Project Winter

''Project Winter'' is a social deduction video game featuring survival game mechanics first released on May 23, 2019, for Windows. In ''Project Winter'', players take on the roles of "survivors" and "traitors", having to repair two objectives to escape from an incoming blizzard, or prevent an escape from happening.

Gameplay

''Project Winter'' features a mix of survival and social deduction game mechanics. Lobbies consist of 5-8 players, the majority of which are survivors. Survivors must search the map for bunkers and similar structures, containing parts required to fix objectives, as well as gear to strengthen themselves. The game also utilizes a crafting system as an alternative to scavenging. There are several different objectives, each requiring a different method to be fixed (some require parts, some do not). In order to win, survivors must locate and repair 2 objectives and call for help before 30 minutes pass.

The traitors' goal is preventing survivors from winning. ''Project Winter'' allows them to sabotage their surroundings in order to obstruct survivors. Traitors also have access to exclusive 'traitor crates' which usually contain amazing gear. Several reviewers have stated that they feel the gameplay favors traitors.

Project Winter also features several other survival-game-esque aspects. Players must watch their health, heat, and hunger bars in order to not die and watch out for the local wildlife.

The game utilizes proximity chat.

Console ports

The game's Xbox port was announced in early 2021 and released on January 26, 2021. The ports for both the Nintendo Switch and the PlayStation 4 were aimed to be released sometime in 2021, eventually being released on September 16.

All of the console ports were generally well received.

Project Winter Mobile

''Project Winter Mobile'' was first announced in July 2022, as pre-registrations for the game's mobile port had started the same day. The announced and eventual release date for the game's mobile port was August 31, 2022.

Pocket Gamer deemed ''Project Winter Mobile'' as "too demanding" for most mobile devices, stating "You'll need a fully charged recent model phone and highly stable internet connection to play this game with some smoothness. If you're not equipped to do this on the go, you may be better off playing it through a mobile emulator on your PC.".

On April 19, 2023, the developers announced a server shutdown in a Facebook, the planned date being May 25, 2023. As of May 25, 2023, the apps have been taken off the App Store and Google Play Store, with users being unable to log in and instead being redirected to the aforementioned Facebook post.

Reception

''Project Winter'' has received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic. Due to its social deduction-based nature, a lot of reviews nearing the game's console release in 2021 compared it to the video game Among Us.

Screen Rant rated the game at 3.5/5 stars, stating "While Project Winter has many fun features, ..there is a lot going on during a round, and at times, the balancing act of wilderness survival, social deduction, puzzle solving and team communication can roll into an overwhelming blur." Other reviewers have praised the game's "unique" concept and "impressive depth", however, have also noted problems within the community as a negative. Nintendo Life commented, "we were often met with the kind of racist and sexist troll behaviour that should have been left behind in the 2000s, which is, admittedly, not Project Winter's fault, but it did colour our experience."

GamePro called the game a "more complex ''Among Us'' for survival fans".

References

External links

*{{Official, https://projectwinter.co/

2019 video games
Survival video games
Nintendo Switch games
Xbox One games
PlayStation 4 games
Windows games
IOS games
Android (operating system) games
Social deduction video games
Other Ocean Interactive games
Multiplayer video games
Boltrend Games games