This Winter of Ours

Short and sweet. Not the most captivating world/characters, but still enjoyable with cute art and the romance. Also yuri.

This Winter of Ours is a short fantasy yuri visual novel that turns an unforgiving winter landscape into the backdrop for a surprisingly tender relationship. Developed and published by VARIA, it follows Delia, an apprentice merchant whose journey takes a disastrous turn when she becomes lost in a snow-covered forest. Exhaustion and the freezing conditions leave her expecting the worst, but she unexpectedly awakens after being rescued by a mysterious young woman. From that simple encounter, the story develops into an intimate tale about loneliness, trust, survival, and the comfort that can emerge when two strangers begin opening up to one another. Delia is an effective protagonist because she enters the story with aspirations that extend beyond her current circumstances. She has an interest in magic and dreams that seem increasingly distant while she is trapped in the wilderness. Her companion, Lux, provides an appealing contrast. She is reserved, capable of surviving in the forest, and initially reluctant to place much trust in another person. Their differences create much of the narrative's emotional momentum. Instead of immediately treating their relationship as a conventional romance, the story allows familiarity to develop gradually through conversation, shared hardship, and small moments of vulnerability. The winter environment plays an important role in establishing the game's identity. Snow-covered surroundings create a feeling of isolation that makes even ordinary interactions seem more meaningful. Warm shelter and companionship become valuable when the characters are surrounded by an environment that constantly reminds them of their vulnerability. This creates a pleasing thematic contrast between the physical cold of the wilderness and the emotional warmth gradually developing between Delia and Lux. Fantasy elements, particularly those connected with Delia's interest in magic, provide additional flavor without overwhelming the personal nature of the narrative. Gameplay follows the traditional visual novel formula and places reading ahead of mechanical interaction. The story contains roughly 30,000 words and can generally be completed within a few hours. Its relatively focused length allows the relationship to receive meaningful development without stretching the premise unnecessarily. Players looking for complicated systems, extensive exploration, or action will find little of that here. Likewise, the largely linear storytelling means that those who prefer visual novels filled with major decisions and dramatically different routes may find the interactive side somewhat limited. The advantage is a more controlled narrative with consistent pacing and a clear emotional direction. The presentation helps elevate what could otherwise have been a very simple project. Custom character sprites, CG illustrations, and backgrounds give the visual novel a distinctive appearance, while the snowy scenery reinforces its quiet and sometimes melancholic atmosphere. The original soundtrack complements the writing without overpowering it, and the sound effects add subtle texture to scenes. Because much of the experience consists of conversations between two central characters, the artwork and music carry considerable responsibility for maintaining atmosphere, and they generally accomplish that effectively. Accessibility is also handled thoughtfully for a small visual novel. A self-voicing option provides additional assistance for players who benefit from having text read aloud, while multiple language options broaden its potential audience. Controller support is useful for anyone who prefers reading visual novels away from a traditional keyboard-and-mouse setup. Achievements and cloud saving provide familiar Steam conveniences, although these features remain secondary to the narrative itself. Steam Deck compatibility is not currently represented by a definitive official Verified or Playable rating, so its Deck status should be considered Unknown or Unverified rather than guaranteed. The game's relatively lightweight visual-novel design and controller-oriented functionality suggest that it may be practical to run through Steam's compatibility layer, but players should not interpret that as an official compatibility certification. Individual results can potentially vary until a formal Steam Deck rating is provided. One particularly appealing aspect is the amount of original material presented within a free-to-play package. Original artwork, music, a sizable script, and several hours of storytelling make the experience feel more substantial than its price might suggest. Its limitations are primarily connected to scale rather than fundamental design problems. The linear structure reduces replay value, the mechanical component is minimal, and players who do not become invested in the central relationship may find that there is not enough secondary gameplay or narrative complexity to hold their attention. Ultimately, This Winter of Ours works best when approached as a focused character piece rather than a sprawling fantasy adventure. Its strongest qualities come from the contrast between an inhospitable wilderness and the increasingly affectionate connection between two isolated people. The concise runtime keeps the narrative approachable, while the custom artwork and soundtrack give the journey an identity of its own. It may be too linear for players who want extensive choices, but fans of romantic visual novels, quiet fantasy stories, and character-driven narratives should find a thoughtful experience waiting beneath its frozen exterior. Rating: 8/10

I used to like snow. Now I like it more. Allows for some good wlw. And the wlw is indeed good.

"I want to be togheter with you forever."

非常非常亚米的设定。一起手牵手过冬什么的还是太浪漫了😊

it's just so so good

This Winter of Ours is a gentle visual novel that I found much more emotional than I expected. The story follows Delia and another girl trying to survive together in a snow covered forest, and I liked how the game focuses on their relationship rather than relying on huge dramatic events. There is something very comforting about watching two people become closer while dealing with an environment that is constantly trying to make survival difficult. The gameplay is mostly based around reading dialogue and following the story, so there is not a huge amount of traditional interaction. I actually think that works well here because the main appeal is getting to know the characters. Their conversations and small moments together are what drive the experience, and I enjoyed taking my time with them instead of rushing toward the next major plot point. The survival setting also helps the relationship feel more meaningful. The snowy forest is dangerous and isolated, which means the two characters have to rely on each other. I liked that the game uses their everyday routines to show how they gradually become more comfortable together. Small details can sometimes be more effective than dramatic scenes, and this story understands that. The presentation is beautiful and atmospheric. The anime inspired artwork gives the characters plenty of personality, while the snowy environments create a calm but slightly melancholy feeling. The fantasy elements are subtle enough that they do not overwhelm the emotional core. I particularly liked the contrast between the peaceful scenery and the harsher reality of trying to survive there. My biggest issue is the lack of interactivity. This is very much a linear visual novel, so I am mostly reading rather than actively shaping the story. That means anyone looking for complicated choices or gameplay systems may find it too passive. I also think some parts of the relationship could have benefited from more time and development. Even so, the focused storytelling works in the game's favor. It does not need an enormous amount of mechanics to make its central relationship interesting. The slow pace gives the characters room to breathe, and the snowy setting makes everything feel intimate and isolated at the same time. Overall, This Winter of Ours is a sweet and atmospheric visual novel with a strong emotional focus. I enjoyed the relationship between the two protagonists, the beautiful winter setting and the quiet way the story develops. It is definitely more of a reading experience than a traditional game, but as a short character driven story, I found it genuinely charming. Rating: 7.3/10