Aery – Winter Wonderland review

I like mindless games that suck you into the action. A captivating title without delivering gore, violence, or other modern nonsense. Aery – Winter Wonderland does just that with its slow-paced mindset and beautiful settings. Although this laid-back game will not be for everyone, this franchise has a passionate, niche following.

The Aery franchise is EpiXR Games’ prime focus. They have covered similar titles, but they are somewhat ridiculous, shallow, and underwhelming. Thankfully, Aery – Winter Wonderland delivers a simple but impressive experience that transports you to a delightfully fantasy world.

Aery – Winter Wonderland and the tale of Frosty the Snowman!

Who’d have thought that the Frosty the Snowman story could be retold in such a bizarre way? However, Aery – Winter Wonderland has managed to break the mould with its weird approach and interesting snippets of narration. Moreover, it retains the casual exploration elements that this franchise is famous for.

You play the role of a free-flying red bird. This bird must locate crystals while soaring through the air. Once each crystal is located, a new portion of the story is told. Accordingly, you may take in the wonderful scenery and enjoy a slow but fun fantasy tale.

Rudimentary gameplay.

This game focuses on exploration and progression. If you are interested in the latter, you must gather each of the 25 crystals quickly. This will enable you to race through each stage while enjoying the interesting story. Alternatively, you can explore each world and witness some incredible sights. Statues, vibrant sunsets, and flowing rivers await anyone who wishes to leave the preordained path.

Despite the wonderful opportunities, Aery – Winter Wonderland is rudimentary by design. The bird has no special abilities, and there are no enemies. Instead, you focus on the plot, the beautiful world, and the narration. This approach may not be enough for some, and I understand why it has limited appeal.

Aery – Winter Wonderland looks great.

Although Aery – Winter Wonderland is a little rough around the edges, I love the varied colour palette, the pleasant animation, and the interesting levels. This game epitomises winter, and the blend of icy blues and warm yellows complements the fun story. The audio is where this excels. The music is divine, and I cherished every second. The soundtrack features a varied range of emotions, delivering excitement, sorrow, and drama. Moreover, the acting is reasonably good, and I enjoyed the storytelling elements.

Aery moves through the air with ease. You can either take things slowly or hold down the sprint button to move through the air slightly faster. This simple control system was great, allowing gamers to focus on the action and little else. Replay value is sadly limited. Once you capture every crystal, there are no surprises or reasons to return. You could stay to explore each level, but I believe the appeal would be minute at best.

Aery – Winter Wonderland is a pleasant indie game.

Aery – Winter Wonderland is a nice addition to the franchise. It doesn’t break the mould, and it is like every other title from the series. However, I enjoyed the festive moments and the excellent, albeit absurd, story. Accordingly, I like it, and I recommend getting a copy from the Xbox store!