Willow Guard, created and published by the indie developer MiTale for PC, is an action-packed adventure game in which players assume the role of a Willowguard named Ghweros, unraveling the mystery behind the series of attacks by monsters on a secluded township near the northern Hinterlands. 

Willow Guard provides thrilling, decision-based dungeon crawler gameplay where choices matter with its interactive fiction, hack-and-slash, and deck-building mechanics. Playable from a top-down perspective, this story-rich title features hand-drawn 2D visuals and explores fantasy and exploration themes, delivering a playthrough reminiscent of retro games. 

Build a deck and fight monsters 

Set in a remote village adjacent to the northern Hinterlands of a carefully designed fantasy world, Willow Guard lets users step into the shoes of Ghweros, a creature responsible for investigating the deadly attacks taking place caused by monsters in this expanse filled with artificially modified and sapient animals, missing-in-action gods, and thousands of years of dormant secrets waiting to be uncovered. 

The expanse is brutal, so it is essential to carefully build a formidable deck since the cards give you the abilities for slashing, dashing, and casting spells. In addition, the campaign gets increasingly challenging, making it hard to keep up if the cards chosen are for short-term playthroughs. It also has a Dungeon Run mode you can indulge in for a story-less run. 

However, the combat-filled aspect is not all there is to the game. Outside the fighting, you can engage in dialogues with the Woikos village residents. Amass items and clues to discover new places and slowly unravel the mystery buried for so long. However, the game contains drawbacks, such as UI elements appearing on each other, clunky controls, and non-mutable background music. 

Retro fantasy world 

Willow Guard is a bold, retro-inspired adventure that blends strategic deckbuilding, engaging hack-and-slash combat, and immersive storytelling in a richly crafted fantasy world. Despite a few technical hiccups, it offers a rewarding experience for players who enjoy choice-driven gameplay and atmospheric exploration. With its layered mystery, vibrant art, and challenging mechanics, Willow Guard is a promising title worth exploring for indie adventure fans.