Info about Wildfrost:

Official game description:
Feature List
============
*   Build your perfect deck unique to you!  
*   Recruit cute card companions, elemental items and equip powerful charms to aid in your fight against the Wildfrost  
*   Choose your Leader from a variety of tribes, each with different playstyles and stats  
*   Master a dynamic ‘counter’ system to put your strategic skills to the test  
*   Expand and develop the hub town of Snowdwell between runs  
*   Unlock new cards, events, customisation options and more!  
*   Endless replayability with daily runs and challenges!
About the Game
==============
The sun has frozen over...
--------------------------
The world has succumbed to the Wildfrost. Now only Snowdwell and its survivors stand as the last bastion against an eternal winter... Build up a deck of powerful card companions and elemental items, as you battle to banish the frost once and for all!  
Perfect your card battling and deck-building skills, and set out on a quest to bring an end to The Wildfrost! Begin each journey with your chosen tribe Leader, each gifted with different randomised skills and stats, before mapping out your chosen path into the unforgiving frosty landscape.  
Rescue and recruit frozen companions you find along the way, unearth lost treasures, and spend your hard-earned blings with travelling merchants. The decisions you make and routes you take during each run will help craft a powerful deck, unique to you each time you play.  
Collect a huge array of cute, but mighty card companions, as well as handy items and clunker cards to aid you in battle. Experiment with different elemental card combinations to find your winning formula.  
Your companion cards aren’t just disposable minions for dealing out damage; upgrade and customise your favourites by adding wobbly charms to enhance their powers, making your deck a powerful (and adorable) force to be reckoned with!  
Plan ahead with the help of a dynamic counter system to map out your next move and fend off frosty foes. While Wildfrost battles are turn-based, cards don’t attack every turn. Instead they have a ‘counter’ which counts down the amount of turns until they’re ready to automatically make their move!  
By keeping an eye on enemy monsters’ counters, you can plot ahead your perfect play. Buff your companions? Stall an enemy attack? Or maybe count down your own timer to wreak havoc fast! It’s up to you to strategically turn the tide in your favour.  
Need a rest? Take shelter in the cosy town of Snowdwell. Here survivors have gathered to keep warm using the power of the Luminice, a giant shard of hot ice.  
As you progress after each run you’ll be able to return and gradually help expand the hub town itself, constructing buildings such as a Pet Shop, Inventors Hut and more! These new areas will unlock fun and useful new things to use during your adventures, with new cards, tribes, cosmetics, challenges to complete, and events to encounter.  
Think you’ve defeated the Frost Guardian? Even after you’ve beaten back the frost, Wildfrost offers endless replayability, with daily runs and challenges! Test your skills and improve your score!

Release date: 12 Apr, 2023

Categories: Deckbuilding, Roguelike, Turn-based Combat, Strategic Combat, Town Building, Character Customization, Card-based Gameplay, Character Collection


- 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:
- Charming & Polished Art Style (weight 0.99): The game's art style, visuals, and animations receive consistent high praise for being beautiful, charming, cute, and unique. This aesthetic quality significantly enhances the player experience and is often highlighted as a major strength.
- Highly Fun & Addictive Gameplay (weight 0.94): Players overwhelmingly praise the game for its high fun factor, addictive gameplay loop, and overall rewarding experience. Many consider it a standout in the roguelike deckbuilder genre, often citing its replayability and engaging nature.
- Exceptional Music & Sound Design (weight 0.9): The game's music and sound design are consistently lauded as excellent, immersive, and fitting for the game's theme. The soundtrack is often described as catchy, memorable, and a significant contributor to the overall positive experience.
- Fair & Rewarding Difficulty (weight 0.87): The game offers a challenging yet fair difficulty curve, with many players appreciating that losses feel like their own fault rather than due to unfair RNG. The unique final boss mechanic, where players fight their previous winning build, adds a clever and engaging layer to this challenge.
- Innovative & Deep Mechanics (weight 0.29): The game introduces unique and deep combat mechanics, such as the cooldown-based turn system, unit positioning, and the 'fighting your previous run's team' as a boss. These elements foster strategic depth, encourage experimentation, and differentiate it from other games in the genre.
- Genre-Defining Roguelike Deckbuilder (weight 0.2): The game is frequently compared to and often preferred over genre titans like Slay the Spire, indicating its strong position and unique identity within the roguelike deckbuilder category. Players appreciate its fresh take while still delivering the core appeal of the genre.
- Rich Customization & Build Variety (weight 0.18): Players enjoy the extensive customization options for cards and units, particularly through the innovative charm system. This leads to a wide variety of satisfying and often 'broken' build combinations, enhancing replayability and strategic depth.
- Solid Card Game Foundation (weight 0.07): Beyond its roguelike elements, the game is recognized as a strong, well-designed card game with engaging deckbuilding, diverse card pools, and strategic depth that stands out among its contemporaries.
- Strong Modding Community Support (weight 0.07): The game benefits significantly from robust mod support via the Steam Workshop. This feature is highly valued by players as it extends the game's longevity, adds new content, and fosters a vibrant community.

Common complaints:
- Excessive Difficulty & RNG (weight 0.48): Players consistently report that the game's difficulty is excessively high, often feeling unfair or overly punishing. This is exacerbated by a heavy reliance on RNG for critical elements like card draws and enemy encounters, leading to frustrating losses from single mistakes or unpredictable outcomes. The steep and inconsistent difficulty curve, especially in later stages and against certain bosses, makes the game feel more like a test of luck than skill, diminishing enjoyment and replayability.
- Limited Content & Replayability (weight 0.17): Many players feel the game lacks sufficient content, variety, and long-term replayability compared to other titles in the genre like Slay the Spire. The progression system is perceived as shallow, with most content unlocked early, leading to a quick loss of interest once the initial novelty wears off. This results in a sense of tedium and a lack of motivation to continue playing after a few runs.
- Punishing Final Boss Mechanic (weight 0.17): The unique final boss mechanic, where the player's previous winning team becomes the next run's boss, is widely criticized. Players feel this system punishes successful runs by creating an overwhelmingly difficult or even unbeatable challenge in subsequent playthroughs, forcing them to intentionally build weaker decks or reset progress. This design choice is seen as frustrating and counter-intuitive, undermining the sense of achievement.
- Shallow Deckbuilding & Card Pool (weight 0.14): The deckbuilding and card systems are frequently criticized for their lack of depth and limited options. Players report a small card pool, insufficient opportunities to acquire or refine decks, and a heavy reliance on RNG for viable builds. This restricts strategic creativity, often forcing players into specific archetypes or making it difficult to form cohesive and effective decks, especially at higher difficulties.
- Poor UI & Tutorial Clarity (weight 0.04): Players report issues with the game's intuitiveness and clarity, particularly during initial playthroughs. Insufficient in-game explanations, awkward controls, and persistent tutorial messages contribute to a confusing and frustrating learning experience. Some also noted game-breaking bugs in the tutorial.
- Lack of Save/Load Feature (weight 0.04): The absence of a save/load feature is a significant point of frustration for players. This means any mistake or unexpected loss results in a complete run restart, making gameplay feel tiring and unforgiving. Players desire the ability to save progress within a run to mitigate the impact of sudden failures.
- Repetitive Enemy Variety (weight 0.04): Players note a lack of variety in enemy types and strategies, leading to repetitive combat encounters. Some enemies are perceived as unfairly scaled or designed to directly counter player builds, contributing to the overall feeling of an unbalanced and unrewarding experience.
- Unbalanced Starting Characters (weight 0.03): There are concerns regarding the balance and interest of starting characters and early game elements. Some initial protagonists are seen as objectively weaker or less engaging, and their abilities cannot be refreshed. This can lead to frustrating early runs and a feeling of being forced into undesirable playstyles.

Gameplay feedback:
- Deep Strategic Gameplay & Countdown (weight 0.12): The game features deep strategic gameplay, requiring players to think several turns ahead and make complex choices. A core mechanic is the 'countdown' system, where units attack based on timers, making positioning and timing crucial for success.
- Challenging & Dynamic Bosses (weight 0.1): Boss battles are a central and challenging aspect, requiring adaptive strategies. A unique meta-mechanic involves the player's previous winning deck becoming the final boss in subsequent runs, adding replayability and a dynamic challenge.
- Unique Turn-Based Card Combat (weight 0.1): The game is a turn-based deck-builder with a unique combat system. Players manage a hand of companion and item cards, strategically placing and repositioning units on a grid, with all actions tied to a countdown timer.
- Achievement-Based Unlocks & Charms (weight 0.09): Progression is tied to an achievement-based unlock system, where completing challenges and defeating bosses unlocks new cards, charms, and features. The 'charm' system allows for extensive card modification, enabling diverse synergies and build customization.
- Roguelike Progression & Modifiers (weight 0.06): As a roguelike, the game emphasizes adapting to random elements and offers granular difficulty modifiers, including a 'bell' system similar to ascension levels in other roguelikes, which increases challenge and rewards.
- Short Runs, Long-Term Mastery (weight 0.05): Individual runs are relatively short, typically lasting 30-60 minutes, making the game suitable for casual play sessions. Despite this, achieving mastery and completing all content can take significant time, offering decent replayability.
- Diverse Factions & Playstyles (weight 0.03): Players can choose from three distinct factions or tribes at the start of each run, each offering unique cards and playstyles. This choice significantly influences the strategic approach for that particular playthrough.

Performance notes:
- Smooth performance and optimization (weight 0.02): Players consistently report that the game runs smoothly and is well-optimized across different platforms, including PC and Steam Deck. This indicates a positive technical performance for most users.
- Game crashes on boss damage (weight 0.01): A specific bug was reported where the game crashed when a boss received excessive damage. This suggests a potential issue with damage calculation or boss health triggers that could lead to instability.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended Game (weight 0.32): The game is overwhelmingly recommended by players, especially those who enjoy roguelike deckbuilders and strategic card games. Many consider it a must-play within the genre, often comparing it favorably to Slay the Spire and Monster Train.
- Ideal for Roguelike Deckbuilder Fans (weight 0.28): Players frequently recommend the game to fans of roguelike deckbuilders, particularly those who enjoy or are looking for alternatives to Slay the Spire. It's noted for appealing to both genre veterans and some newcomers, though its high difficulty is a common caveat.
- Challenging and Demanding (weight 0.2): While generally recommended, some players find the game's high difficulty and specific mechanics (like the undo system) can lead to frustration. It's often suggested for players who enjoy a significant challenge or even 'masochistic tendencies'.
- Consider Purchasing on Sale (weight 0.03): Many reviewers suggest purchasing the game during a sale, indicating that while it's worth the price, a discount makes it an even more attractive buy. Some also recommend trying the demo first.
- High Player Engagement & Future Content Desired (weight 0.02): Players express strong engagement with the game, with some completing all achievements and looking forward to playing more. There's also a clear desire for future content, such as DLC or a sequel.
- Try Demo, Ignore Early Reviews (weight 0.01): For those undecided, trying the game's demo is a common recommendation. Players are also advised not to be deterred by initial negative reviews, suggesting the game has improved or is misunderstood.

Other player notes:
- Highly Enjoyable and Underrated (weight 0.11): Many players express strong enjoyment and dedication, with significant playtime across multiple platforms. They believe the game is underrated and deserves more positive recognition, often defending it against negative reviews.
- Achievement Completion Time (weight 0.07): Players report varying times to achieve all achievements, ranging from 30 to 80 hours. Many completed the game and its achievements before writing their reviews, indicating a thorough engagement.
- Multi-Platform Availability (weight 0.06): The game is available on multiple platforms, including PC, Switch, and mobile. Some players own it on several platforms, noting the mobile version is cheaper and well-suited for tablet play.
- Difficulty & QoL Improvements (weight 0.05): Players frequently request features to mitigate difficulty spikes and improve quality of life, such as an easy mode, a 'death preview' or warning system, a save/load function, and an undo button for turns.
- Roguelike Deckbuilder Comparisons (weight 0.04): The game is often compared to other roguelike deckbuilders like Slay the Spire and Monster Train. While some find it challenging, others note it's not as difficult for experienced players, though it requires more strategic thinking than 'brain-off' mobile games.
- Town Progression Unclear (weight 0.01): Some players are still exploring the town area and its purpose, noting that many shops display achievements that unlock cards, suggesting a progression system tied to town features.
- Reroll Starting Leaders (weight 0.01): A suggestion was made to implement a reroll mechanic for the initial team leaders, providing more strategic choice at the start of a run.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.31): Players feel satisfied by the game's high overall quality, including its polished visuals, engaging music, and intuitive UI. The rewarding progression system, strategic depth, and diverse build options contribute to a sense of accomplishment and replayability. Overcoming challenges, discovering powerful combos, and achieving milestones like beating the game or getting achievements also lead to significant satisfaction.
- Frustration (weight 0.14): Frustration primarily stems from the game's high and often unbalanced difficulty, frequently attributed to excessive randomness (RNG) and punishing mechanics. Players are annoyed by instant death scenarios, unintuitive design choices, and the lack of quality-of-life features like save/load or undo buttons. Specific boss mechanics, particularly the final boss and the 'past leader as boss' system, are also significant sources of frustration due to their perceived unfairness or difficulty spikes.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Excitement is generated by the game's addictive and unique tactical combat, which allows for creative and 'funky' builds. Players are thrilled by the discovery of powerful combos, the challenging nature of the gameplay, and the overall high quality and polish of the game. The potential for future content, mod support, and the game's ability to exceed expectations also contribute to a strong sense of excitement.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the game's fun and addictive nature, driven by its engaging gameplay loop, strategic depth, and charming aesthetics. The ability to experiment with different decks and combinations, coupled with challenging yet rewarding experiences, contributes to overall enjoyment. The quality of the art, music, and mod support further enhances the pleasurable experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment arises from the game not meeting expectations, often due to perceived lack of strategic depth, limited content, or over-reliance on luck. Players are let down by the absence of a save/load feature, issues with balance, and the feeling that the fun wears off once the novelty fades. Specific design choices, like the final boss mechanic or repetitive gameplay, also contribute to a sense of unfulfilled potential.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the game's outstanding art style, music, and overall aesthetic, which create a cohesive and cozy experience. The developers' attention to detail, fair difficulty, and innovative mechanics are also highly valued. The game's value for money, ease of understanding, and the presence of mod support further solidify this appreciation.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Joy is experienced through the game's charming details, lovable card art, and the delightful process of discovering new and unexpected builds. Players feel joy from achieving goals, winning close matches, and overcoming the learning curve. The overall fun, engaging, and replayable nature of the game, combined with its appealing art and music, contributes to a positive emotional state.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is directed towards the game's overall excellence, particularly its high quality, balance, and unique mechanics that set it apart in the roguelite deckbuilder genre. Players admire the game's beautiful art style, elegant design, and the quality of its modding community. The game's ability to rival or surpass other top titles in the genre also elicits strong admiration.
- Challenge (weight 0.02): The game's difficulty and unforgiving nature are the primary causes of the 'Challenge' emotion. Players are drawn to the complex mechanics and the consistent need to adapt their strategies. The initial learning curve and the presence of hard achievements also contribute to this challenging experience.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game stems from its compelling visuals, engaging music, and satisfying deck-building mechanics. Players express deep affection for the game's art style, characters, and overall thematic elements. The game's strategic depth and its status as a personal favorite also contribute to this strong positive emotion.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger arises from perceived unfairness, particularly related to the final boss mechanic and unbalanced stat buffs. Players express anger over operational errors leading to losses, wasted time, and frustrating design choices. The game's difficulty and hidden mechanics, along with specific character absences, also contribute to this negative emotion.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the game's deep and challenging mechanics, particularly tough boss fights that require strategic thinking. The addictive gameplay loop and the continuous discovery of new ways to build decks keep players deeply involved. The need for concentration and the puzzle-like re-ordering of cards also contribute to sustained engagement.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise is triggered by unexpected elements such as enemies at higher difficulties having charms, or the game's deceptive simplicity leading to an unexpected challenge. Players are also surprised by the game's overall quality and fresh mechanics, like the 'me vs me' dynamic or the discovery of unforeseen card strengths.
- Confidence (weight 0.01): Confidence is rooted in the belief that the game is fair and that player losses are due to their own skill rather than unfair mechanics or RNG. Players feel in control and are confident in their ability to overcome challenges. The game's quality and its similarity to other well-regarded titles also bolster this confidence.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is primarily driven by the desire for future updates, more content, and increased variety in the game. Players express hope for improvements to existing flaws and the potential for the game to evolve further. This emotion reflects a belief in the game's core design despite current shortcomings.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players express a desire for more content, including additional enemies, mini-bosses, and unlocks. There is also a strong desire for quality-of-life features like a save/load option and an easier difficulty setting. The wish for a Mac version indicates a desire for broader accessibility.
- Amusement (weight 0): Amusement arises from humorous situations, such as the cover character not appearing in the game or self-inflicted chain reactions leading to comical deaths. Players find humor in perceived 'skill issues' of others or in the game crashing due to extreme damage, often framing these frustrations in a lighthearted way.
- Addiction (weight 0): Addiction is caused by the game's highly engaging gameplay loop and rewarding battles, which encourage continuous play. The short run lengths contribute to a 'just one more run' mentality, making the game highly addictive and providing significant value.
- Concern (weight 0): Concern stems from potential issues such as developer abandonment, an uneven difficulty curve, or a perceived lack of narrative depth that might lead players to quit. There is also concern about the game's long-term appeal for hardcore players due to high reproducibility or limited winning strategies.
- Relief (weight 0): Relief is felt when the game's mechanics make sense, or when the difficulty is not as high or random as rumored. Players also experience relief when the art style provides a refreshing contrast to common dark fantasy trends, or when they find a good deckbuilding roguelike after a period of despair.}