Review: Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall

Four years ago, I shared a review of a cozy strategy game called Yes, Your Grace, in which players take on the role of a king who must wisely distribute resources to protect his family and his kingdom. Now, the game has released a sequel called Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall, in which the stakes have been raised exponentially. Snowfall features similar graphics and gameplay to the original, albeit with some small updates, along with a significantly darker tone. Players begin as King Eryk, the protagonist from the first game, but things quickly take a turn for the worse with his circumstances and health, and Queen Aurelea must step in to protect what's most dear to them.

The game begins by allowing players to input over their story decisions from the first Yes, Your Grace. For those of us who played it almost five years ago, it might be hard to remember what those decisions were. This task can be bypassed by asking the advisor to make the best decisions, or just give it your best guess. The story picks up a year or so after the previous game left off. King Eryk and Queen Aurelea are still mourning the recent loss of their oldest daughter and have just been blessed with twins, including a boy who will be the next heir to the throne. Unfortunately, the boy was born with a birth defect in the form of a tail that the king and queen desperately seek to hide. Tragedy soon strikes King Eryk and everything important to him, forcing Queen Aurelea to take the helm as she struggles to maintain what's left of their fallen kingdom.

While the circumstances of the first Yes, Your Grace were comfortable until a shocking betrayal took place near the end, Snowfall is full of violent enemies who wish harm on the royal family of Davern and strike where it hurts the most. Players must gather allies throughout the kingdom and maintain their services by earning gold and resources. Helping subjects builds prosperity, which is converted to gold, resources, and happiness each week. It is only possible to acquire the bare minimum amount of gold and resources to survive from week to week if players are prudent. Despite playing as royalty, this game requires survival on a shoestring budget. Collecting extra funds and resources decreases the happiness ranking, which raises the threat level, making the game harder to complete.

My favorite aspect Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall is the character quests. I enjoyed getting to know the agents who worked in the castle and helping them with personal goals, such as the witch wanting to study to become a bard and the guard who had a secret crush on her. It was also fulfilling getting to know the princesses from the first game better, including Asalea, the rebellious teen who ran away with her girlfriend, and Cedani, the younger daughter who enjoyed playing pranks. Most of these character-building sequences take place during Queen Aurelea's portion of the game while King Eryk is ill. I did not particularly enjoy the dream sequences that Eryk had of the world between the living and the dead. They disrupted the main gameplay and added very little to the story. Although I got the better of the two main endings, the final chapter felt rushed.

Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall offers a gripping and challenging experience that builds upon the foundations of the original game. With its darker tone and increased stakes, players must navigate the complexities of ruling a kingdom under siege. The game's mechanics, such as gathering allies and managing resources, create a sense of urgency and tension. While some aspects, like the dream sequences and rushed ending, may detract from the experience, the character quests and development shine as highlights. Fans of this series and other strategy games will find much to appreciate in Snowfall's intense gameplay and rich storytelling.