Hatchwell

About

"Hatchwell" is a top-down action RPG set in the town of Hatchwell as it prepares for its annual festival. Help the mayor investigate a production of disruptive events while exploring different areas, solving puzzles, and battling monsters. Customize your character and choose from 12 pet companions, discover hidden paths and treasures, and experience the town's changes throughout the in-game day.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

story12 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Charming pixel art and nostalgic design reminiscent of classic Zelda games, providing a delightful experience.
Engaging gameplay with a variety of dungeons and unique boss battles that offer a satisfying challenge.
The inclusion of a pet companion adds a fun dynamic to the adventure, enhancing exploration and interaction with the game world.

Menu navigation is confusing and poorly designed, making it difficult to access inventory and settings efficiently.
Lack of tutorials and explanations for game mechanics can lead to frustration, especially for new players trying to progress.
The pet AI is often unhelpful and can be a liability during combat, detracting from the overall experience.

story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The story in *Hatchwell* is generally considered simple and somewhat generic, lacking complexity and closure for its characters, with an abrupt ending that leaves some elements unexplained. However, the charming characters and engaging gameplay, including side quests and interactions, add depth to the experience, making it enjoyable despite its narrative shortcomings. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles, though they note that the story could benefit from more polish and clarity.
- “Overall though, it's a charming action adventure with a neat little story (if a little generic) and fun gameplay.”
- “You'll begin your story on a cheerful day full of mischievous pets, and soon find yourself in the thick of troubling developments... will you rise to the challenge?”
- “Definitely a lot of good stuff happening here, with an interesting story that takes place in the span of one long day.”
- “The story isn't anything to write home about in terms of complexity; it is about what you would expect, but it could use some polish as I felt like there were elements not explained.”
- “Characters don't really get any sort of closure and the story ends abruptly.”
- “I also was ready for the game to be done as it seemed like the last boss or two were there only to artificially extend the length of the game rather than for meaningful plot purposes.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in "Hatchwell" is generally described as catchy but suffers from short loops that can become repetitive, especially during lengthy dungeon explorations. While some players appreciate the polished sound effects and overall musical quality, others find the music lacks variety and can feel bland over time. Overall, the soundtrack has potential but could benefit from more diverse and longer compositions.
- “It feels quite polished, and both sound effects, music, and visual effects have been great so far!”
- “Although 'Hatchwell' is clearly an attempt to replicate the top-down feel of the older 'Legend of Zelda' titles, the characters, dialogue, music, and story (graphics, too) all feel like they took something from 'Earthbound' as well.”
- “The music is blah, and the boss battles were frustrating at times with their RNG.”
- “Some of the music has been just the same theme, but with a slight variation; it could have been okay if the loop wasn't so short. The dungeons can take a bit of time to get through, so hearing a 10-second loop isn't really nice.”
- “Music is fairly catchy but has a short loop, so it can be a bit on the repetitive side.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is described as solid and enjoyable, featuring simple yet effective mechanics that make movement and combat feel satisfying. While the story may be somewhat generic, the overall experience is charming and engaging for players.
- “Overall though, it's a charming action adventure with a neat little story (if a little generic) and fun gameplay.”
- “Gameplay is solid, simple yet effective; it feels good to move around and hit enemies.”
- “Steam record time may not be accurate to actual gameplay length, since everyone plays differently (I share the game with my sibling).”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of *Hatchwell* feature a charming and unique 2D art style that pays homage to classic top-down games like *The Legend of Zelda* while also drawing inspiration from *Earthbound*. Players appreciate the absence of 3D motion sickness, making the visuals both appealing and accessible.
- “Very cute and unique 2D art style, totally free of 3D motion sickness. I almost want to puke after 5 minutes in any 3D games.”
- “The characters, dialogue, music, and story (graphics, too) all feel like they took something from Earthbound.”
- “Although Hatchwell is clearly an attempt to replicate the top-down feel of the older Legend of Zelda titles, the characters, dialogue, music, and story (graphics, too) all feel like they took something from Earthbound as well.”
- “Although Hatchwell is clearly an attempt to replicate the top-down feel of the older Legend of Zelda titles, the characters, dialogue, music, and story (graphics, too) all feel like they took something from Earthbound as well.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by minor bugs and glitches that are common in many modern titles. While these issues may be noticeable, they do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- “If you can look past some minor bugs and glitches that might happen while you play, it's a decent game.”
- “Bugs and glitches that come bundled with modern games are frustrating.”
- “The game suffers from several stability issues that detract from the overall experience.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have reported significant stuttering issues when playing in full screen mode, prompting many to switch to windowed mode for a smoother experience.
- “There is stuttering with full screen, so I had to play in windowed mode.”
- “There is stuttering with full screen, so I had to play in windowed mode.”