Skip to main content

Know by heart

Know by heart Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
gameplay, stability
97% User Score Based on 159 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchAndroidPlaystation 5Playstation 4XboxSteam DeckiPhoneWindowsPlayStationXbox Series X|SPCTabletPhoneXbox OneiPadMobile Platform
Buy Nowfrom €16.79
Buy NowGet on Steam €16.79Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
Know by heart Game Cover

About

Know by heart is a single player casual action adventure game with romance and drama themes. It was developed by Ice-Pick Lodge and was released on February 10, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Know by Heart" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you navigate the relationships and memories of a small village. As the new doctor in town, you'll uncover the stories and secrets of the villagers and help them heal their emotional wounds. The game features point-and-click mechanics and text-based conversations, encouraging players to explore and connect with the everyday lives of the characters.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Know by heart screenshot
Know by heart screenshot
Know by heart screenshot
Know by heart screenshot
Know by heart screenshot
Know by heart screenshot
Know by heart screenshot
Skip User Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 159 reviews
story33 positive mentions
gameplay4 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully crafted story that explores themes of nostalgia, memory, and personal connection, resonating deeply with players.
  • The atmosphere and art style are captivating, with a unique low-poly aesthetic that enhances the emotional experience.
  • The voice acting, particularly in the original Russian, adds depth to the characters and their relationships, making the narrative even more engaging.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and awkward controls that can disrupt the experience.
  • Some players found the pacing slow, especially in the beginning, which may deter those looking for a more action-oriented gameplay experience.
  • The English voice acting is inconsistent, leading to a less immersive experience compared to the original Russian audio.
  • story
    84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Know by Heart" is a poignant blend of tragedy and warmth, exploring themes of memory, loss, and human connection through a beautifully crafted narrative that resonates deeply with players. While it starts slowly, many reviewers note that it evolves into an emotionally charged experience, often evoking tears and reflection on the complexities of life. The game's unique storytelling approach, combined with its artistic presentation and character depth, makes it a memorable interactive experience, particularly for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The story is beautiful and pulls at our heartstrings; I cried multiple times. I love how this story perfectly reflects human emotions and everyday life and how in-depth it goes.”
    • “Amazing story, made me think it over again and again; it could be a sci-fi novel.”
    • “Know by Heart delivers a story aware of its themes and does its best to deliver on it.”
    • “I feel like they didn't really explore the entire depth of the story/premise.”
    • “I don't know why I spent 17 dollars just to read a boring story with an unhappy ending.”
    • “As most reviews here state, the first hour is pretty lackluster and feels like a generic plot of a few friends in town gathering for their aunt's birthday while highlighting how routine and boring adult life is.”
  • emotional
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    "Know by Heart" is widely regarded as an emotionally impactful indie game, with many players noting its ability to evoke deep feelings and even tears through its touching narrative. The story, while short, is praised for its exploration of human emotions and everyday life, resonating with those seeking a meaningful experience beyond typical gaming fare. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and gameplay, the emotional depth and beautiful storytelling leave a lasting impression on players.

    • “Its story is equal parts tragic as it is wholesome, at times bringing me to tears.”
    • “The story is beautiful and pulls at our heartstrings; I cried multiple times. I love how this story perfectly reflects human emotions and everyday life and how in-depth it goes.”
    • “Know by Heart is emotionally striking and thematically resonant.”
    • “I don't know why I spent 17 dollars just to read a boring story with an unhappy ending.”
  • gameplay
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Know by Heart" is primarily a simple point-and-click experience with light puzzle elements, focusing on narrative and character interactions. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and unique mechanics, many criticize the lack of complexity, consistency, and variety in gameplay, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the game manages to engage players with its immersive story and themes, though it may require patience to navigate its occasional jank and confusing objectives.

    • “Gameplay-wise, it's not too complex, but I think the little puzzles did a good job of adding to the experience.”
    • “A really touching and emotional visual novel with some light puzzle and point-and-click gameplay elements.”
    • “Gameplay loop is your typical affair of walking around the town, talking to people, solving simple puzzles of putting torn pictures together, and picking up memory collectibles.”
    • “The gameplay in this game is basically non-existent, and I usually don't like 'narrative' or 'walking sim' games.”
    • “Its visuals are mostly made up of sharp geometry, its score consists of a lone piano, its gameplay lacks a decisive loop.”
    • “The caveats are that a lot of times the mood is struck down by confusing goals (especially at the start of the game) and mildly buggy gameplay.”
  • graphics
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are characterized by a beautiful low-poly art style that effectively conveys its intimate narrative, complemented by a somber soundtrack. While some users noted glitches and stiff animations, the overall aesthetic is praised for its charm and simplicity, creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience. The minimalist visuals, though lacking in detail, resonate well with the game's themes and evoke a nostalgic, timeless quality.

    • “It’s a more intimate human story, brought to life by beautiful low-poly artwork and music worthy of cinematic experiences.”
    • “The graphics and music are sublime though!”
    • “The artistic direction is excellent, the graphics and assets, although limited, evoke the beautifulness of that little town stuck in time.”
    • “If you are not scared of flat graphics, if you allow this game to tell you its story, it will give you an unforgettable interactive experience you never expect from a game.”
    • “Game's art style probably takes its root in a 200 IQ idea of 'we don't have the budget for facial animations or any level of graphical detail, really, so let's make characters faceless and have basic environments look like a child's drawing.'”
    • “Its visuals are mostly made up of sharp geometry; its score consists of a lone piano, and its gameplay lacks a decisive loop.”
  • atmosphere
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Know by Heart" is widely praised for its beautiful visuals and evocative soundtrack, which together create a deeply immersive experience that resonates with themes of nostalgia and the bittersweet nature of growing up. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from melancholy to warmth, while its low-poly aesthetic and narrative elements enhance the overall ambiance. Despite some repetitive gameplay, the game's atmospheric qualities make it a compelling choice for those seeking a reflective and emotional adventure.

    • “The soundtrack matches the vibes, creating a good atmosphere, and the visuals are downright beautiful where it really matters.”
    • “It has a wonderful atmosphere, lovely music, and themes about growing older and growing apart from friends that really resonate with me.”
    • “Seeping with atmosphere that captures the beautiful sadness of a childhood gone and past.”
    • “And the warm atmosphere and the bitterness of parting touch exactly the right strings of the soul without unnecessary exaggeration and hyperbolization.”
    • “Know by heart strengths entirely revolves around its atmosphere, ambiance, and narrative elements.”
    • “A very pleasant game about memory, nostalgia and atmosphere of post-soviet desolate town.”
  • music
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful piano arrangements and atmospheric compositions that enhance the emotional depth of the story. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack complements the visuals and themes of growing up and nostalgia, creating a captivating experience that resonates with players. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's intimate and engaging atmosphere.

    • “It’s a more intimate human story, brought to life by beautiful low-poly artwork and music worthy of cinematic experiences.”
    • “By far the best thing about it is its excellent piano soundtrack and usage of simple puzzles to tell its story, wonderfully connecting everything together.”
    • “The music was beautiful with some lovely piano arrangements and sound effects and the visuals were splendid with some great visual direction and imaginative camera angles.”
    • “Same as all other aesthetic elements, the music has minimal elements, only a very soft and beautiful piano excluding the credits.”
    • “What shines in this game are their art direction, music composition, and ideas.”
    • “Between the piano, the guitar, and the rest of the soundtrack, you are really experiencing the life and adventures of Misha and his friends, and it perfectly fits the general atmosphere.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, "Pathologic 2" is praised for its performance, particularly for a Unity game, as it avoids common issues like stuttering and frame dips. However, some users still report experiencing performance problems, indicating that optimization may not be consistent across all systems.

    • “No stuttering or frame dips at all, and while some may say that's not surprising given the style of the game, it is actually refreshing considering it is a Unity game.”
    • “Many Unity games that don't even feature a large open area suffer from serious performance issues.”
    • “Despite being amazing, Pathologic 2 suffers from quite a number of performance issues.”
    • “I also had some performance issues.”
    • “Many Unity games that don't even feature a large open area suffer from serious performance woes.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features impressive graphics and a beautiful aesthetic, but users report occasional glitches and stiff animations that can disrupt the experience. While the gameplay is generally stable and not game-breaking, some players experience frustrating moments due to awkward movement and unclear objectives.

    • “The caveats are that a lot of times the mood is struck down by confusing goals (especially at the start of the game) and mildly buggy gameplay.”
    • “There wasn't anything game-breaking for me, or hugely problematic, but occasionally awkward movement or animation glitches, paired with ambiguity about where to go, can lead to some real frustration.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers a moderate level of replayability, with a completion time of around 5 hours, suggesting that some players may find value in revisiting it for additional enjoyment.

    • “For some players, this game will have strong replayability appeal.”
    • “You can finish it in about 5 hours, and it has significant potential for replay value.”
    • “For some players, this game will have the appeal of replayability.”
    • “You can finish it in about 5 hours, and it has potential replay value.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting that it captivates attention and evolves into a compelling narrative filled with intriguing questions and observations, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “My attention was instantly aroused, and from that moment, the story and the character development spiraled into one of my favorite games of this genre, with so many interesting questions and observations raised.”
Skip Critic Reviews

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Know by heart

5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Know by heart

Games Like Know by heart

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Image
87%3kreviews

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

2025Action Adventure
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game Pass+8
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals Image
84%1.2kreviews

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

2023Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchPCTablet+9
The First Tree Image
75%2.9kreviews

The First Tree

2017Simulation
Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|S+8
The Cat Lady Image
93%4.7kreviews

The Cat Lady

2013Arcade Quiz
LinuxPCWindows
Night in the Woods Image
89%11.7kreviews

Night in the Woods

2017Platformer
Nintendo SwitchEpic GamesPlaystation 5+15
More games like Know by heart
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Know by heart is a casual action adventure game with romance and drama themes.

Know by heart is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Know by heart.

Know by heart was released on February 10, 2022.

Know by heart was developed by Ice-Pick Lodge.

Know by heart has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Know by heart is a single player game.

Similar games include Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, The First Tree, The Cat Lady, Night in the Woods and others.