Gerda: A Flame in Winter is an interactive visual novel for Nintendo Switch. Combined with simple RPG elements, set in World War II, it tells the story of an ordinary woman who finds herself in an extraordinary situation during one of the most dangerous times in modern history.
It makes for a compelling story. You play Gerda, a young Danish-German woman who works as a nurse. We first meet Gerda in a prologue set in 1939, then fast-forward to February 1945. The rest of the story unfolds over the final days of the war.
Gerda and her husband live on a farm in the Danish town of Tinglev. This once independent village is now occupied by the Nazis and policed by the infamous Gestapo. Rations and morals are equally low, but it was only when Gerda’s husband suddenly disappeared that she was plunged into the dangerous world of espionage.
Each day is divided into hours during which Gerda can travel to one of several locations. In some cases, you may have to choose from multiple time-limited options. In other words, you can’t do everything. The ability to follow your own path is one of the most interesting aspects of the game, and every choice has consequences. Your ultimate goal is to find and save your husband, but your success depends on where you go, who you talk to, what you get, and who you decide to help along the way.
Every time you speak to someone, you are given the option to change the conversation and its outcome. This makes this a choose-your-own-adventure outing that keeps you engaged and creates a highly replayable game. should be considered carefully.
Talking to a local pastor, working at a local clinic, being interviewed by the intimidating Gestapo, and many other unique interactions along the way. Earn points for specific decisions, strengthen relationships, and improve insight, compassion, and resourcefulness. Gerda can also move through her environment in each scene and choose which elements and characters to engage with, further extending her simple visual novel.
All interactive items are highlighted, but you may not always have enough time to explore them all. This is another way to influence the outcome of your story. For example, if you find medicine in one scene, you can offer it to someone in distress later. This increases your empathy points, opens up more dialogue options, and gives you information to further your cause. It’s hard to write a good novel, much less a novel with many branches.
Graphically, Gerda features a soft style that makes paintings seem alive. Her harrowing colors and snowy surroundings lend themselves well to a European winter setting, with muted tones to capture the gloom of wartime. Her audio has to be praised too, and there are some excellent tunes that lift her mood, too, with a shimmering piano accompanying the heroine on her secret investigations and faster music when things get tense. Certain places require more specific sounds, such as House Her Party with opera music. Another area features jazz, further immersing the player in the era.
Overall, Gerda: A Flame in Winter is a great story told through an interactive novel. Simple RPG elements, along with well-crafted dialogue and a variety of pathways, make for a compelling experience that keeps players immersed. Like any good book, this is one of his games that is hard to let go of.
