ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree

About

"ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree" is an action-adventure game set in a Norse-inspired world. As Estra, a young heroine, you must explore vibrant landscapes, solve puzzles, and defeat mythical creatures to uncover the truth about your past and save your village. With its hand-drawn art style, atmospheric soundtrack, and challenging gameplay, "ATONE" offers an immersive and engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 62 reviews

story28 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Atone features a captivating story with strong character development and an engaging narrative that explores themes of grief and Norse mythology.
The art style and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's world.
The rhythm-based combat is a unique and enjoyable mechanic, providing a fun twist on traditional gameplay while allowing for different difficulty settings.

The pacing can feel uneven, with too much dialogue and cutscenes that may detract from the gameplay experience, leading to moments of frustration.
Many puzzles are either too easy or poorly explained, which can lead to confusion and a lack of challenge for players seeking more depth.
The rhythm battles may be too simplistic for some players, lacking the challenge expected in a rhythm game, even on higher difficulty settings.

story
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
9%
The game's story is highly praised for its engaging narrative, solid writing, and well-developed characters, particularly in its unique take on Norse mythology. Players appreciate the interactive storytelling elements, where choices significantly impact the plot, although some express frustration with pacing and the integration of puzzles into the narrative. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of story-driven games.
- “A very interesting look at Norse mythology, solid writing, likable characters, and an engaging story.”
- “The storyline was interesting as all of the different plot threads came together in unexpected ways.”
- “I liked the spin on traditional Norse mythology and how the characters played into the story. I feel like the game did a great job at creating and playing out the themes of grief, self-confidence, and religious contexts like atheism.”
- “What I played of them was really fun, and I wish I could have played more without all of the story.”
- “Can't split your save files at plot branches, which is very annoying in a multi-ending game with many secrets.”
- “The story starts off pretty rough and sad.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
39%
7%
The music in the game, composed by Andrew Prahlow, has received widespread acclaim for its brilliance and depth, enhancing both the gameplay and overall experience. Players particularly enjoy the tranquil background music during exploration and the heart-pounding tracks that accompany battles, which are well-integrated into the rhythm-based combat mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is described as amazing, contributing significantly to the game's artistic and immersive qualities.
- “Brilliant music, great game as well, love the art style.”
- “The rhythmic combat is fun and provided with a great soundtrack.”
- “The music and art is fantastic here, it's a beautiful world and story to travel through.”
- “The music and combat f*cking slapped, I swear to God.”
- “The battles remind me of Elite Beat Agents where your performance in the song dictates how well the fight goes.”
- “The boss battle music that plays in the background is enjoyable, and I found myself bopping my head to the beats and enjoying them more than I thought.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
56%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and detailed art style, which enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the impressive design of the environments, creating a sense of scale despite the game not being open world. While some argue that graphics are not the main focus, the visuals are often regarded as the strongest aspect of the game.
- “The art style and look of the game is flawlessly done, and the environments are designed to feel so massive despite the game not being open world.”
- “First, the art style is beautiful and simple yet detailed.”
- “I stand by the opinion that the visuals are the strongest element of the experience.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
21%
21%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding the overworld segments overly reliant on dialogue and cutscenes, detracting from the overall experience. While the battle mechanics and arena replay feature are praised for their novelty and fun, many feel that the gameplay lacks depth compared to the story. Additionally, the game excels as a music/rhythm experience, offering soothing and intricate soundtracks that enhance the gameplay.
- “I love that you have the arena to replay the battles; I found that it was a good place to practice and get better. I have never played a game like this before (battle mechanics), so it was really fun to play something new.”
- “Probably one of the best examples of the hero's journey with a mix of mechanics that provide a fresh experience.”
- “Gameplay-wise, this is the best music/rhythm game I've ever played; the music is nice, soothing, and full of depth.”
- “By my personal taste, the overworld portions had too little gameplay, too much dialogue, and too many cutscenes.”
- “I may have been able to grow into liking it if the story had a more steady progression in terms of story intrigue, but the prominence of the story in the gameplay felt like it would make puzzles confusing and be tedious if I were to skip all dialogue and cutscenes.”
- “The gameplay felt overly reliant on dialogue and cutscenes, which detracted from the overall experience.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Users consistently highlight the game's "infinitely replayable" nature, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “The game offers endless opportunities for replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the heavy reliance on story elements that can complicate gameplay and puzzles. The lack of a steady narrative progression makes it difficult to engage with the grinding without feeling overwhelmed or confused.
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
- “The lack of variety in grinding activities really dampened my enthusiasm for the game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is closely tied to the player's performance in musical battles, reminiscent of "Elite Beat Agents," where success in the rhythm elements directly influences the outcome of fights. This integration of gameplay mechanics ensures a seamless and engaging experience.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the battles in the game evoke strong feelings of triumph, whether driven by themes of revenge or self-defense, creating an emotionally charged experience that can border on a sense of power.
- “The battles were masterfully done, making me feel like I had triumphed, whether it was in the name of revenge or self-defense.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, particularly for its immersive qualities and strong narrative, making it a perfect choice for players who appreciate atmospheric storytelling.
- “Honestly, if you're someone who enjoys atmospheric games with a strong storyline, this is the one for you!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features strong character design enriched by Norse mythology, showcased through animated cut scenes, and includes charming companions like a little froggy best friend, enhancing the overall character development experience.
- “Strong character design, tons of Norse mythology lore in animated cut scenes, and a little froggy best friend!”