Winds of the North: The Winter Tale of Ari’s Bear Cub
Work to survive through the changing seasons during the Viking Age amidst memorable stories in Winds of the North.
Onward with my adventure in Winds of the North! This solo RPG moves through the seasons and years with quick choices that often have lasting consequences. Food must be gathered to feed everyone, while land can be built up and tended, or grand explorations can be undertaken. So many possibilities! My character still had the rest of the year to try to survive…
Spoiler Alert
This post doesn’t go into the specifics of how to find certain encounters, but does touch upon some of the unique elements. I don’t know if these are technically spoilers, although I know it was fun to come across them. Consider this more of a note that you may find out some of the possible stories. If you’d rather play without knowing anything, feel free to skip on by!
Game Overview
Game Name: Winds of the North
Publication Year: 2026
Designer: Thomas P. King
Artist: Nils Bergslien
Publisher: Self-Published
Solo Mode: Designed for Solo (Included in the Base Game)
Although I consider this to be a solo RPG, it has a unique gamebook flair with choices to make and tables to roll against. Yet it isn’t linear: The decisions can have surprising results, and one never knows what’s out in the wilderness! It’s an engaging story, and one I continue to love playing.
Activity Possibilities
My character, Ari, already made his mark during early summer. The crops were planted, his family was healthy and happy, and there was an interesting visit to the market.
In late summer, Ari shifted over to building and exploring a little more. But just look at the possibilities! Each in-game week allows for a pair of different activities.
And the weather can play a role, although late summer is one of the easier times. Just wait for late winter… Yikes!
I loved having the opportunity to make my own choices and figure out how to prioritize what was needed for survival.
The Foulest Beast
Unexpected encounters were the best! During one month, Ari came across this surprise encounter. A foul herd of beasts caused some mayhem… But there was a roll involved!
Owing to some luck and Ari’s bonus in survival skills, he got the best result and welcomed a horse. Excellent! I enjoyed imagining his time taming this foul beast. Ha ha!
Another encounter led Ari into a cave. With more luck, he turned into an animal whisperer… It was a bear cub!
This delighted me to no end and I couldn’t wait for the next year when a full-grown bear would join in the adventures.
A Terrible, Terrible Roll
Early winter progressed nicely with a few memorable events, but it was mostly about preparing for winter. The smokehouse was excellent, and preserved plenty of meat.
Just as late winter began, Ari encountered a mishap. A strange cough spread throughout the homestead, and someone became sick. So I rolled… And got the bear cub.
Was this a “person” for this encounter? I considered it so, and even with an ancestral spirit, it was the same.
The roll became worse, for the bear cub had little endurance. Even with a re-roll, there it was… Ari lost the little guy.
The First Year
How I lamented the bear cub’s death! I was genuinely attached, and this game might look like it focuses on little snippets or dice rolls. It’s much more than that.
I even took time to hold a funeral for the bear cub during late winter. That ended up costing me a goat, who was ill, but that funeral was necessary. My bear cub was everything.
Ari survived and aside from this terrible loss, the winter wasn’t too harsh. He made it through to begin a new year!
This has been a great experience filled with stories I’ll remember. Especially the bear cub. Farewell, tiny friend.
Beyond the Roll: Stories Out of Thin Air
I chose to skip over the journaling aspect of this solo RPG since I’m so wrapped up in a lengthy story elsewhere! I love that this option exists, though, and my way to play seems to show how flexible the system is. There will probably be a time when I journal about a full adventure, yet I’m always amazed when I get so emotional over what might just be dice rolls.
This whole storyline with the bear cub was relayed to my husband over multiple days. I felt like I had to tell someone about the excitement of finding him, and kicking Sigurd to the wind to make room. Ha ha! And then the utter devastation over his death was akin to a video game betrayal I just encountered. “No!” has never been yelled so loudly in my house. Ha!
Yet that speaks to the quality of a game. I didn’t feel like I was forced to create personalities or long backstories for any of the characters. That just happened naturally. Could I have re-rolled and cheated to save the bear cub? Or might I have literally interpreted the word “person” to save him? Yes, except this felt like a memorable part of Ari’s story.
Good or bad, this adventure isn’t one I’ll likely forget. I have plenty of solo RPGs I go to for cozy storylines where violence and death are practically nonexistent. In this case, those feel appropriate for the setting and add to every decision. Finding out what happens next isn’t always going to be a happy time, yet Ari continues on and I’ll keep this story with me.
A World to Explore
With all of the unexpected entries, the game encourages a lot of exploration. And it’s awesome! Sometimes, I end up finding nothing more than a little cache of wood or meat.
Other times, I stumble across major events that will forever define Ari’s story. Sigurd, his childhood friend, was displaced to make room for the bear cub. Such a loss!
I had high hopes of telling tales around fires about how Sigurd transformed into a bear. Now, it’s more of a sad tale.
But how cool is it that I’m getting attached to dice rolls and handwritten notes?! Such a great experience in this book!
Continue the Conversation
Do you have any memorable experiences in Winds of the North? Are there other solo RPGs that have surprised you? I don’t think I’ll forget this one anytime soon! Despite the sadness that punctuated this first year, I feel even more tied to my character. It will be interesting to see what this next in-game year brings. Lots more to discover ahead on the road to glory!
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