Steam users say this roguelike deck-builder is too hard - here’s why they’re wrong
I’ve been completely obsessed with Wildfrost since it came out, so I was surprised to discover it’s getting mixed reviews on Steam. According to reviewers, it’s wildly unbalanced. The heroes are too weak, the enemies are too tough, and the random elements make it impossible to build a solid deck.
All of these things would be valid complaints, except for one teensy problem: they’re completely wrong.
Yes, Wildfrost is hard, and it can be punishing at times, but the challenge level is exactly what I expect from the roguelike genre. As someone that plays tons of roguelike deck-builders, I don’t think it’s much harder than games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train. Lots of my Wildfrost runs ended in failure, especially when I was starting out, but I’ve managed to beat the game plenty of times over and have even unlocked the true ending.
So why are so many people frustrated by Wildfrost? I think that part of the problem has to do with the game’s art style. The character designs are absolutely adorable, and I suspect that the cute cards are drawing in people that don’t play a lot of roguelikes. If you’re not used to the genre, dying over and over again probably feels incredibly frustrating.
I’ve also noticed some more experienced players complaining about the deck-building mechanics. Wildfrost typically gives players three cards to choose from. There’s no way to reroll the choices you’re given, so if you’re unhappy with your options, you’re out of luck.
The random aspects of Wildfrost are something I definitely struggled with early on. Sometimes, the stars aligned and I got one great card after another. During other runs, I was stuck with duds or cards that didn’t seem to work together. I tried to take advantage of card synergies, but I couldn’t always pull it off.
After a long string of defeats, I managed to build the perfect team. Even the toughest enemies were no match for my lineup. I racked up one victory after the next until I finally completed my first successful run. Then, I started up another playthrough and made a horrifying discovery.
When you finish a normal run in Wildfrost, the companion cards you used to defeat the final boss are temporarily locked away. The only way to get those cards back is to guide a new team to victory. To make things worse, you have to face off against a more powerful version of the team you built.
At first, I hated that I didn’t have access to my favorite cards, but after a few unsuccessful runs, I began to change up my strategy. Instead of going for the biggest and best cards every time, I started to experiment. If I got stuck with a seemingly weak card, I tried to find a way to use it effectively.
Before long, I’d completed another successful run, and then another, and another. Some of Wildfrost’s cards are definitely better than others, but nearly every card can lead you to victory if you take a smart approach. The RNG gods won’t always be in your favor, but a solid strategy and skillful play can get you through almost any run.
Wildfrost is a fantastic deck-builder, but it’s also an exceptional tactics game. Some cards definitely make it easier to win, but the real key to victory is to use your cards in the right way. If you move cards to the right position and take advantage of buffs and debuffs, you can tear through enemies even if you’re stuck with a lackluster deck.
I get why people are complaining about Wildfrost’s difficulty level, but I can’t agree with them. While I wouldn’t mind a few quality-of-life updates, the game is pretty close to perfect in its current state. If you’ve been struggling to get past Wildfrost’s challenges, don’t give up on it just yet. It’s a tough game, but it’s much easier—and more rewarding—than it initially appears to be.
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