HARTS ISLAND

About

HARTS ISLAND is a single player action game. It was developed by ben lunato and was released on June 3, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Harts Island is a narrative-driven, dark comedic walking simulator set on a hauntingly beautiful island. Explore temples, distant planets, and uncover the story of an actor's untimely death amongst the more than one million Americans buried there. The game features a live-performance style, original soundtrack, and immersive sound design. Length: approximately one hour.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 27 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

atmosphere1 negative mentions

The game features a unique visual style with a fascinating black-and-white 'sketch' aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
The sound design and soundtrack are well-composed, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the game's themes.
It offers a rich and interesting narrative experience, with some players appreciating the avant-garde storytelling and emotional depth.

The slow walking pace and large map can lead to tedious gameplay, with some players feeling the game drags on unnecessarily.
The voice acting, particularly the main character's frequent swearing and rambling, detracts from the experience and can be off-putting for many players.
Technical issues such as poor collision detection, lack of save functions, and confusing navigation hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.

graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a striking black-and-white sketch aesthetic that creates a surreal and immersive environment, drawing players into its unique visual experience. While many reviewers appreciate the artistic style and intriguing visuals, some express disappointment in the execution, feeling that the aesthetic lacks the impact of previous titles by the same developer. Overall, the visuals are seen as a memorable highlight, despite mixed feelings about their effectiveness in enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “This is a very rich and interesting experience visually; it is definitely worth playing through until some of the more wild graphical shifts near the end.”
- “I was initially pretty interested in what Harts Island would offer, as its cool visuals immediately had me engrossed, and its surreal environments with floating skulls and giant bottled ships in the background offer something truly interesting to behold.”
- “However, this time around I didn't find the game visually striking as some of the previous titles. There were a few neat ideas with the animation, some of which could be missed if you looked the wrong way, but the black-and-white aesthetic did not work for me this time. I thought the last game you released was a lot more compelling in that regard.”
- “Very well composed soundtrack and sounds meet with the bare black-and-white traced graphics and that curiosity that keeps drawing you onwards.”
- “The ambiance of the game is quite relaxing to wander around to and from each of the locations, taking in the sights in the stark black-and-white 'sketch' aesthetic.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The story aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the stunning delivery and voice acting, many find the narrative confusing and lacking substance. The open-world format detracts from the linear storytelling typically expected, leading to a sense of aimlessness. Although there are elements of a story that can be pieced together through audio tracks, the overall experience leaves players wanting a clearer narrative focus.
- “I couldn't care less for the unfortunate foul-mouthed actor the story hinges upon, but the way that story is delivered is simply stunning.”
- “Don't go looking for an explanation, but there is a story; you just need to pay attention to piece it somewhat together.”
- “You're on an island obviously, but the audio tracks and the assets used/created set some type of story.”
- “Where Lunato's games are usually linear and heavily story-driven, this open world experience is confusing and feels more like a shader test with walking mechanics than an actual game (even the exe process is displayed as 'first person bp game template' and 'hi_test' when open).”
- “The style is interesting, the voice acting is good, and the song at the end is nice, but there's ultimately no story and no point to this game.”
- “I mean... at first I didn't even understand that I was supposed to listen to them, that it was an actual story and not just background noise.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The music in the game is highly praised for its composition and ability to create immersive soundscapes, enhancing the overall experience despite the minimalist graphics. While some players found the monologues less appealing, the voice acting and the final song received positive remarks for their beauty, contributing to the game's atmospheric quality. However, the lack of a cohesive story left some players feeling that the music's impact was diminished.
- “Very well composed soundtrack and sounds meet with the bare black and white traced graphics and that curiosity that keeps drawing you onwards.”
- “The soundscapes and music are amazing and disorienting.”
- “Not sure if that last song was made for the game, but it was very beautiful.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The music doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the background music is forgettable and uninspired.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The gameplay is criticized for being confusing and lacking depth, resembling more of a walking simulator than a traditional game, with players primarily engaging in monologues and occasional teleports for cutscenes rather than meaningful interactions. The open-world design feels underdeveloped, leading to a disjointed experience.
- “The gameplay offers a unique blend of exploration and storytelling, allowing players to immerse themselves in the environment while engaging with the narrative.”
- “The mechanics are intuitive, making it easy for players to navigate and interact with the world around them.”
- “The open-world design encourages players to discover hidden elements and experience the story at their own pace.”
- “Where Lunato's games are usually linear and heavily story-driven, this open world experience is confusing and feels more like a shader test with walking mechanics than an actual game (even the executable process is displayed as 'first person bp game template' and 'hi_test' when opened).”
- “As far as the gameplay goes, you just walk up to different structures and listen to the monologue with occasional teleports for playable cutscenes.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by clever writing that balances wit and depth, often featuring sharp roasts that elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the blend of sadness and hilarity, with memorable moments like the 'shopping list' adding to the comedic experience. Overall, the humor is not overtly slapstick but resonates well with the narrative's tone.
- “The actual writing is really good; it's not meant to be hilarious, but it always is. There is just something really funny about the insane roasting going on in Ben's games (loved that part with the 'shopping list' lol).”
- “+ Fun narrative - sad, hilarious, and deep.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized as dark and eerie, but it is significantly undermined by the comedic and unprofessional voice acting of David Stay, which detracts from the intended mood.
- “The dark and somewhat eerie atmosphere is once again ruined by the comedic and honestly quite unprofessional voice acting of David Stay, as it was in LA Monsters.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that the indie games, despite their brevity and limited content, consistently evoke strong emotional responses, highlighting their effectiveness as aesthetic experiences.
- “I played a couple of his indie games that generally work as short aesthetic experiences, and even though they may lack in content, they always have an emotional impact on me.”