If On A Winter’s Night, Four Travelers

I honestly didn’t expect all that much going into this, it being a free little indie game and all. I genuinely thought this was more like a demo, or a proof-of-concept kind of deal and nothing too remarkable.
Boy, was I wrong.
This is an absolute gem of a point-and-click game. It features gorgeous pixel art, fantastic background music (which is mostly composed of public domain classical music) and attention to detail that I did not expect in a small game like this. I love how much they achieve with so little. Yes, the pixel art is somewhat basic but it is used to great effect. The way the game transitions between scenes, the charming animations, the use of light; I was really impressed by how masterful the devs have created an immersive and atmospheric audiovisual experience.
Attention to detail goes beyond the technical design of the game itself. This is a point-and-click game and the interaction is really basic. You don’t have an inventory or prompts for different actions in a SCUMM-like fashion. All you do is walk around, click on things and, based on the context of the interaction, trigger different actions. The cool thing is how the game recontextualizes the same interactions based on the mental state of the character you play. This is most notable in Act II of this IV-Act game. The protagonist in this story goes through a mental crisis slowly coming to a soul-crushing realization. Your interactions with the world mimic that progression. A click on a window with a view on the rainy landscape may first trigger a line like “It’s always raining outside” but turn into “The world is drowning” a few moments and mental breakdowns later. This is just very smart design. It makes the player go through the same emotions as the character they play. It’s elegant and simple and I wonder why there aren’t more games like this doing that.
When it comes to puzzle design, I thought this game would be more on the easy side at first. Act I is really basic in this regard and I expected the entire game to be more narrative-focused which would have been fine by me. As soon as Act II starts, it becomes blatantly clear that this is a true point-and-click experience, featuring some actual head-scratchers that took me a little while to figure out. There’s nothing too extreme here but be aware that this is not a pure story game; you’ll have to pay attention and figure things out.
This is an easy recommend from me for fans of the genre. If you have a fondness for point-and-click adventure games with a strong narrative, good puzzle design, captivating visuals and a splash of light horror elements, you should check this out. My only gripes I have with the game come from the use of some “modern” language which I found unfitting an early 20th century setting and the fact that, due to its relatively short runtime, the overarching narrative falls a bit short as well. Still, this game is absolutely worth your time and will keep you hooked for about three hours; the perfect game for a foggy November night. I have no idea why this is free.

Downloaded this game initially through itch.io, finished it in one sitting, loved it so much I downloaded it on Steam and let it sit idle for an hour so I could give it a review.
The art style drew me in initially: Mood, atmospheric pixel environments. I got nervous from the list of trigger warnings listed on itch.io because it mentioned homophobia and racism. Rarely are those kind of things necessary or utilized well in any media plot, however, Dead Idle Games pulled off beautiful stories with gentle nods to tragic history.
I honestly rate this game a 10/10, I was drawn in & continually impressed. It got me to cry in under 3 hours so I count that as a win. Huge hat off for IOAWNFT!

If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers" is a captivating point-and-click adventure that masterfully intertwines four compelling narratives set in the late 1920s. The game's pixel art is stunning, creating a rich, atmospheric experience that draws you into its haunting world. Each story delves into deep, thought-provoking themes, offering a unique perspective on the human condition. The puzzles are well-integrated, enhancing the narrative without disrupting the flow. Impressively, this gem is available for free, making it a must-play for fans of the genre. Don't miss out on this exceptional experience.

This is truly a unique game, whereas I didn't like some puzzles (not the fault of the game, I'm usually really bad at puzzles in point and clicks lol), it has an amazing ambiance and writing. It's free so go for it!

Honestly baffled that this game is free. One of the best looking AGS game out there. The story was great too, reminiscent of The Last Door. Looking forward to more adventure games from this studio!

A perfect one-night treat, elegantly executed, if a tad dawdling. Despite the grim subject this one contrives to end on a somewhat hopeful note.

A pretty fantastic short adventure game, absolutely dripping with atmosphere. Stunning pixel art animations, great writing, beautiful music. This game has it all, and never outstays its welcome! Highly recommend it.