game's length.
- Female representation is poor (weight 0.17): Female characters are few and often stereotyped, with choices requiring constant flattery of men. The DLC, particularly Liva's/Uma's story, is criticized for being short, judgmental, and constrained by hidden stats.
- Overpriced for its value (weight 0.16): Several players find the price too high for the content provided, and one reviewer refunded the game. Regional pricing, especially in China, is seen as unfair, and the game needs optimization and post-launch fixes.

Gameplay feedback:
- Choice-driven narrative game. (weight 0.97): The game is a narrative-driven, choice-based experience where player decisions significantly influence the story, with branching paths and multiple outcomes.
- World War II Denmark setting. (weight 0.31): Set in Nazi-occupied Denmark during WWII, the game uses its historical backdrop to frame the narrative and the choices players make.
- Moral dilemma decisions. (weight 0.27): The game presents morally challenging dilemmas with no clear right answers, forcing players to make tough decisions that affect the story.
- Multiple emotional endings. (weight 0.25): The game features multiple endings, which are often melancholic, and the final outcome is determined by all previous choices.
- Point-and-click dialogue gameplay. (weight 0.2): The gameplay is centered on point-and-click interactions and dialogue, with a focus on text and simple mechanics.
- Dice-roll skill checks. (weight 0.2): Dice rolls and RNG-based skill checks determine the success of actions, adding a layer of chance to the narrative and gameplay.
- Faction reputation system. (weight 0.17): A reputation system tracks trust and goodwill with factions, and player choices influence these relationships and lead to different endings.
- Three personality attributes. (weight 0.12): The game uses three personality attributes—compassion, wit, and insight—which likely affect dialogue options and interactions.
- Consequence-driven choices. (weight 0.1): Most actions have consequences, and choices are central to the gameplay loop.
- Morally complex choices. (weight 0.1): Decisions often create moral conflicts and have significant impacts on characters' lives.
- Simple easy mechanics. (weight 0.1): The game is simple to learn and play, with easy-to-understand mechanics.
- Heavily branching narrative. (weight 0.1): The narrative is heavily branching, with multiple outcomes based on player choices.

Performance notes:
- Performance varies across hardware (weight 0.13): Several players report performance issues on certain hardware, especially Steam Deck OLED and older GPUs. While one user achieved a perfect 90 fps with framegen, others experienced frame drops or high fan noise, contrasting with a smooth 60 fps on a GTX 1060.
- Dice-roll system can frustrate (weight 0.05): A player noted that the dice-roll system can cause easy rolls to fail, suggesting frustration with the randomness mechanic. This may indicate a design issue affecting gameplay fairness.
- Music is beautiful (weight 0.04): A player highlighted the music as beautiful, indicating a positive reception of the audio experience.

Recommendations:
- Overwhelmingly positive recommendations (weight 0.4): There is overwhelming overall positive sentiment with many simply recommending the game without caveats.
- Recommended for narrative game fans (weight 0.38): The game is highly praised by fans of narrative-driven, choice-based story games.
- Buy on sale or discount (weight 0.31): Multiple reviewers suggest purchasing the game on sale, with some implying the base price may be too high.
- DLC recommended for full experience (weight 0.18): The DLC (particularly Liva's story) is considered essential and complementary, with advice on play order for best experience.
- Not for action or impatient players (weight 0.15): Some players advise against the game for those seeking action, immediate gratification, or a typical hero experience.
- Valuable WWII historical perspective (weight 0.15): The game is valued for its historical WW2 setting, especially the perspective on Danish history, and is recommended for learning.
- Deep emotional storytelling (weight 0.13): The narrative depth, emotional weight, and nuance in character are frequently praised.
- Appeals to comparable game fans (weight 0.12): Comparisons are drawn to other narrative-heavy games like Disco Elysium, Life is Strange, and Oxenfree.
- Mature, morally ambiguous themes (weight 0.12): The game deals with moral ambiguity and heavy themes, which may be emotionally challenging, but is recommended for those who can handle it.
- Good for RPG and adventure fans (weight 0.12): It's recommended for RPG and adventure enthusiasts, and those new to this type of genre.
- Multiple playthroughs rewarded (weight 0.1): The game offers multiple paths and endings, encouraging multiple playthroughs; first time should be unguided.
- Play in English for quality (weight 0.07): Two reviewers recommend playing the game in English, implying translation issues in other languages.
- Warning about content and reviews (weight 0.06): Some warn to pay attention to review scoring and to be cautious during playthrough, possibly due to unexpected themes.
- Suitable for younger players (weight 0.04): The graphics style deemed suitable for younger audiences, thus recommended for playing with teenagers.

Other player notes:
- Developed by Don't Nod (weight 0.27): Players frequently mention that the game is developed and published by Don't Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange. This association is often used as a reference point for expectations and comparisons.
- DLC expands story (weight 0.24): The Liva DLC is a prequel focusing on a resistance team leader and is praised for being as captivating as the main game. It adds depth to character and worldbuilding, improving the overall experience.
- Gameplay length around 7-10 hours (weight 0.23): Total playtime including the DLC is approximately 7-10 hours, with the base game lasting around 6 hours. Some players find it slightly short but generally acceptable for the narrative experience.
- Comparable to Disco Elysium (weight 0.17): Players compare the game to Disco Elysium due to its character-trait-based success checks and narrative style, though it's considered a simplified version. It also draws comparisons to Telltale games and Edith Finch for its storytelling.
- Minimal voice acting (weight 0.17): The game has very minimal voice acting, with only diary entries voiced. Players mention that dialogue is not voice-acted, which may affect immersion for some.
- Multiple playthroughs needed (weight 0.14): A single playthrough does not allow players to see all content or collect everything, so multiple playthroughs are required for a full experience. This is a common point of feedback regarding the game's replayability and completion.
- Chinese localization has issues (weight 0.14): The Chinese localization is inconsistent, with some players reporting mistranslations and missing translations, while others find it satisfactory. This highlights a quality concern for Chinese-speaking players.
- DLC worth the price (weight 0.14): Players feel the Liva DLC is fully worth its price, adding meaningful content. It's recommended both before and after the main story, depending on the thematic experience desired.
- Watercolor art style (weight 0.14): The game features a watercolor-inspired art style and a serene soundtrack with piano music. The visuals are also compared to Nordic impressionist paintings, contributing to its atmosphere.
- Based on historical events (weight 0.13): The game is based on historical events, specifically the Nazi occupation of Denmark during WWII. This adds a layer of authenticity and educational value to the narrative.
- High replay value (weight 0.11): The variety of situations and different outcomes encourage replayability. Players note that the game has high replay value, especially when combined with the need for multiple playthroughs to see all content.
- Ten characters' fates affected (weight 0.08): Approximately ten main characters' fates are influenced by the player's choices, leading to different outcomes. This is a core element of the narrative and replayability.
- DLC order affects theme (weight 0.08): Playing the DLC before the main game conveys a theme of forging your own path against fate, while playing it after conveys exercising your will with knowledge of the outcome. This choice impacts the narrative interpretation.
- Included in bundle (weight 0.07): The game is sold as a base game plus DLC bundle, which is a point of note for players considering value. This affects how they perceive the overall package.
- Has achievements (weight 0.07): The game includes achievements, with one specifically named 'Chaos Agent'. This appeals to completionists and adds replay value for achievement hunters.
- Lacks Portuguese translation (weight 0.07): The game is not translated into Brazilian Portuguese, which some players consider a defect. This is a localization gap note for Portuguese-speaking audiences.
- Purchased on discount (weight 0.07): Some reviewers mention purchasing the game at a temporary price reduction. This is a niche point but indicates that sales and discounts influence purchase decisions.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.12): Players experience frustration primarily due to bugs and glitches that block progress, such as unresponsive dialogue clicks and issues using mental energies in the final confrontation, ruining intended endings. The heavy reliance on random dice rolls for key choices, even with high bonuses, leads to unfair failures and a lack of control. Additional frustrations stem from an inconvenient save system, slow pacing requiring multiple playthroughs, and inconsistent choices that make consequences feel arbitrary and painful.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Satisfaction arises from the game's meaningful choices and consequences, where the protagonist's decisions genuinely affect characters and story outcomes, avoiding the trope of different paths leading to the same result. Players appreciate the ability to revisit crucial points and explore alternatives, adding depth and replay value. The story's moral complexity, emotional depth, and high production quality, including dialogue and art, contribute to a fulfilling experience relative to the purchase price.
- Appreciation (weight 0.07): Appreciation is driven by the game's unique approach to WWII storytelling, focusing on a civilian perspective and avoiding combat, which offers a fresh and human look at the occupation. The game's moral complexity, faithful historical portrayal, and well-developed characters create an immersive and emotionally resonant narrative. Players also value the serious, mature themes and the game's ability to provide historical education while delivering a visually and atmospherically compelling experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.06): Admiration stems from the game's exceptional presentation and narrative quality, with beautiful oil-painting aesthetics, refined sound design, and a well-crafted story that is both profound and touching. Players are impressed by the sophisticated balance of sweetness and tension, the well-thought moral dilemmas, and the strong female characters who shine in a dehumanizing setting. The game's ability to merge RPG mechanics with a compelling narrative and historical authenticity elevates it to a discreet masterpiece.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment arises from gameplay flaws and missed expectations, including a lack of interactivity, meaningless choices, and an inconvenient save system that hinders replay. The absence of comprehensive voice acting, especially in key languages like Portuguese, reduces immersion and limits accessibility. A simplified story that fails to be as tragic or dramatic as expected, combined with a short length and poor localization, leaves many players feeling let down despite the game's potential.
- Sadness (weight 0.04): Sadness is evoked by the game's moving and melancholic narrative, which forces players into painful choices and leads to emotionally devastating outcomes, such as character deaths. The portrayal of community division and the heavy themes of war and loss resonate deeply, often bringing tears. The lack of voice acting in key scenes further enhances the sense of emotional weight, making the overall experience sorrowful.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Enjoyment is derived from the game's engaging and nuanced narrative, where choices have real consequences and the story, characters, and historical elements are compelling. Players appreciate the immersive atmosphere, enhanced by dreary music and tone, and the ability to replay for different outcomes. The positive experience is strengthened by the game's touching story and the satisfaction of making impactful decisions.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the game's historical setting and unique perspective on WWII in Denmark, offering new insights and educational value. The intriguing story, influenced by real events, and the unique Mental Energies mechanic add depth and curiosity. Players find replay value in exploring different paths and endings, and the attention to detail, such as using old Danish songs, enhances their engagement.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is fueled by the game's thrilling timed scenarios, narrative twists, and the impact of choices on outcomes, which create a sense of urgency and drama. The randomness and replayability add an element of unpredictability, motivating players to explore different paths. The captivating story and the promise of completely different results on replay generate high enthusiasm for the game and anticipation for future content.
- Moved (weight 0.01): The game is deeply moving due to its realistic and gritty portrayal of war's impact on ordinary people, throwing humanity's harsh realities in the player's face. The story, which is depressing and gruesome yet touching, resonates on a personal level, highlighting the experiences of regular individuals during conflict. Well-developed characters and the emotional weight of the narrative leave a lasting impact, evoking strong feelings.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement is found in the game's dice system, which can lead to funny outcomes, and the tension and fun it adds to decision-making. Specific humorous moments, such as protecting an old priest and child or fleeing with another character, are highlighted as enjoyable. The ability to get drunk and unlock special dialogue options at a Nazi dinner party adds a layer of playful absurdity that players appreciate.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is driven by the complex story and diverse cast of characters, along with the interesting depiction of a divided community and the meaningful choices players must make. The game's immersive and smooth gameplay, combined with its deep narrative and historical knowledge, keeps players invested. The dilemma of balancing roles as a wife, resistance member, or Gestapo collaborator creates tension and a strong sense of involvement.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from illogical dialogue logic that leads to unexpected changes in trust or support, and from mistranslations, such as incorrectly interpreting 'occupation' as 'profession'. Players feel dragged into conflicts without adequate preparation and are puzzled by the odd mental energy system. The inability to play Livia's story further adds to the confusion and dissatisfaction with the game's mechanics and narrative coherence.
- Discomfort (weight 0.01): Discomfort is caused by the game's awkward and creepy art style with blurred faces, which unsettles players. The complex and painful situations presented, along with the grim setting and atmosphere, put players ill at ease. These elements combine to create a sense of unease despite the interesting theme, impacting the overall experience.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is triggered by persistent glitches that ruin the ending across multiple replays, leading to significant frustration. Players are also angered by the game's perceived pro-collaboration stance and its morally wrong portrayal of Nazism, which is seen as insulting to resistance fighters and victims of genocide. The politically correct first interaction is particularly offensive, exacerbating feelings of outrage.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise stems from the game's subversive subtext and unexpected dynamics, which defy initial expectations. Players are pleasantly surprised by the well-made quality of the game, the multiple uses for simple objects, and the captivating story with impactful decisions. The unexpected twist at the end and the overall positive experience, despite initial skepticism, contribute to the sense of surprise.
- Empathy (weight 0.01): Empathy is cultivated through immersive gameplay and difficult decisions, allowing players to understand characters' perspectives deeply. Playing as Eve and experiencing her grief, even without having lived through war, fosters a strong connection. The moral complexity and heavy themes make players empathize with people from that era and their struggles, enhancing the emotional impact.
- Sorrow (weight 0.01): Sorrow is provoked by the game's tragic outcomes, such as losing key characters and facing the darkest realities of the Holocaust. The emotional weight of choices and the inevitable death of the husband despite attempts to save him contribute to a profound sense of loss. The game's bleak narrative and the struggle of civilians under occupation amplify feelings of sorrow.
- Tension (weight 0.01): Tension is created by the game's design where every small action has consequences, keeping players alert and thoughtful. The choices that determine story and character survival, set in a politically complex occupation, are agonizing and immersive. The emotionally heavy experience and the knowledge that decisions are impactful maintain a constant high-stakes atmosphere.}