Video Game Mini-Review: Snezhinka

Developer: hinyari9

Publisher: PLAYISM

Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PC, PlayStation, and Xbox

Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 follows Snezhinka, a young woman searching for her missing sister in a dystopian future. Her sister, a soldier deployed to the front lines, vanishes during a mission, prompting Snezhinka to enlist in a private military company to uncover the truth behind her disappearance. As she rises through the ranks, she is forced to confront the brutal realities of war. With oppressive military contracts, high fees that eat away at soldier salaries, and moral dilemmas at every turn, Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 is surprisingly bleak despite its anime-inspired cast. The game features multiple branching storylines, with up to nine different endings shaped by player choices.

Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls 2 is a fast-paced, roguelite-inspired 2.5D action game where players defend key objectives from waves of enemy mechs. Combat is straightforward but satisfying—players aim, shoot, and reload while managing cooldown-based gadgets like turrets and rocket launchers. Each wave defeated grants money, but heavy taxes, repair costs, and other fees cut into earnings, forcing players to spend wisely on upgrades, new weapons, or hiring companions. Between battles, Snezhinka can take side jobs for extra income, boost stats through training, or interact with companions who influence both combat effectiveness and story outcomes.

Each ally has a unique combat style and backstory, adding to replayability, though the core gameplay loop remains largely unchanged between runs. Challenge Mode strips away story elements for a pure high-score experience. While the game’s snappy combat and resource management create engaging short bursts of play, individual runs are brief, averaging around an hour. The Normal difficulty is fairly easy, but higher settings provide a stiffer challenge for those seeking greater intensity.

The game’s 2.5D pixel art somehow complements its dystopian setting, creating an oppressive, militarized world. The gritty environments, faceless enemies, and bleak narrative tone reinforce the feeling of hopelessness, contrasting with the anime-inspired character designs. The soundtrack blends fast-paced beats with haunting melodies. The UI is clean and intuitive, making upgrades and combat management easy to navigate, and the gallery mode provides a nice touch for players who appreciate the game’s art.