Connected Hearts

About

Gary is caught in a strange dream and now he must overcome the adversities on his path or perish in the attempt. In this adventure you will meet 3 children in dream-like scenarios, next to a mysterious girl who talks about a promise.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 136 reviews

story44 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted and emotional story that resonates with players, exploring themes of connection and personal growth.
The character designs and art style are appealing, providing a unique visual experience despite some blurry backgrounds.
It's a free visual novel that offers multiple endings and achievements, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

The English translation is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some players found the gameplay to be overly simplistic, with choices that often feel inconsequential or poorly defined.
The game can feel repetitive, requiring multiple playthroughs to unlock all endings, which may frustrate some players.

story
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
69%
3%
The story of "Connected Hearts" is generally well-received, praised for its emotional depth, engaging character interactions, and intricate narrative that explores themes of friendship, romance, and personal growth. However, many players noted issues with the English translation, including grammatical errors that detracted from the experience. While some found the story to be heartwarming and relatable, others felt it was somewhat predictable and clichéd, with a mix of positive and negative feedback regarding its overall execution and length.
- “The storytelling in Connected Hearts is its standout feature, delving into themes of friendship, romance, and personal growth.”
- “With its engaging storytelling, relatable characters, and immersive visual design, the game creates a world where emotions take center stage and connections are formed that resonate with players.”
- “The story is beautiful yet melodramatic.”
- “The story is admittedly simple and somewhat predictable with its symbolism and metaphors at points, but I got surprisingly invested in the characters.”
- “The translation issues don't help - the English version has some glaring errors throughout that make it difficult to follow at times and almost always infuriating - but the biggest problem is the story being so cliché, so dull, so devoid of any character or individuality.”
- “Story was not compelling, and the method of delivery irritated me.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Connected Hearts - Visual Novel" is praised for its deeply emotional narrative that intricately explores relationships and personal struggles, resonating with players through relatable characters and heartfelt storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, with some even describing it as tear-inducing, particularly in its impactful conclusion. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate immersive and emotionally rich storytelling.
- “Connected Hearts - visual novel offers a heartfelt journey into the lives of its characters, interweaving emotions, relationships, and choices in a captivating narrative experience.”
- “The characters' struggles, dreams, and interactions are relatable, creating an emotional resonance that keeps players engaged.”
- “Mary's story especially hit really close to home on a personal level; I genuinely felt for her, and the overarching story really is quite heartwarming.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
21%
21%
The graphics in the visual novel are characterized by a charming and distinct art style, particularly in character design, which many players appreciate. However, the backgrounds are often criticized for being blurry and lacking detail, detracting from the overall visual experience. Despite these shortcomings, the expressive visuals and unique artistic choices contribute positively to the narrative and emotional engagement of the game.
- “Its expressive visuals, engaging storytelling, and relatable characters come together to create a narrative journey that invites players to experience the highs and lows of emotional bonds.”
- “The artwork in this was quite different from what I’ve seen in visual novels before, and I really loved seeing the more cartoon style of this artist; it was a nice change from the typical anime style of visual novels, and the artist has a very distinct style.”
- “Short but sweet visual novel with pretty graphics, several different endings depending on your choices, and a piano-based music score that fits the mood perfectly.”
- “The graphics are quite underwhelming, lacking detail and depth, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The character designs feel generic and uninspired, making it hard to connect with the story.”
- “The environments are bland and repetitive, failing to create an immersive atmosphere.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
38%
23%
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience, especially given its free nature. While some users noted that the soundtrack and sound effects are not particularly unique, they still found them enjoyable and fitting for the visual novel's mood. Overall, the music complements the game's aesthetic and is appreciated for its ability to engage players.
- “The music is beautiful and the sound effects were on point.”
- “The soundtrack was something I found very well chosen, and I really enjoyed listening to; usually I end up unplugging from my laptop and listening to my music, but this was a visual novel that really caught my auditory attention.”
- “Short but sweet visual novel with pretty graphics, several different endings depending on your choices, and a piano-based music score that fits the mood perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack and sound effects were pulled from the internet and they are nothing special; however, considering that it is free, I feel it is wise to put this aside.”
- “The music; nothing new.”
- “The music and art are decent enough, especially for a free visual novel.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
63%
25%
The gameplay is heavily centered around narrative and character interactions, which may not satisfy players looking for more traditional gameplay mechanics or interactive elements. This emphasis on storytelling often overshadows conventional gameplay features.
- “It's just gameplay.”
- “The game's reliance on narrative might not appeal to those seeking more gameplay elements or interactive mechanics.”
- “The focus on character interactions and storytelling takes precedence over traditional gameplay mechanics.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its compelling storytelling and vivid descriptions, complemented by moody and atmospheric music. Reviewers appreciate the dreamlike quality that enhances the overall experience, making it particularly appealing to visual novel fans.
- “The writing itself is simple, but it's really good at creating atmosphere and descriptions, and just generally telling a compelling story.”
- “The music is moody and atmospheric, which I really like in general.”
- “I really liked the story, dreamlike atmosphere, and characters.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that grinding in the game can be quite time-consuming, often requiring significant dedication. However, the process is made more engaging through the gradual unlocking of plot elements, achievements, and additional content like soundtracks and artwork, which can mitigate the tedium.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game requires an excessive amount of grinding, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Character development is highlighted through expressive designs that effectively convey the emotions and personalities of the cast, enhancing the immersive narrative. The originality of the characters and engaging storyline further contribute to a compelling experience, making it accessible to all players without any cost.
- “The character designs are expressive, reflecting the emotions and personalities of the cast, while the backgrounds create an immersive setting that complements the narrative.”
- “The character designs are original, the storyline keeps me interested, and the texts are quite easy to read.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
- “I found the character arcs predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth and interactions.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The humor in the game elicits a strong emotional response, often balancing between laughter and tears, suggesting a blend of comedic and poignant moments that resonate deeply with players.
- “I was busy laughing and then crying!”
- “The humor in this game had me in stitches!”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the clever jokes and puns!”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game experiences occasional bugs, which can affect overall stability.
- “The game is a bit buggy at times.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that disrupted my gameplay.”
- “There are numerous glitches that make it hard to enjoy the experience.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the replayability of the game due to its multiple perspectives and routes, which invite exploration of different narrative facets.
- “The varying perspectives and routes offer replayability, encouraging players to explore different facets of the narrative.”
- “Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse choices available, making me want to dive back in and experience it all over again.”
- “The game’s multiple endings and character arcs provide a compelling reason to replay, as each decision leads to a different outcome.”