Anode Heart

About

Anode Heart is a single player role playing game. It was developed by sto and was released on November 17, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Anode Heart is a monster taming RPG, inspired by Digimon and Playstation One era JRPGs, where you collect and raise "Tama", meet and recruit friends, as you piece together the story and the lore. >> Get the game on Steam! << --------------------------------------------------- The free demo is about 2 hours long. It represents about ~5-10% of the full game. If you have any feedback or you enco…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

+15

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 371 reviews

story48 positive mentions

grinding51 negative mentions

Anode Heart is a nostalgic love letter to classic monster taming games, particularly Digimon World, with charming pixel art and engaging gameplay.
The combat system is unique and strategic, allowing players to utilize a variety of tactics and manage resources effectively during battles.
The game features a rich world filled with diverse creatures (Tama) to collect, each with their own evolutions and abilities, encouraging exploration and experimentation.

The leveling system can feel grindy, as players must reset their creatures to level 1 to increase their max level, which may frustrate some players.
Some mechanics and systems are not well explained, leading to confusion about how to progress or utilize certain features effectively.
The game can occasionally suffer from pacing issues, with certain areas feeling empty or lacking in engaging content compared to others.

story
181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The story in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its depth and engaging narrative, particularly in comparison to typical monster taming titles. While some found the plot intriguing and well-integrated with gameplay, others criticized it for being convoluted or lacking direction, often requiring players to rely on side quests for a fuller understanding of the lore. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of storytelling and exploration, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more linear or polished narrative experience.
- “The story and dialogues were much more interesting than I expected, the gameplay loop was more fun, and the depth of the content was nothing short of impressive.”
- “You would think the game would go for a generic 'become the best tama tamer there is' and instead it blindsides you with a quest to stop a world-ending event, complete with layers of reality, multiple actors that have their own agenda, and ancient civilizations upon ancient civilizations.”
- “The story is interesting due to how the world itself works and I'm in love with the whole nature-mixed-with-technology design of it.”
- “The story is rather bland and the characters are not engaging at all.”
- “The story is probably the most surprising part.”
- “The actual plot of saving the world from destruction is simple enough that you don't really need to know any of that, but it also feels pretty bare bones on its own.”
gameplay
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
64%
4%
The gameplay of this creature-collecting game is praised for its depth and complexity, featuring a variety of mechanics such as a reboot system, breeding, and turn-based battles that encourage strategic team building and exploration. While many players find the mechanics engaging and reminiscent of classic titles like Pokémon and Digimon, some express frustration over a lack of clarity in explanations and occasional balance issues, leading to a mix of enjoyable and tedious experiences. Overall, the game offers a rewarding gameplay loop that appeals to fans of the genre, though it could benefit from additional polish and depth in certain areas.
- “This hybrid approach keeps combat feeling active while still rewarding thoughtful preparation and understanding of mechanics.”
- “Fascinating world, enjoyable battling mechanics, and unique taming mechanics also make this game incredibly enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay loop is really addictive, and very simplistic.”
- “It could certainly use more depth and polish, because the end gameplay ended up being much like what Pokémon is, spam earthquake (or whatever your most powerful attack is) and win.”
- “The world is a bit too open, with little guidance and some strangely loose fast travel mechanics (you can get to some places far sooner than you should, I feel).”
- “The gameplay is way too easy; I got through most of the main story just by using one or two monsters.”
grinding
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and unnecessarily lengthy, particularly in crafting and leveling systems. While some appreciate the depth and strategy it offers, others feel it artificially extends gameplay and detracts from enjoyment. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy grinding, but it may frustrate players seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “There are a couple of solid options for traveling the overworld quickly, so backtracking and general travel aren't tedious.”
- “Guaranteed fun, not grindy, and gives you satisfaction upon completion.”
- “Crafting is a massive pain of grinding and reloading maps but provides a massive gain in damage; I would have preferred the items to be weaker and the crafting/catalyst refining to be more streamlined.”
- “It artificially lengthens the game with repetitive grinding.”
- “The grinding up from level 1 is my least favorite thing about this game, and it persists to be a slog until you can grind against level 20+ wild tamas.”
graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The game's graphics feature a colorful, stylized aesthetic that blends digital and natural elements, creating a cohesive and expressive world. While some players appreciate the charming pixel art and nostalgic design reminiscent of classic titles like Digimon World, others note performance issues and a lack of cutting-edge fidelity. Overall, the visuals are well-received for their unique art style and character design, contributing positively to the game's identity and atmosphere.
- “Visually, the game embraces a colorful, slightly stylized aesthetic that merges digital motifs with natural landscapes.”
- “While it doesn’t aim for cutting-edge graphical fidelity, the art direction is cohesive and expressive, giving the world a strong sense of identity.”
- “The graphics paint a vivid picture of this unique universe, and the characters, each with their own charming quirks, draw you into a narrative that feels personal.”
- “There's a few hiccups here and there, mainly in regards to the visuals.”
- “This game, with such simple graphics, has lag spikes on Steam Deck.”
- “The first is a lack of aesthetic coherence.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
43%
7%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement gameplay, particularly during exploration and combat. While some describe the soundtrack as top-notch and immersive, others find it repetitive and uninspiring, especially during grinding segments. Overall, the music is generally appreciated for its charm and quality, contributing positively to the game's experience, though some players wish for more variety in combat tracks.
- “The soundtrack complements this presentation with music that shifts comfortably between calm exploration and energetic combat, reinforcing mood without dominating the experience.”
- “Music is absolutely top notch for the setting the game is trying to lay down.”
- “An amazing game with beautiful pixel art, atmospheric music, well-designed puzzles, and interesting + deep battle mechanics.”
- “The music is uninspiring, the story has no hook, early game combat is too one note (I spammed the same couple moves and killed all my opponents before they could act), the tamas themselves seem boring (none of the tamas I caught in the early game evolved into anything cool and as another reviewer said, why do they look like Pokémon when they're supposed to be Digimon inspired?).”
- “The soundtrack feels lacking when it comes to combats and fighting enemies, most of your time will be spent grinding so... really a shame that you gotta hear the same song from the beginning of the game to the end, with a few bosses having unique boss fight songs.”
- “Progression and leveling up tama goes at a snail's pace, there's a gigantic lack of type variety, the soundtrack is boring: all little reasons that make this one of many terrible Pokémon ripoffs.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players appreciating the sense of growth and nostalgia it evokes, while others criticize its attempts at emotional depth as forced or lacking substance. Moments intended to be poignant often feel disconnected or underdeveloped, leading to a perception that the game struggles to balance its vibrant aesthetics with genuine emotional resonance. However, titles like "anode heart" are praised for successfully blending heartfelt storytelling with engaging gameplay, resonating well with both fans and newcomers.
- “This sense of growth gives emotional weight to the time spent training and experimenting with different team compositions.”
- “Made me feel like a kid again with creative little critter design, sharp mechanics that I still have yet to fully figure out, and an interesting world that's diverse and charming.”
- “"Anode Heart" isn't just a game; it's a heartfelt adventure that combines old-school charm with modern gaming brilliance, making it a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The game generally runs well on the Steam Deck, both docked and handheld, but users have reported a few game-breaking glitches that detract from the experience. While most visual glitches have been addressed, some players still encounter occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay. Overall, the stability is decent, but the presence of critical issues remains a concern.
- “The game runs great on Steam Deck, both in docked and handheld modes.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “The performance is consistently stable, allowing me to enjoy long gaming sessions without interruptions.”
- “However, I can't fully say it's great because of the glitches; there aren't many, but the two I saw were game-breaking.”
- “There were a couple of odd visual glitches, but these have been fixed.”
- “'Glitches' and 'bugs' are akin to bad weather.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming world design, beautiful pixel art, and atmospheric music, creating an engaging environment for exploration. However, some players feel that while the atmosphere is appealing, the repetitive nature of the areas can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game plays well, has a charming atmosphere and fun creature design, and has a system that is not overly complicated to the point where you'd need guides or excessive grinding.”
- “I love the atmosphere and the world design; I think those are Anode Heart's best qualities.”
- “An amazing game with beautiful pixel art, atmospheric music, well-designed puzzles, and interesting and deep battle mechanics.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is notably poor, attributed to its Unity engine, leading to numerous flaws and a resistance to effective optimization. Players find themselves spending significant time trying to improve their teams and navigate the game's unbalanced systems, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Most of my 90ish hours of playtime so far have been spent optimizing my team, whether through planning or grinding.”
- “But the game just has too many flaws, the biggest being that the defaults suck. The game begs to be optimized but resists being optimized, and a lot of the systems are really anti-how the game works (because of defense/dodge scaling; extra levels make a huge difference).”
- “Most of my 90ish hours of playtime so far have been me putzing around avoiding progressing the story, or me working to optimize my team (either planning or grinding).”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by clever programmer jokes and a mix of amusing and quirky creature designs, contributing to an overall entertaining experience. Players find the main character charming, even as a silent protagonist, and appreciate the inclusion of several funny moments throughout the game.
- “The story is kind of interesting, with lots of funny programmer jokes, and the monster art designs are intriguing.”
- “I think the main character is pretty charming too, despite being a silent protagonist, and there are a couple of pretty funny moments.”
- “Creature designs are par for the course in a creature collector; there are some cool ones, some less cool ones, some funny ones, and some strange ones. Anode Heart is no different, with a varied lineup of creatures.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its impressive designs and integration into the storyline, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience. Players appreciate the well-refined mechanics that enhance the overall enjoyment of character interactions and growth.
- “This is honestly my all-time favorite game, beginning with the amazing art style and storyline, to the character designs.”
- “A well-refined, comfortable monster-tamer title with some great character designs and mechanics.”