Review: Wildfrost
A challenging and addictive roguelike deckbuilder set in a snowy world, combining strategic card play with unique companions for endless replayability
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Xbox Gamepass
Genre: Roguelike, Deckbuilder, Card Battler
Developer: Deadpan Games, Gaziter
Publisher: Chucklefish
How Cozy? ⭐⭐⭐/5 Cozy graphics, but the battles are challenging
Game Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
After getting hooked on Slay the Spire this year, my first go at a card battler since swapping Pokémon cards in the school playground. So, when Wildfrost landed on Xbox Game Pass this month I was excited for another roguelike deck-builder to dive into. Developed by Deadpan Games and Gaziter, and published by Chucklefish, Wildfrost has you gathering a deck of quirky card allies and weapons to take on an endless winter. But was it as addictive as I was hoping?
Story
Wildfrost is set in a frozen tundra, in a dwelling named Snowdwell, where it’s survivors live and try to survive an eternal winter. Within three tribes are randomly generated leaders, each with it’s own health, attack and often a move special to them that changes on each run. Each tribe has their own styles and decks, with unique weapons to each tribe. In addition, there is a host of companions you can add to your deck, each with their own special moves, to help you in your quest. I was impressed there was a story to game, albeit a little simple. But it still helped to position yourself in the game with a goal and focus.
Gameplay
The gameplay works like any other deckbuilder card battler, you drag your weapon over to the enemy to reduce their health by the card’s attack stat. You tend to face the same enemies on each run, although the enemies can differ dependant on the tribe you’ve selected your leader from. If you win, you get to progress to the next stop, which will either be to find a new companion, card, charm or shop. You collect coins along the way and this allows you to buy new cards in the shop, or special charms, each with a unique power you can add to your leader, companion or some cards in your deck, dependant on the charm type. The gameplay is smooth and moves quickly, but you feel in control of the placement of the cards. The AI moves at a good pace, and it’s very easy to get sucked into the game.
Graphics and Visuals
The game has a very cutesy design and fits very well in it’s snowy setting, which personally I really enjoyed. I was impressed by the amount of variants of leaders, and this spread across the 3 tribes allows for a good variety of gameplay styles. The companions and allies you pick up along the way start to feel like they have little personalities with their colourful designs, and there was some fun enemy designs that matched their special attacks.
Longevity
The game itself is not that easy, or at least it wasn’t for me. But it is incredibly addictive, so I didn’t mind the challenge. I’ve easily put in 30 hours and only completed a run with one of the tribes - although I don’t know if that says more about my possible lack of talent with these types of games! There’s so much variety within each run, from the random generator of leaders, to the different companions you can choose, or charms you might pick up, and each tribe has it’s own set of weapons which really makes the game feel like you’re playing afresh each time, even while you’re getting better charms each run. If you like a deckbuilder, you will definitely get dozens of hours of gameplay out of this game, probably more if you got as addicted to it as me!
Conclusion
After spending a good 30+ hours battling through Wildfrost's eternal winter, I can confidently say this game is both challenging and incredibly addictive. Its charming, cartoonish visuals and smooth gameplay create an cozy atmosphere, but each run requires strategic planning and adaptability. The variety of tribes, leaders, and companions ensures that no two adventures are the same, keeping the experience fresh and engaging. While the difficulty curve is steep and success often relies on a bit of luck, the fun of assembling a powerful deck and getting through the enemies and bosses is well worth the effort. If you're a fan of roguelike deck builders and enjoy a good challenge, Wildfrost is definitely worth your time.
