I’ll be upfront, I primarily know of DRAGO Entertainment because of Gas Station Simulator, which I adore, despite its jank. So, when the studio reached out asking if I wanted to check out their upcoming 1.0 release for Winter Survival—a first-person, story-driven survival experience set in a winter wonderland—I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Boy, was I surprised. It was a cinematic, enrapturing experience that I couldn’t stop gushing about while playing. Well, here’s our Winter Survival review so you can see for yourself what I thought of the game!
Editor’s Note: The Guide Hall received a review copy of the game from the developer/publisher/PR for this review. Their generosity does not impact our overall opinion or thoughts on the game!
As I’ve already mentioned jank, let’s start there. Overall, Winter Survival is a polished, smooth experience with only a few caveats. Primarily, the crafting system is awkward and clunky. It’s overly complicated at times, downright annoying at others. It was manageable, of course, as I was able to survive my playthrough, but the simple act of crafting a piece of clothing was arduous.
Now, there are multiple game modes, depending on how you enjoy tackling survival experiences in gaming. There’s the story mode, which guides you through a trip gone wrong as Danny, where you’ll survive the unforgiving landscape and find out what precisely happened within the Valley.
Alternatively, there’s Survival, which is a sort of free mode in which you choose the survival scenario, and what happens from there is entirely up to you.
Lastly, there’s Cold Wave. It’s a fast-paced game mode in which you’re vying for a high score by surviving the elements and local fauna.
From there, you’ll dive into the experience, exploring the local wilderness, finding supplies and crafting materials, shelter, and discovering ways to keep yourself satiated. All the while, you’re not only contending with the cold or your hunger and thirst meter, but with mental health.
The game heavily prioritizes mental health mechanics, and if you’re dealing with trauma, you’ll soon begin to experience hallucinations or other game-altering incidents that make surviving more challenging. For instance, you could see deer that aren’t there, making hunting trickier.
In any case, I personally enjoyed the Survival mode. It was free-form, allowing me to delve into the game’s survival mechanics, base building, and exploration at my own pace. I constructed a small cabin, albeit poorly, and enjoyed life alongside a flowing river.
Speaking of base building, it’s simple. You have your usual walls, window pieces, slanted roofing, and foundations, like any other survival game. But with your survival always in question, it feels more purposeful and rewarding to finally construct your cabin in the woods. That said, snapping pieces together does prove troublesome at times. I can’t begin to explain the number of instances in which my roof simply did not want to connect. It was annoying, but not game-breaking.
Final Words
I can easily see myself returning to Winter Survival frequently to scratch that dead-of-winter survival itch. When I want to withstand the cold, fend off wolves, and search for berries for one final meal before I succumb to hunger, this is a contender.
If you’re a survival gaming fan, I highly recommend you check out Winter Survival on Steam!