Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Nintendo Switch
Genre: Strategy

If you’re a fan of tactical deckbuilding games like Slay the Spire, Banner of Ruin, and Monster Train, then Wildfrost may be the game for you. Developed by Deadpan Games and Gaziter, and published by Chucklefish, Wildfrost is set in a world that’s been overrun by an endless winter where you take control of a group of heroes and restore balance to the world.

In Wildfrost, you’ll explore a map that’s randomly generated with battles, merchants, events, and treasures. At the start of each game, you’ll have a basic deck consisting of attack and item cards, but as you complete encounters and take down bosses, you’ll be able to add more cards to your collection.

The card battles in Wildfrost take place on a grid, where your units are lined up against enemy units in two rows. Each turn, you get to take one action, which could mean playing a companion card to add more troops to your army, using an item card to boost your units’ stats, or unleashing an attack card to deal some serious damage. It’s crucial to protect your hero character card at all times because if they fall in battle, it’s game over.

Chill Out

When you start a new game of Wildfrost, you’ll be presented with three options for your starting hero. You’ll also get to choose a pet to join you on your adventure. At first, you’ll only have a few pets to choose from, but as you progress through the game, you’ll unlock more.

The pets you choose will have fixed health and abilities, but your hero’s health and attack stats will be randomized. The additional abilities of your hero will depend on which tribe they belong to. Wildfrost has three different tribes to choose from: the Snowdwellers, the Shademancers, and the Clunkmasters. Each tribe has its own strengths, weaknesses, and special abilities. For example, the Snowdwellers are all about dealing heavy damage and disrupting enemy attacks, while the Shademancers focus on summoning temporary allies to help you in battle.

The tribes each have their own unique look and feel, and everything in Wildfrost is gorgeously designed. From the item cards to the companions to the backgrounds, the game is bursting with colour and detail. The whimsical soundtrack ties everything together to create a world that’s easy to get lost in, whether you’re fighting in a battle or just browsing the menu screen. With so much to explore, Wildfrost is a game you can keep playing for hours on end.

Cold But Gold

Wildfrost stands out from other deckbuilding games with its unique game mechanics. In this game, each unit card has its own attack counter that counts down every turn, indicating when a unit will trigger an attack. Depending on the counter value, a unit may attack once every few turns or only after being hit by an enemy attack. Some item cards can lower the attack counter of a friendly unit or delay enemy attacks, giving you a tactical advantage.

Drawing cards is also different in Wildfrost. Instead of getting a new hand of cards every turn, you have a redraw bell with its own counter. At the start of a game, the redraw bell counter counts down from four. If you want to draw a new hand of cards before the counter reaches zero, you can hit the bell and do so, but you won’t be able to perform any other actions during that turn. When the counter reaches zero, you’ll be able to draw a new hand of cards without any cost.

During battles, there’s a visible wave deployer that shows the number of turns until the next wave of enemies appears. If the counter reaches zero, you win the battle after all enemies have been slain. In boss battles, the battle ends when the boss is killed, regardless of other enemies left on the battlefield. Wildfrost is definitely a unique and strategic experience that will keep you on your toes!

Staying Frosty

In Wildfrost, having a solid plan is crucial to success. Unlike other deckbuilding games, where you can take things one turn at a time, in Wildfrost you need to think ahead. The game’s mechanics, such as the redraw bell, are designed to encourage strategic planning.

For instance, you can remove your companion cards from the board at any time to heal them and then reshuffle them back into your draw pile. However, the catch is that you won’t be able to place them back on the board until you draw the same companion card again, so you need to be mindful of when and how you do this.

Keeping an eye on your companion’s health is essential as well. If a companion gets knocked down before you can reshuffle them back into your deck, they’ll be injured, and their stats will be temporarily lower. Surviving a battle without any injured companions is critical as they will heal and be back to normal. But if they die, you’ll have to find a new companion to replace them.

Careful planning is key when building a strategy. The game has various elements, like the redraw bell and companion cards, that cater to this explicitly. However, you need to be strategic about how and when you use companion cards as they can be taken off the board at no action cost during a turn so they can be healed and shuffled back into your draw pile.

You must keep an eye on your companion’s health as if they are downed in battle before being reshuffled back into your deck, they will be injured, with lower attack and health stats. If they do perish on the battlefield, you’ll have to find a new companion to replace them.

Besides your companion’s health, you must also be mindful of status effects on the battlefield. These can be anything from poisonous shroom clouds that deal damage over time to the ‘demonize’ effect that doubles the amount of damage a unit receives. However, it’s remarkably easy to wrap your head around the mechanics after a couple of runs, and the nature of each effect feels suitably complex to keep things challenging as you progress through the game.

As you traverse the map, you’ll have the option to collect charms that function as one-time upgrades that can be attached to units for the duration of a run. However, once you equip a companion with a charm, you’re not able to unequip it, and if the companion dies, the charm will be gone too. Every item, charm, or card that you pick up adds something of value to a run, and the moments of unlocking the right synergies between different cards are satisfying.

Wildfrost has a dynamic nature due to its procedurally generated map, which keeps you on your toes as a player. Snowdwell, the starting town, functions as a central hub that you return to after a run. You can upgrade and unlock tribes, cards, and charms before starting your next game. You’ll also have the opportunity to complete challenges and unlock things between runs, similar to Darkest Dungeon and Hades.

In addition, you’ll have access to the Daily Voyage mode from Snowdell, which comes with a deck and a set of modifiers that change every day. You can compete for the highest daily score on a global leaderboard or compare your scores with your friends. All of this helps to keep things interesting once you’ve completed the main game. Wildfrost is designed to keep challenging players through a gentle progression, making it a good fit for both brand-new card game fans and seasoned players.

The only feature that felt like it was missing was an in-game glossary. Some additional heads-up on its mechanics and reminders would be helpful in the long run.

Ice Cold

In summary, Wildfrost is a well-crafted and engaging deckbuilding game that offers a dynamic and challenging gameplay experience. With procedurally generated maps, dynamic attack counters, and various status effects, the game keeps you on your toes and provides a satisfying level of complexity without ever becoming overwhelming. Additionally, the ability to collect charms and complete challenges adds depth and replayability to the game. While a glossary would be helpful for newcomers, the game’s intuitive design makes it accessible for players of all skill levels. Overall, if you’re a fan of deckbuilding games, Wildfrost is definitely worth checking out.

Pros

• Dynamic attack counter system adds depth and suspense.
• Variety of companions, charms, and encounters keep gameplay interesting.
• Beautiful visuals and soundtrack enhance overall experience.
• Daily voyage mode and engaging challenges provide additional replayability and goals to achieve.

Cons

• No in-game glossary.

Final Score: 80/100