runs beautifully on the steam deck, trackpads work for the mouse and i bound L4 to space as its more comfortable for me than the default A.

i love this game so much, i was addicted to them demo and have been beyond eager for this game to release ever since.

it’s such a mesmerising experience, if you’re a fan of visual novels like the house in fata morgana or gothic tales, i highly recommend this. and of course if you’re into stories of knights and nobles, you’ll find plenty here for you.

the writing is beautiful, as is the music and the art. i could sit with the game on idle just to listen to the music, and there’s so many quotes from just the early story that i adore. my favourite is “your heart is so light you almost don’t notice it.”

this visual novel is such a tactile experience due to the light point and click nature of it. i feel so engaged and like i embody the knight. the experience and the story feels so personal because of this. i love when a visual novel immerses me and the last winter knight does so brilliantly.

i’m not far in but i don’t have to be to know this is perfect for me. i already have brainworms about it and i can’t wait to get all 72 achievements. i’ll update my review when i’ve done that with my full thoughts.

thank you ENDYSIS for this wonderful game and story. i can’t wait for what you make next!

This was a day 1 purchase for me because I've thoroughly enjoyed ENDYSIS's other works on itch.io, and I knew that I really love how they write ghosts in particular so I had kinda no doubt I would love this. I binge played the whole thing (or at least, the true ending) in basically one sitting before posting this because I didn't want to review before completing it. No spoilers here. Took me about 7 hours.

TL;DR game is incredible, buy it

(I still have a bunch of bad endings to go get eventually. I love me some bad endings.)

The soundtrack is really notable in how almost opera-like it is in its approach to composition. It is almost entirely piano-based but you'll hear themes and leitmotifs reused and reorchestrated; it quotes The Freaking Tristan Chord in the main theme. By far my favorite track, though, is this one REALLY cool horror one that plays in a very certain place VERY late in the game. It clearly draws inspiration from horror film composition and it's SOOOOOO good.

The other thing that really strikes me about this game, is the pacing. This is a game that takes its time. It is patient. But it FILLS that time—I almost never hear game soundtracks that have tracks *this* long and that are ALSO filled with melody/harmony, as this one is, instead of being strictly ambient. It establishes a mood, a setting, a tone, an atmosphere. Between the gorgeous textures of the art, the steady pulse of the music, and the detailed writing, this game truly excels when it wants to communicate a FEELING.

I also really enjoyed how the fantasy worldbuilding was delivered. Tidbits here and there when interacting with things, mostly centered around funeral rites and spirits/the dead, which makes sense on account of you being dead and a ghost. It feels really grounded... tethered, even...

...it's just really, really lovely. This whole game was clearly made with so much passion.

My favorite parts:
- Ghosts. The ghosts were peak. Everything about how ghosts are done is great if you are a fan of gothic horror specifically because you like ghosts, this is for you. Especially towards the end. Game really is haunting
- I also love tragedies involving complicated people who did horrible things. And well. <3 :)
- The visual textures are just so good oh my god I love the art so much. The art and sound combine in such an incredibly moving way
- The armor foley is soooo detailed and really immerses you in Nameless Knight's POV, the sound design overall is delicious
- The ending had me crying a lot
- There is a particular moment where the game lets you briefly break the 4th wall if you choose to, and I won't say anything more but it is an incredibly touching and powerful experience and its presence speaks to the heart that went into the rest of this game.
- ALL OF THE SWORDS IN THE UI GIVE ME SO MUCH JOY
- While most of the game is melancholy there are some VERY funny bits
- The! Music! Is! Gorgeous!

Quick note on genre:
- I am a huge fan of mystery VNs, and while this definitely has some aspects that will appeal to that audience (me), it is much more focused on telling an emotional story than structuring itself as a mystery. If you're looking for a game where you collect all the hints and then put together the truth, that's not really what this is. There ARE compelling surprises and payoffs, but definitely go in knowing what to expect.
- It is a PEAK point-and-click. I love going to a location and procuring items and taking them to another location to do something with them. That ♥♥♥♥ rules.
- There are also extensive portions that are purely narrative visual novel with no pointing-and-clicking. They're accompanied with really striking changes in art and music that complement the story, and the game's writing captivates. This game is a really great blend of both genres, but do go in expecting both experiences.

10/10 left it on the ending screen for like 10 minutes listening to the music on loop before returning to title ;-;

Just got the true ending, this game is wonderful.