Heartworm

About

Heartworm is a single player survival shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by vincent adinolfi and was released on July 31, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Heartworm is a single-player horror shooter where Sam, grieving her grandfather's death, explores a supernatural mountain house guided by a mysterious forum. Blending retro-inspired visuals, exploration, classic puzzles, and limited combat using a camera weapon, the game offers multiple endings and a haunting soundtrack in a narrative reminiscent of late 90s survival horror classics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 368 reviews

story69 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Heartworm beautifully captures the aesthetics and atmosphere of classic PS1 survival horror games, with impressive visuals and a haunting soundtrack.
The game features engaging puzzles that require logical thinking, providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment when solved.
The narrative explores deep themes of grief and loss, resonating with players and adding emotional weight to the gameplay experience.

The combat is overly simplistic and lacks challenge, making enemies feel more like nuisances than real threats.
The story can feel vague and underdeveloped, with the protagonist's character lacking depth and emotional connection.
Some puzzles, particularly the sliding puzzle, can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience.

story
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its exploration of themes like grief and loss, while others criticize it for being shallow and lacking depth. Many reviewers noted that while the narrative has potential and features interesting elements, it often feels disjointed or overly simplistic, failing to create a strong emotional connection with the characters. Overall, the game's storytelling is seen as a blend of nostalgic homage to classic survival horror, but it struggles to fully engage players with its plot and character development.
- “The story is focused on death, and the imagery of cameras, photos, videos, and journals aren’t just a reflection of Sam’s photographic hobby, but of the methods in which people can become trapped in their efforts to record and relive the past.”
- “Its eerie, deeply personal story pulls you in, making you genuinely want to explore every corner, uncover every note, and piece together the mystery of what is happening.”
- “With a captivating story, lovable characters, and environmental storytelling, along with exciting gameplay (and suitable scares!), I really enjoyed my time with the game.”
- “For a game that has a lot of poems and quotes from Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha, I think this game could've utilized a compilation of Camus', Heidegger's, Schopenhauer's, Jung's, Spinoza's, and Sartre's work instead of relying heavily on Hesse's overly simplistic sentimentalism, which is very visible in its own story as well, whereas the art style and the overall story would fit much better with a complex absurdist approach.”
- “Despite this, it was also extremely surface level and seemingly had very little actual relevance to the overall plot, and she moves on to the next story before I can form any meaningful or emotional connection to the narrative.”
- “The story feels shallow; it's like reading a midwest emo teen's diary.”
music
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The music in "Heartworm" is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Tracks like the safe room theme and various ambient pieces are noted for their nostalgic and melancholic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of classic survival horror games. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, showcasing the developer's talent and passion for the genre.
- “The music is fantastic, capturing the ethereal vibe of the game as well as some of the 2000's feel with the credits song.”
- “The soundtrack is one of my favorite elements here and the safe room music is so goated.”
- “Music is paramount in a horror game's identity, and the melancholic, gothic piano themes Heartworm has to offer suit it extremely well; I'm especially fond of the sombre tones of the safe room theme!”
- “I feel like the music in the entrance/large main area is a little too serene for a horror game.”
- “The first real 'boss' music and mechanics are just tedious and rather stupid as the amount of film it used to beat.”
- “For example, the song 'Into the House (Bonus)' on the creator's Bandcamp for the game's demo is almost a beat-for-beat recreation of Resident Evil 1's 'Mansion 1st Floor' theme.”
gameplay
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
71%
6%
The gameplay of *Heartworm* is a nostalgic homage to classic PS1 survival horror games, featuring tank controls, inventory management, and puzzle-solving elements. However, many players find the mechanics to be shallow and lacking cohesion, with some criticizing the combat and overall design as tedious and unoriginal. While the game successfully captures the atmosphere of its inspirations, it often falls short in delivering engaging gameplay, leading to mixed reviews on its execution and enjoyment.
- “Gameplay-wise, you are given the choice between tank controls and more modern, free-form ones.”
- “I also enjoyed the gameplay of exploring 3D spaces and finding key items, usually through puzzles, to continue forward.”
- “Heartworm delivers fantastic music and gameplay, with the option to switch between tank and modern controls, though you'll probably find it a lot less scary using modern ones.”
- “The gameplay, combat, story writing, the dialogues, and god-awful map design really made me not want to continue playing it anymore because at that point it felt like I'd have to finish the game for the sake of finishing it and not for any enjoyment.”
- “Instead of carefully crafted systems that work together to build tension and atmosphere, Heartworm often feels like a collection of familiar mechanics thrown together simply because 'that’s what old-school horror games had.' The result is gameplay that lacks cohesion.”
- “Fails at everything involving the gameplay of the titles it's aping from and was never properly play tested at all in terms of difficulty and balancing of its mechanics.”
graphics
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The graphics of "Heartworm" are widely praised for their nostalgic PS1 aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of late 90s survival horror games with pixelated visuals and fixed camera angles. Many reviewers appreciate the atmospheric environments and character designs, noting that the art style enhances the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding character resolution and occasional graphical bugs. The option to toggle between retro and modern graphics adds flexibility, allowing players to customize their visual experience while immersing themselves in the game's eerie ambiance.
- “The graphics are fantastic, and some of the best low-poly aesthetics I've ever seen.”
- “Heartworm is a varied entry with an atmospheric pixel art style that doesn’t merely copy the classics but also brings plenty of its own ideas to the table.”
- “The atmosphere is top-notch with excellent visuals, a great soundtrack, and I really liked all the narrations from the protagonist during certain sections of the game.”
- “I tried to like this game; I really did. I was hooked on the music, aesthetics, and graphics when I played the demo; however, the full release did not deliver on it.”
- “The characters lack an anti-aliasing filter and are much more pixelated and jagged despite being rendered at the same resolution, which makes them pop from the environment and really detracts from the aesthetic.”
- “What’s a shame about Heartworm is that, like many lovers of horror and games in general, it understands the aesthetic of those classics from the past but doesn't seem to have much insight into the design choices that made them endure, even as PS1 graphics stopped impressing us.”
atmosphere
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic homage to classic survival horror, featuring a dense, eerie ambiance complemented by a haunting soundtrack and visually striking pixel art. While some players noted a decline in tension and engagement as the game progressed, many appreciated the initial build-up of dread and the overall craftsmanship of the environments. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of unease and nostalgia, making it a compelling experience for fans of the genre.
- “Its biggest strength is its restraint—the team really knows when to let the environment, atmosphere, and tension do the talking.”
- “The atmosphere is thick and filled with mystery and dread in a good way.”
- “The atmosphere and environments you traverse through are complemented by the soothing, and at times haunting, score that plays throughout.”
- “Instead of carefully crafted systems that work together to build tension and atmosphere, Heartworm often feels like a collection of familiar mechanics thrown together simply because 'that’s what old-school horror games had.' The result is gameplay that lacks cohesion.”
- “The atmosphere was fine at the beginning, I think, but the more you play, the more boring it gets.”
- “There’s nothing scary here, no tension, no jump scares, no real monsters, and no atmosphere to speak of.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players finding it to evoke nostalgia and heartfelt moments, particularly through its art and atmosphere, while others criticize its surface-level storytelling and lack of deep emotional engagement. The protagonist's emotional range is often described as flat, contrasting with the more compelling narratives and themes of grief and mortality that resonate with those who have experienced similar struggles. Overall, while the game has its emotional highs, it may not deliver a profound impact for all players.
- “Gorgeous-looking & gorgeous-sounding with a very heartfelt story that creeps up on you.”
- “If you've ever struggled with mental health, overwhelming grief, or a lack of 'fitting in', then the stories and emotional tone of this game will ring true for you.”
- “They did a great job touching on the themes of both morality and mortality, such as struggling with our own death and the grief of those we love leaving us behind.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and frustrating, with players struggling to navigate environments and feeling that combat lacks challenge and immersion. While some appreciate the rhythm and sense of progression, many find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in tension, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The puzzles are tedious in a way that's not even difficult.”
- “It was interesting for the first hour, then it got tedious.”
- “While I usually enjoy survival horror games, this one I just found asinine with how tedious it was trying to find where I needed to go.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The game offers some replayability through multiple endings and unlockable outfits, but many players find the overall experience shallow and not compelling enough to warrant frequent replays. While some enjoyed the game and noted its potential for replay value, others felt it lacked depth and improvement opportunities, leading to mixed feelings about returning to it. Overall, it seems that while there are elements that encourage replaying, the game's execution may limit its long-term appeal.
- “Not sure if this will have the replay value to the extent where I'm hammering it with replays yearly or so like some survival horror games, but I'll definitely be back at some point.”
- “I definitely recommend trying the game yourself; it has good replay value.”
- “Although not the greatest survival horror game I've played, it's still really good and fun to play, not too long, and has some replayability to it as well.”
- “Not sure if this will have the replay value to the extent where I'm hammering it with replays yearly like some survival horror games, but I'll definitely be back at some point.”
- “You won't find any of that here because this isn't the original Resident Evil, and while the game as it is right now is definitely easy, there is room for improvement that hopefully the devs can take into consideration for replay value.”
- “It also has different endings and unlockables, adding some replay value to it.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a solid gameplay experience with minimal bugs and smooth performance, others encounter frustrating issues with controls and occasional glitches that can be resolved by reloading or leaving areas. Despite these concerns, the game is generally considered playable and not fundamentally broken.
- “The game runs great, and the retro feel and look is definitely showcased well.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “The performance is consistently stable, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the gameplay.”
- “I played with modern controls instead of tank, and they just felt very buggy in my experience, requiring me to stop and re-orient after every camera position change. It was an unfortunate frustration to have to overcome constantly.”
- “There are other glitches, but most just require leaving the room or loading a previous save, so the game isn't broken.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely criticized, with the main character being compared to Daria but lacking irony and comedic elements, resulting in a tone that feels overly serious.
- “The main character is basically Daria minus the irony and humor, taking herself far too seriously.”
- “The game is filled with clever puns and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the absurd situations and quirky characters create a hilarious atmosphere that makes every moment enjoyable.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The optimization of the game is praised for its strong performance, particularly highlighting the protagonist's voice acting, which is noted for being compelling and well-executed without feeling exaggerated. Overall, users appreciate the game's performance and settings.
- “The performance is really good.”
- “⚙️ Performance and settings”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that the game suffers from weak character development, with players expressing disappointment in the lack of depth and complexity in the narrative. Many expected a more engaging storyline and character arcs, but found the development to be uninteresting and simplistic.
- “I was expecting the game to have some character development, camera mechanics like Fatal Frame, and a more layered and detailed story, but sadly it's not there.”