Connected Hearts

About

Connected Hearts is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Eternal Night Studios and was released on August 12, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

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

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 142 reviews

story46 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Connected Hearts features a beautifully crafted story with deep characters and emotional themes, making it a memorable experience.
The artwork and music enhance the atmosphere, creating an immersive environment that resonates with players.
As a free visual novel, it offers a captivating narrative with multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration of different story paths.

The English translation contains numerous spelling and grammatical errors, which can detract from the overall experience.
Gameplay is primarily clicking through text with minimal interactivity, which may not appeal to those seeking more engaging mechanics.
Some players found the pacing slow and the story predictable, leading to a less compelling experience overall.

story
153 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The story aspect of the game "Connected Hearts" receives mixed reviews, with many praising its emotional depth, character-driven narrative, and engaging storytelling that explores themes of friendship, romance, and personal growth. However, several users noted issues with the English translation, including grammatical errors that detracted from the experience, and some found the plot to be predictable or clichéd. Overall, while the narrative is described as heartwarming and immersive, it may not appeal to everyone due to its simplicity and occasional lack of originality.
- “The game’s beautifully crafted artwork and subtle animations set the perfect stage for a story filled with poignant moments and heartfelt dilemmas.”
- “Connected Hearts is a visual novel with a great story, but the English translation has a lot of spelling and typing errors.”
- “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.”
- “This is your absolutely typical Steam Direct e-book, a high school anime club dropout with extremely bad writing, and a godawful, nauseatingly cringey plot about the author's imaginary (and suspiciously underaged looking) imaginary girlfriend.”
- “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
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Connected Hearts – Visual Novel" is praised for its deeply emotional storytelling, beautifully crafted visuals, and relatable characters, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players. The narrative explores the complexities of human relationships, with poignant moments that evoke strong feelings, often leading to tearful reactions. Overall, it is celebrated as a heartwarming journey that captivates those who appreciate rich, emotional narratives.
- “Connected Hearts – Visual Novel is an evocative journey into the emotional tapestry of human relationships.”
- “The game’s beautifully crafted artwork and subtle animations set the perfect stage for a story filled with poignant moments and heartfelt dilemmas.”
- “The characters' struggles, dreams, and interactions are relatable, creating an emotional resonance that keeps players engaged.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's graphics are characterized by beautifully crafted artwork and expressive visuals that enhance the emotional storytelling, though some users noted that the backgrounds can appear blurry and cheap. While the character designs are well-received, opinions on the overall artwork vary, with some appreciating the unique cartoon style and others finding it less appealing. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the experience, despite some minor shortcomings.
- “The game’s beautifully crafted artwork and subtle animations set the perfect stage for a story filled with poignant moments and heartfelt dilemmas.”
- “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.”
- “The graphics are subpar and lack detail, making the overall experience feel unpolished.”
- “The character designs are bland and uninspired, failing to capture my interest.”
- “The environments are poorly rendered, which detracts from the immersion of the game.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience, especially given the game's free status. While some users noted that the soundtrack and sound effects are not particularly unique, they still contribute positively to the mood and enjoyment of the visual novel. Overall, the music is described as fitting well with the game's aesthetic, making it a notable aspect for 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
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The gameplay in this visual/interactive novel is minimal, primarily consisting of clicking through poorly written dialogue, which may disappoint players looking for more interactive mechanics or traditional gameplay elements. The emphasis is heavily on narrative and character interactions, overshadowing any conventional gameplay experience.
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “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.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels tedious, likening it to a frustratingly slow reading experience where players must click to progress through text. However, some appreciate the incremental unlocking of achievements and additional content, which can make repeated playthroughs feel rewarding despite the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “The VN has achievements that unlock as you replay (which may seem tedious yet it isn't since it unlocks bit by bit the plot), has extras such as viewing each ending, soundtracks, and artwork.”
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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 affect the overall stability of the game.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
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, especially given the game's free accessibility.
- “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, the texts are quite easy to read, and the best part of all... it literally costs you nothing, so you won't have to debate whether or not you should get it.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth throughout the game.”
- “The interactions between characters are often one-dimensional, which detracts from the overall storytelling experience.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's replayability due to its diverse perspectives and multiple routes, which motivate them to explore different aspects of the narrative.
- “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 for more.”
- “The game’s multiple endings and character arcs provide endless opportunities for replayability, keeping the experience fresh.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 with players.
- “I was busy laughing and then crying at the same time!”
- “The humor in this game had me in stitches!”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the clever jokes and witty dialogue!”