Exploring empathy and consequence with The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

The following is a script of my 5-minute review of this game for Late Night Video Game Music on Radio KLFM.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/47zujSR20PQ63u672q6p9U

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a narrative indie game that follows a Fortuna, a witch exiled on an asteroid for a millenium after predicting the destruction of her coven. Isolated and alone, she casts a forbidden spell and summons a behemoth for company, and shortly after is visited by an Arbiter who lifts her isolation somewhat -- allowing her to receive visitors. Using Fortuna's custom deck of tarot cards, you can predict the future for all those who seek her divination -- and the fate of the coven truly rests in your hands.

This is a game by Deconstructeam -- no shooting or looting here, no crazy romps with a party of companions. At its heart, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a visual novel that expands a little beyond constraints of the genre. Every speck of dialogue is important, every outcome noticed by the game. From changing your own past, to altering the course of your coven's future, I was truly surprised by the twists and turns this game took.

Like Deconstructeam's previous games (such as The Red Strings Club) Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood utilizes a pixel-graphic style unique to them. Where Red Strings Club was bathed in smooth reds and cyberpunk blues, this game embraces its witch theme and hugs the purples. The pixel graphics might shock those used to the crazy renditions of life-like worlds, but Deconstructeam's always been able to express human stories through this style. They're an indie development team that truly pride themselves on emotional experiences, and Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is no exception.

fingerspit is back at it again with an immersive soundtrack so beautiful, it'll lull you into a state of peace. This time, she's created cosmic soundscapes, perfect for Fortuna's unfortunate isolation. Each witch you speak with has a dedicated theme of music that not only tells its own story without the game's help, but describes their relationship with Fortuna, and details their own history. I've always felt fingerspit's compositions to be next level, and it's always a pleasure to hear her electronic journeys.

But as soothing and emotional as The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is… is it any good?

Personally, I adore being engaged in an emotional story told by a character so deeply lost in their isolation, anger, and depression caused by circumstances out of their control. But this one's a tough sell to gamers who just want to sit down and switch off for a bit.

Creating tarot cards for your custom deck is fun, and I believe the demo does let you do this near-indefinitely, if you want. There's something about seeing your creations impact the outcome of these characters that brings forth a wicked sense of accomplishment. But if you're used to getting straight into action, this game may not be for you. It's a visual novel first and foremost. There's no voice acting, and it's a lot of reading. Each character is unique and engaging in their own ways, but The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is for a specific audience.

I don't want to gatekeep, but I also don't want to get someone's hopes up thinking they're coming into a game to get a grand experience, only to be bored by the first two hours. If you're a narrative gamer, and you love your stories, this is an inclusive journey through many emotional depths, and it weaves through political topics like a fish through water.

Before buying the Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, you can get the demo on Steam for free, which will basically give you the first two hours of the game. You could also try Deconstructeam's other titles. There's a lot they've made that you can download and play for free on their itch.io page. Give Zen and the Art of Transhumanism a go, along with Supercontinent Lmited as both are effectively demos of The Red Strings Club, which will introduce you to the style of narrative you can expect.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood released August 17, 2023. It's available as a digital purchase on Nintendo Switch and PC, via itch.io and Steam.