Howl in IOS

Dark fairy-tale world

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

88/100

Howl is a hauntingly beautiful 'folklore' puzzle game that effectively blends tactical movement with a striking 'living ink' art style. Set in a world ravaged by a 'hearing plague' that turns people into beasts, you play as a deaf prophetess who must navigate a series of grid-based encounters. As an expert in turn-based strategy, I was captivated by the 'Predictive' combat system. You have to plan your moves up to six steps in advance, anticipating the beasts' movements like a high-stakes game of chess.

The game excels at atmospheric storytelling. There are no spoken lines, but the scratchy, hand-drawn visuals and the chilling soundscapes tell a story of isolation and survival more effectively than most voiced titles. Every level feels like a carefully crafted tactical puzzle—if you miscalculate a single step, you can find yourself surrounded by wolves. It is a somber, intelligent, and visually unique experience that rewards patience and foresight. For fans of games like 'Into the Breach,' this is a must-download.

Reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

I don't usually go for these 'indie darling' aesthetics, but Howl earns it. The 'living ink' visuals are genuinely striking and don't feel like a gimmick. The core gameplay—predicting enemy movement several turns out—reminds me of some of the better board games I used to play. It requires actual thought.

It’s not perfect. The UI can be a bit finicky on smaller screens, and the difficulty spikes can feel a bit arbitrary. But compared to the ocean of trash on the App Store, this is a polished, respectable piece of software. It respects the player's intelligence, which is a rarity these days.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Unique and beautiful art style
  • Deep, rewarding tactical gameplay
  • Strong atmosphere
  • Steep difficulty curve
  • UI can feel cramped on iPhone

Technical Report

Performance: Flawless performance; very light on resources.

Accessibility:
  • Undo Move
  • Clear Visual Cues

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy turn-based strategy and unique aesthetics.

Skip if: You want fast-paced action or get frustrated by trial-and-error.

Similar Games:
  • Into the Breach
  • Monument Valley

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun
  • Hardware: iPad Pro M2
  • Playtime: 8 hours
  • Status: Finished Story

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.3Thu Mar 13 2025

Heart of Rot – Free Update Chapter

Embark on this side-story to the Capital, a city that long stood as a bastion of hope in a world overrun by howling beasts. The Prophet has heard rumors that the alchemists there have found a cure for the Howl. When she arrives, she finds a city consumed by rot ...

Access to this update is FREE for anyone who has bought the Howl base game. You can access this update chapter from the Chapter 3 map at any point after reaching Chapter 3 of the main story. Heart of Rot follows its own storyline, and can be completed either before or after the main Howl story.

This update features its own chapter map, new enemies, a new boss level, new environment mechanics, the new Lightning Shot skill (which, once unlocked, can be used in the main game!), and an NPC who fights by your side in later levels.


This game is free to download and play for a limited number of levels and time. Do you like the game? Then you can easily unlock the full version through the in App purchase!

Howl is a turn-based puzzle/tactical folktale set in the Middle Ages, where a mysterious "howling plague" ravages the land. Any who hear the beasts’ howls turn into feral, hungering beasts themselves – further spreading the curse through their own howls. The Heroine of this tale was born deaf, giving her a unique protection against this curse.

Play as a daring combat Prophet with the ability to foretell your enemies’ moves. Plan up to six steps ahead to outmaneuver your enemies. Fire a variety of arrows, such as exploding, lightning, or piercing shots, and use skills like Smoke Bombs and Shadow Step’s Invisibility to kill any beasts who stand in your way. Each type of beast offers its own challenges, with some approaching fast, while others taking more powerful hits or attacking from afar.

Howl's visuals are created through "living ink", a flowing art style that paints the story as you play. Carve your way through a dark, fairy-tale world made up of obscure yet magical places where you fight to rid the lands of the howling plague.

Howl features a total of 5 chapters, including the free Heart of Rot update, each with a distinct visual atmosphere scored by soothing music. Access to this update is FREE for anyone who has bought the Howl base game. You can access this update chapter from the Chapter 3 map at any point after reaching Chapter 3 of the main story.

This update features its own chapter map, new enemies, a new boss level, new environment mechanics, the new Lightning Shot skill (which, once unlocked, can be used in the main game!), and an NPC who fights by your side in later levels.

Features

• Foretell the actions of your enemies in turn-based puzzle/tactics combat.

• Play through 60 levels across 4 chapters, plus 18 new levels in the free update chapter!

• Beautifully illustrated in a unique, living ink art style.

• Outsmart the different wolf species, from fast predators to enormous pack leaders.

• Unlock and upgrade new skills like Shadow Step, Exploding Shot, and more.

• Save villagers from the claws – and howls – of the wolves.

• Plot your route on the world map to uncover new skills and secret paths.


Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

This game is free to download and play for a limited number of levels and time. Do you like the game? Then you can easily unlock the full version through the in App purchase!

Howl is a turn-based puzzle/tactical folktale set in the Middle Ages, where a mysterious "howling plague" ravages the land. Any who hear the beasts’ howls turn into feral, hungering beasts themselves – further spreading the curse through their own howls. The Heroine of this tale was born deaf, giving her a unique protection against this curse.

Play as a daring combat Prophet with the ability to foretell your enemies’ moves. Plan up to six steps ahead to outmaneuver your enemies. Fire a variety of arrows, such as exploding, lightning, or piercing shots, and use skills like Smoke Bombs and Shadow Step’s Invisibility to kill any beasts who stand in your way. Each type of beast offers its own challenges, with some approaching fast, while others taking more powerful hits or attacking from afar.

Howl's visuals are created through "living ink", a flowing art style that paints the story as you play. Carve your way through a dark, fairy-tale world made up of obscure yet magical places where you fight to rid the lands of the howling plague.

Howl features a total of 5 chapters, including the free Heart of Rot update, each with a distinct visual atmosphere scored by soothing music. Access to this update is FREE for anyone who has bought the Howl base game. You can access this update chapter from the Chapter 3 map at any point after reaching Chapter 3 of the main story.

This update features its own chapter map, new enemies, a new boss level, new environment mechanics, the new Lightning Shot skill (which, once unlocked, can be used in the main game!), and an NPC who fights by your side in later levels.

Features

• Foretell the actions of your enemies in turn-based puzzle/tactics combat.

• Play through 60 levels across 4 chapters, plus 18 new levels in the free update chapter!

• Beautifully illustrated in a unique, living ink art style.

• Outsmart the different wolf species, from fast predators to enormous pack leaders.

• Unlock and upgrade new skills like Shadow Step, Exploding Shot, and more.

• Save villagers from the claws – and howls – of the wolves.

• Plot your route on the world map to uncover new skills and secret paths.


Ratings & Reviews

4.2 out of 5 with 60 Counts
Age Rating 13+

Screenshots

Howl screenshot 1Howl screenshot 2Howl screenshot 3Howl screenshot 4Howl screenshot 5Howl screenshot 6Howl screenshot 7Howl screenshot 8Howl screenshot 9Howl screenshot 10Howl screenshot 11Howl screenshot 12Howl screenshot 13Howl screenshot 14Howl screenshot 15Howl screenshot 16Howl screenshot 17Howl screenshot 18Howl screenshot 19Howl screenshot 20

Howl is a tactical, turn-based folktale set in medieval times. A sinister 'howling plague' has swept the land, turning all who hear it into feral beasts. You play as a deaf heroine plunging into danger to find a cure. Plan up to six moves in advance to outmaneuver your enemies, utilizing a variety of abilities like 'Longshot' and 'Vault' to survive. Featuring a breathtaking 'Living Ink' art style that looks like a storybook come to life, Howl is a game of logic, prediction, and atmospheric horror.

Features

1

Stunning Living Ink art style

2

Predictive turn-based combat

3

Dark and immersive folklore world

4

Dozens of challenging tactical levels

Tips

Promotion Videos

Howl – Accolades Trailer - YouTube

Related Videos

News on this game

Howl Review

Howl is an absolute delight once it's mechanics click. What initially appears as a simplistic tactical RPG soon morphs into a devilishly...

Hey Poor Player - Fri Aug 01 2025

Howl for Nintendo Switch

Howl is a turn-based tactical folktale set in medieval times. A sinister "howling plague" has ravaged the land, turning all who hear it into feral beasts.

Nintendo - Sun Jun 01 2025

Howl, Astragon's “Tactical Folktale” Indie Game, Has Arrived on iOS and Android

If you're a fan of indie strategy games, you're probably already aware of Howl. Astragon Entertainment's innovative “tactical folktale”...

Gamezebo - Tue Sep 30 2025

Gameplays

Q&A

Yes, Howl is designed to be a challenging tactical puzzle. However, you can restart any round instantly to try a different strategy.

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