Know by heart
- February 10, 2022
- Ice-Pick Lodge
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"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.
iPad
iPhone
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Android
Mobile Platform
PlayStation
Tablet
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully crafted narrative that explores themes of memory, nostalgia, and personal connections, resonating deeply with players.
- The atmosphere and aesthetics are captivating, with a unique art style and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience.
- Character development is strong, allowing players to connect with the well-written characters and their heartfelt stories, making the emotional moments impactful.
- The game has a slow start, which may deter some players before the story picks up and becomes more engaging.
- There are technical issues, including bugs and awkward controls, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
- Some players may find the dialogue clunky and the pacing uneven, leading to moments where the narrative feels drawn out or less impactful.
- story66 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "Know by Heart" is a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted narrative that explores themes of memory, loss, and human connection, set against the backdrop of a post-Soviet town. While it starts slowly, many players find that it evolves into a poignant experience that resonates long after completion, enhanced by its unique art style and evocative soundtrack. Despite some critiques regarding pacing and depth, the overall consensus highlights its powerful storytelling and the impact it leaves on players.
“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.”
“It’s a more intimate human story, brought to life by beautiful low-poly artwork and music worthy of cinematic experiences.”
“The story touched me to the bottom of my heart, and something meaningful and important woke from a long dream.”
“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.”
- emotional29 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its emotionally moving narrative, with many players reporting that it made them cry and deeply reflect on human emotions and everyday life. Despite its short length, the story is described as beautifully written and touching, resonating with those seeking a profound experience over typical blockbuster fare. Overall, it is considered a powerful emotional journey that effectively combines sadness and philosophical themes, leaving a lasting impact on players.
“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.”
“It's very rare to find a game that makes you emotional and gives you deep philosophical thoughts at the same time.”
“The ride was incredibly touching, and the tension of not exactly knowing how well I was performing when it came to the choices was, I think, a big part of the game.”
“I don't know why I spent 17 dollars just to read a boring story with an unhappy ending.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally simple and revolves around light puzzle-solving and exploration, often described as a mix of point-and-click mechanics with narrative elements. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and unique mechanics, others criticize the lack of consistency and variety, as well as occasional bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the gameplay serves the narrative well but could benefit from more engaging mechanics and clearer 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.”
“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.”
“Know by heart knows where it stands on the idea of memories and moving on; what it has trouble with is maximizing gameplay mechanics to communicate it fully to the player.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a beautiful low-poly art style that effectively complements its intimate narrative and atmospheric soundtrack. While some players noted glitches and stiff animations, the overall aesthetic is praised for its charm and simplicity, creating a captivating experience that resonates emotionally. The minimalist visuals, though lacking in detail, are considered a thoughtful design choice that enhances the game's thematic elements.
“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!”
“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.”
“The artistic direction is excellent, the graphics and assets, although limited, evoke the beautifulness of that little town stuck in time.”
“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.'”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Know by Heart" is widely praised for its beautiful visuals and evocative soundtrack, which together create a deeply emotional and nostalgic experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to convey themes of growing up and the bittersweet nature of memories, immersing players in a melancholic yet captivating world. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, effectively enhancing the narrative and emotional depth.
“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.”
“Know by heart strengths entirely revolve around its atmosphere, ambiance, and narrative elements.”
“A very pleasant game about memory, nostalgia, and the atmosphere of a post-Soviet desolate town.”
- music14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, featuring a poignant piano soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the story. Reviewers highlight how the music complements the game's visuals and themes of nostalgia, growing up, and connection, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, effectively resonating with players and enriching the narrative.
“It’s a more intimate human story, brought to life by beautiful low-poly artwork and music worthy of cinematic experiences.”
“The soundtrack matches the vibes, makes good atmosphere, the visuals are downright beautiful where it really matters.”
“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.”
“Same as all other aesthetic elements, the music has minimal elements, only a very soft and beautiful piano excluding the credits.”
“That's only a minor problem since, as always, ipl manages to make you feel a range of emotions from the beauty of the game, the atmosphere, the theme of growing up, the music and the sense of nostalgia.”
“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.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features impressive graphics and a beautiful aesthetic, but is marred by occasional glitches and stiff animations that can disrupt the experience. While the gameplay is generally stable and not game-breaking, players may encounter 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.”
“The game offers some nice graphics and a really beautiful aesthetic, although some ugly glitches and stiff animations here and there, it is pleasant all the same and looks absolutely stunning with some of its worlds.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
While "Pathologic 2" is praised for its overall performance, it does experience some optimization issues typical of Unity games. However, players note a lack of stuttering or frame dips, which is considered impressive given the game's expansive open world.
“Many Unity games that don't even feature a large open area suffer from serious performance issues.”
“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.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game can be completed in approximately 5 hours, but it offers potential for replayability, suggesting that players may find reasons to revisit it despite its short length.
“You can finish it in about 5 hours, and it has great potential for replay value.”
“The game offers multiple endings, encouraging players to experience different outcomes.”
“With various character builds and playstyles, each playthrough feels unique and engaging.”
“You can finish it in about 5 hours, and while it has potential replay value, it feels limited.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
