Heart of the Woods

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"Heart of the Woods" is a fantasy yuri visual novel about Maddie, who goes on a paranormal investigation with her friend Tara. In the mysterious village of Eysenfeld, they encounter Morgan who offers them proof of the supernatural, leading them to discover the ghost of a young woman named Abigail, victim of a centuries-old injustice. The game explores themes of love, life, and death.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 607 reviews

story247 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Heart of the Woods features a captivating and emotional story that blends romance, fantasy, and mystery, keeping players engaged throughout.
The artwork and music are stunning, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience of the game.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their relationships feeling genuine and heartfelt.

The pacing can be slow at times, particularly in the beginning, which may deter some players from fully engaging with the story.
There are very few choices that impact the story, making it feel more like a kinetic novel rather than a traditional visual novel.
Some players may find the bad endings unsatisfying or abrupt, lacking the depth of the good ending.

story
644 mentions
38 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of "Heart of the Woods" is widely praised for its emotional depth, engaging character development, and unique blend of romance and supernatural elements. Many reviewers highlight the compelling narrative that features two main couples, with well-executed plot twists that keep players invested, despite some criticism regarding pacing and the limited impact of player choices. Overall, the game is celebrated for its beautiful storytelling, art, and music, making it a standout visual novel in the genre.
- “The story is relatable with themes about what is real and the struggle to step away from things that are just a blink away from the other side of the mirror.”
- “The plot is deep and involving, as well as being very original, with fantastic characterization and development that makes you truly care for the major characters.”
- “The story is an emotional roller coaster in the best way possible, taking you through a magical experience that keeps you invested throughout.”
- “Game support's only answer is to restart, which I won't do because seriously this story is way too long-winded and not that interesting for that.”
- “The middle third of the game is split between two stories, Maddie's story, which focuses on a budding sapphic relationship, and Tara/Morgan's story, which tries to split the difference (badly) between a supernatural mystery and its own sapphic relationship.”
- “The story feels slow at first, and within the first thirty minutes or so I really didn't feel very invested.”
music
236 mentions
56 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting its emotional depth and atmospheric qualities. The soundtrack is described as varied and well-composed, perfectly fitting the game's themes and scenes, making it a standout feature that many players recommend enjoying at a high volume. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive storytelling and emotional impact, with some players expressing a desire to listen to the soundtrack outside of gameplay.
- “Do yourself a favor and play with the sound turned up, too – the voice acting and soundtrack add a whole other layer to the experience.”
- “The music is beautiful and the ambience is absolutely stunning.”
- “The soundtrack is gorgeous, and the game got several emotions out of me.”
- “The only slightly sub-par thing might be the music.”
- “Some moments had their transitions feel somewhat abrupt, like the character sprites and/or backgrounds appearing very fast in somewhat inappropriate moments, along with sudden music transitions that cut off the previously playing song very quickly.”
- “Also, the music cuts hard when you progress to a spot where it's supposed to stop playing.”
emotional
119 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Heart of the Woods" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and character development, often leading players to tears through its touching moments and relatable themes of love, loss, and acceptance. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend supernatural elements with genuine emotional struggles, creating an engaging narrative that resonates deeply with players. Overall, it is described as a beautiful, heartwarming experience that effectively captures the complexities of relationships, making it a standout in the yuri visual novel genre.
- “My friends recommended me this game for the ghost yuri and I ended up getting some of the most heart-wrenching, most genuine writing I've seen in a long time.”
- “The story is heartfelt, the characters are lovely, and it's definitely made me cry even on repeat playthroughs.”
- “It's truly an emotional roller coaster with a story that pulls you in and won't let you go.”
- “The story is very slow and somewhat boring; the only good thing about this game is the art, which is quite nice.”
- “I felt no emotional connection to the characters or the story; it all felt flat and uninspired.”
- “Despite the game's attempts to evoke feelings, I found it lacking depth and resonance.”
graphics
89 mentions
62 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Heart of the Woods" are widely praised for their stunning artwork and vibrant, colorful art style, which many reviewers liken to a Disney fairytale. While the character sprites and backgrounds are generally well-received, some minor inconsistencies and static animations are noted. Overall, the visuals, combined with a beautiful soundtrack, significantly enhance the emotional storytelling experience.
- “The artwork in Heart of the Woods is absolutely gorgeous and the CGs are exceptionally detailed; it reminded me of a Disney fairytale at times.”
- “An absolutely beautiful, emotional story, with incredible visuals and music to match.”
- “The visuals and soundtrack are spectacular, and as someone who's been following the development for a year and has played the demo, I'm super excited to see where the story goes!”
- “On the animation side though, there isn’t too much going on, so don’t be expecting Aokana-level visuals.”
- “It's clearly not a high budget title either, could've used more different sprites, backgrounds, and music tracks; the art style isn't 100% consistent across different types of art -- but it works well.”
- “The only gripe I really have that has to do with the graphics is that sometimes the sprites seem unnatural, such as when they’re popping in from the side of the screen.”
atmosphere
35 mentions
46 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its breathtaking visuals, immersive music, and expertly crafted emotional depth, creating a captivating blend of cozy and eerie elements. Reviewers highlight the seamless integration of art, sound, and storytelling, which enhances the overall experience and draws players into its enchanting yet suspenseful world. The combination of fantasy, horror, and intimate character relationships contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The atmosphere is breathtaking and immediately captured my attention in the first chapter.”
- “The art, music, voice acting, etc. fits perfectly together and creates the atmosphere I love so much about Heart of the Woods.”
- “The atmosphere is at times sweet and calming, and at times oppressive and threatening, sometimes even frightening.”
- “Atmosphere is eerie and at times threatening, though the romance more than balances it out.”
- “Despite the flaws of its climax and antagonist, the art, sound, atmosphere, and characterization really set this one apart from most visual novels.”
character development
16 mentions
44 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Character development in this visual novel is highly praised, with players noting the depth and progression of relationships that feel natural and engaging. The main character's growth, along with well-crafted side characters, enhances the overall narrative, making players invested in their journeys. The detailed character designs and immersive storytelling further contribute to a rich experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “Good character development and relationships with no anime archetypes that I can identify, and a brilliant dark fantasy plot to tie it all together.”
- “If you love visual novels that focus on character development and natural progression of relationships into romance, then this is the game for you.”
- “Every element of this visual novel is robust and immersive, from the art, to the music, to the storytelling and character development - which means it nails every element a great visual novel should.”
- “The main character might seem annoying at first glance, but the character development throughout the game quickly fixes that.”
- “I’d also like to add that the character development in the story is solid, and I ended up rooting for every girl to have a happy ending.”
- “Finally, the game doesn't really feel like it has a 'bad end.' Even the bad endings have character development and leave hope for the future, and I enjoyed them just as much, if not more than, the true ending.”
humor
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Heart of the Woods" is praised for being both natural and well-integrated into the narrative, enhancing character development and emotional depth. Players appreciate the blend of funny and touching moments, particularly through the interactions of the characters, though some note that the comedic relief can occasionally feel stereotypical. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy sweet, humorous, and engaging yuri visual novels.
- “The humor and the hurt in Heart of the Woods are both fantastic, and it all feels grounded and natural, with even the harshest tonal shifts not coming off as weird or jarring.”
- “Heart of the Woods is a funny, touching, and occasionally suspenseful visual novel about two pairs of young women that find love and happiness with each other in the face of difficult odds.”
- “One of the key strengths of the writing lies in the humor.”
optimization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game received mixed feedback; while the voice acting was praised as superb and a significant enhancement to the experience, some users reported unexpected performance issues, particularly given the game's visual novel format, suggesting potential compatibility problems.
- “The VA update just turned an already stellar game into a masterpiece; the performances by everyone are absolutely superb, from big names like Kira Buckland as Morgan to much smaller ones like Stephanie Arata as Tara.”
- “All of the performances are absolutely fantastic.”
- “Had some performance issues which really surprised me considering this is a visual novel and my computer can run much more demanding games, so I probably just encountered some obscure compatibility problem.”
gameplay
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of meaningful choices, with some users feeling it would have been better as a traditional visual novel. Despite the limited interactivity, the engaging characters and writing helped maintain interest, although technical issues like lag and freezing detracted from the experience. Overall, while the story remains compelling, the gameplay elements left many players wanting more.
- “I'm more into VNs that have actual gameplay elements (or at least more choices) - I was disappointed in how few choices there were to make in this one - but the characters and writing kept me engaged long enough to get through the full game, which is more than I can say for most low-interactivity VNs.”
- “Regarding the gameplay, I was surprised to find the VN actually lagging and froze.”
- “The choice mechanic was unfulfilling and honestly felt unnecessary -- it would've worked better as a straight visual novel.”
- “I'm more into visual novels that have actual gameplay elements (or at least more choices) - I was disappointed in how few choices there were to make in this one - but the characters and writing kept me engaged long enough to get through the full game, which is more than I can say for most low-interactivity visual novels.”
- “Regarding the gameplay, I was surprised to find the visual novel actually lagging and freezing.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious and confusing, with players feeling that the choices made have little impact on the overall experience. Many suggest that the gameplay could be more engaging if it were presented as a narrative-driven format rather than requiring repetitive tasks.
- “Or even tedious.”
- “As the name already implies, the vlog mainly revolves around Tara and supernatural stuff, while Madison mostly does the tedious tasks for her.”
- “There were certain major plot twists and character changes that happened in a confusing and drastic way, and the choices mattered - but in extremely irrational ways. I mean, I don't know why there are choices; it would be better just to let this be an audio comic instead of a game with those tick boxes.”
replayability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Replayability is somewhat limited due to a lack of diverse player choices, but the high-quality voice acting enhances the experience enough for some players to consider replaying the game.
- “Only a handful of player choices limits replayability.”
- “I do not usually play games twice, but this game is an exception because the voice acting added a lot to the replayability.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users report occasional freezing issues when hovering the cursor over menu options, indicating that the game's stability could be improved.
- “The game freezes occasionally when hovering the cursor over menu options.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes during gameplay, which made it frustrating to progress.”
- “There are significant stability issues, with the game often lagging or becoming unresponsive.”