Howl

Howl is a turn-based tactical game developed by an Austrian indie studio Mi'pu'mi Games. It features a distinctive artstyle and gameplay, requiring planning several moves ahead. It was released on the PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X.

Plot

Howl is set in a folktale world facing the ominous "howling plague". All who hear the cursed sound turn into bloodthirsty beasts. Humanity's last hope is the deaf Prophet immune to the ailment. She sets out on a journey to find a cure for the plague and learn what's happened to her brother.

Mechanics

Howl is a tactical game, in which the player must traverse the turmoil-stricken realm. We move our heroine on the world map, combat taking place on separate stages. The game's structure is not open, but some areas can be reached using different paths. We'll face the plague's victims, giant wolves with different traits, skills and endurance. Some are fast, others have great reach, others are pack leaders - each type of opponent requires a different strategy.

We must therefore carefully consider our every move. Battles are divided into rounds, during which we can plan several moves in advance, each action alternating with our enemies'. This means predicting enemy actions and being a step ahead is the key mechanic of Howl.

After each battle we're rewarded for killing enemies and saving strangers - we can then purchase additional action slots, upgrade our skills or unlock new ones. These include explosive and piercing arrows, smoke bombs and vaulting over enemies.

The game is divided into four chapters consisting of sixty stages total - other than the main storyline, there are also side elements, such as secret paths on the world map.

Technical matters

The game's most distinctive feature is its stunning artstyle, making use of the living ink technique. The main protagonist's manuscript plays a major part in the game, as it's gradually filled out with the prophecy as we progress through the story.