Skip to main content

Back to Hearth

Back to Hearth Game Cover
100%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
gameplay
100% User Score Based on 76 reviews

Platforms

PCMac OSWindows
Buy Nowfrom €3.49
Buy NowGet on Steam €3.49Buy NowGet on itch.io Store
Back to Hearth Game Cover

About

Back to Hearth is a single player action game. It was developed by Podoba Interactive and was released on September 25, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

BACK TO HEARTH is a cozy narrative-focused exploration game in which you repair the houses of an abandoned forest settlement to bring the former inhabitants back home after the Calamity has occurred. The Calamity devastated all the houses of this small forest village, depriving it of laughter, conversation, and life. The main character now needs to confront the consequences of the tragedy, repa…

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Back to Hearth screenshot
Back to Hearth screenshot
Back to Hearth screenshot
Back to Hearth screenshot
Back to Hearth screenshot
Back to Hearth screenshot
Back to Hearth screenshot
Back to Hearth screenshot
Skip User Reviews

100%
Audience ScoreBased on 76 reviews
story5 positive mentions
  • The game offers a heartfelt and emotional story about loss, rebuilding, and the importance of community, set against a beautifully crafted Ukrainian backdrop.
  • Visually stunning with a cozy atmosphere, the game effectively uses cultural references and personal stories to create a meaningful experience.
  • Despite its short length, the game provides a satisfying and cathartic gameplay experience, allowing players to engage with the narrative through simple yet impactful tasks.
  • The gameplay can feel repetitive at times, and some players may find the mechanics lacking depth.
  • The dialogue, while meaningful, is not always well-written, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
  • The game is quite short, leaving some players wanting more in terms of exploration and story development.
  • story
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is characterized by its melancholic themes of loss, grief, and hope, set against a backdrop of Ukrainian village culture. Players appreciate the emotional depth and personal touches, with a narrative that unfolds through environmental storytelling and character insights. While some found the story short, it resonated deeply, leaving a lasting impact on the experience of rebuilding and connection.

    • “A melancholic story about loss, the hardships of life, and the human need for connection.”
    • “This is a story of loss, rebuilding, and hope, done in such a way that I felt reluctant to leave this world.”
    • “Very melancholic, full of references to actual Ukrainian village culture and small bits of lore/story hidden in minor interactions.”
    • “Story-wise, I wasn't expecting much.”
    • “I wanted to know more about this world and be able to go back to each area after the story to see how the villagers had settled back in rather than the 'Fallout-style' slideshow of your actions.”
    • “In simpler terms, think tidying up sim with a backstory.”
  • emotional
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, exploring themes of loss, grief, and the preservation of memories through tangible objects. Players describe it as a heartfelt and touching experience, with a charming visual style that enhances its emotional depth. The short but impactful journey resonates with players, leaving a lasting impression and evoking strong feelings of nostalgia and connection to ancestry.

    • “A heartfelt story of loss and grief, set against a folksy Ukrainian backdrop, about the ways in which we come to terms with these feelings: through preservation of our history and the drive to rebuild what was taken from us.”
    • “A jar of strawberry jam, clay animals, an embroidered rug; these aren't just objects, but emotional manifestations that protect our memories from seemingly unstoppable forces.”
    • “It’s an emotional trip that lingers long after you’ve played.”
  • atmosphere
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful visuals and sound design, effectively conveying a sense of melancholy and cultural depth reflective of its Ukrainian setting. Players appreciate the attention to detail in environmental sounds and the emotional weight of the narrative, which enhances the overall immersive experience. Despite some dialogue criticisms, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's storytelling and emotional impact.

    • “A wonderful window into Ukrainian culture with pleasant visuals and nice atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is gorgeous, the sound and visuals are spot on, and you can feel the love the devs put into it.”
    • “The melancholy atmosphere matches the subject matter (people being ripped from their homes by war), and every action you take brings a little more life and light back into these abandoned homes.”
    • “Nothing over the top but they set the atmosphere really well: fire cracking, floorboards creaking, chickens clucking, and the main character munching on an apple - simple, small things that really helped solidify the experience for me.”
    • “Nothing feels out of place, and every mechanic contributes to the atmosphere.”
  • gameplay
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized as simple and somewhat repetitive, primarily involving cleaning mechanics and exploration in a walking simulator format. While it may not offer robust challenges or extensive depth, it effectively contributes to the game's atmosphere and is well-suited for short play sessions. Players appreciate the aesthetics and the ease of controls, though some feel it could have benefited from a more engaging or varied gameplay experience.

    • “The gameplay is wonderfully simple, yet it fits perfectly with the game's overall design.”
    • “Nothing feels out of place, and every mechanic contributes to the atmosphere.”
    • “Gameplay involves fixing up and tidying homes; you trace patterns with your mouse to perform more complex tasks and learn about the people whose homes you are repairing.”
    • “It’s short, and the gameplay gets a bit repetitive until the final chapter.”
    • “It's a walking simulator, so not much in terms of gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay itself is easy; I had some trouble finding the last three sneaky collectibles, and it's a tad hard to wander too far as the game just teleports you back, wasting time every time you get off track while still placing some of those collectible items too far out of your way to find with ease.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cozy aesthetic and beautiful visuals, effectively capturing Ukrainian culture. The low-fi art style complements the overall atmosphere, which is described as gorgeous and immersive, enhancing the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the smooth performance and the heartfelt effort put into the visuals by the developers.

    • “But it’s a really pretty game with a very cozy aesthetic.”
    • “A wonderful window into Ukrainian culture with pleasant visuals and a nice atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is gorgeous, the sound and visuals are spot on, and you can feel the love the devs put into it.”
    • “The graphics are quite dated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
    • “The character models look stiff and lifeless, which detracts from the overall immersion.”
    • “The environments feel bland and uninspired, making exploration less enjoyable.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is praised for its artistic styling, offering a peaceful and calming atmosphere that enhances the experience of exploring the village. Players appreciate the inclusion of all songs in the credits, further highlighting the game's strong musical composition. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive environment.

    • “The music is very peaceful and calming; nothing is trying to hurt you, and you just want to go through the village to help fix people's homes.”
    • “Artistic styling and music were wonderful.”
    • “Loved the music and the environment.”
    • “The music is very peaceful and calming, nothing is trying to hurt you, and you just want to go through the village to help fix people's homes.”
    • “But also adding every song it played in the credits is much appreciated.”
Skip Game Offers

Buy Back to Hearth

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Back to Hearth

Games Like Back to Hearth

Undusted: Letters from the Past Image
97%609reviews

Undusted: Letters from the Past

2025Casual Simulation
Nintendo SwitchPCSteam Deck+2
Mutazione Image
91%811reviews

Mutazione

2019Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+15
The Last Campfire Image
93%5.6kreviews

The Last Campfire

2020Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchEpic GamesPlaystation 5+13
When The Past Was Around Image
88%1.4kreviews

When The Past Was Around

2020Casual Action Adventure
Nintendo SwitchAndroidPlaystation 4+15
Marie's Room Image
93%4.4kreviews

Marie's Room

2018Casual Simulation
PCWindows
More games like Back to Hearth
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Back to Hearth is a action game.

Back to Hearth is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

Back to Hearth was released on September 25, 2025.

Back to Hearth was developed by Podoba Interactive.

Back to Hearth has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Back to Hearth is a single player game.

Similar games include Undusted: Letters from the Past, Mutazione, The Last Campfire, When The Past Was Around, Marie's Room and others.