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Pivot of Hearts

Pivot of Hearts Game Cover
59%Game Brain Score
story, music
gameplay
100% User Score Based on 10 reviews

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Pivot of Hearts Game Cover

About

Pivot of Hearts is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Dragonroll Studio and was released on May 21, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Pivot of Hearts is a non-monogamous romance visual novel with a simple card game built into it. It takes place in the city of São Paulo and tells the story of Wén Xiàn, a Taiwanese-Brazilian game developer who, after a long period of isolation, starts finding chances to open his heart again: he suddenly reconnects with Etsuko, someone important from his past, and forms an unexpected bond with a ne…

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100%
Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews
story5 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions

  • The game features a charming and diverse cast of characters, with relatable stories and well-developed relationships, including a positive representation of non-monogamous relationships.
  • The art and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the vibrant culture of São Paulo.
  • The writing is engaging and humorous, making the story enjoyable and easy to connect with, while the unique tarot-based choice system adds an interesting twist to gameplay.
  • The tarot card choice system can be frustrating at times, as it may limit players' ability to make desired choices and requires careful planning to maximize affection points.
  • Some players may find the pacing of the story uneven, particularly during the D&D campaign segments, which can detract from the main narrative.
  • There are minor localization issues and a lack of a gallery feature for artwork, which could enhance the overall presentation of the game.
  • story
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Pivot of Hearts" follows Wén as he navigates relatable challenges, including a demanding RPG project, reconnecting with friends, and confronting his past, all while exploring themes of love and personal growth. The narrative is well-paced and layered, effectively intertwining Wén's present with flashbacks to his high school days, and is enriched by cultural elements from São Paulo. With a blend of humor, romance, and engaging characters, the story captivates players and invites them to experience its depth through a demo.

    • “A sweet story that moves along at a great pace and is really well written.”
    • “As you progress through the story, you’ll join wén as he hangs out with friends, deals with the stress of an upcoming deadline, reconnects with old friends, plays a totally not D&D campaign, contends with nightmares from his past, has fun, and finds some unlikely romance.”
    • “There are a lot of layers to the story, and it does a good job of having everything be related in some way, feeding into our understanding of wén and his backstory.”
    • “As you progress through the story, you’ll join wén as he hangs out with friends, deals with the stress of an upcoming deadline as he tries to make a dent in his backlog of bugs, reconnects with old friends, plays a totally not D&D campaign, has memories from his high school days surface again despite wanting to bury them deep in his mind, contends with nightmares as he struggles with aspects of his past, has fun, and finds some unlikely romance.”
    • “Well, technically, the romance and story get equal focus at one point, but it didn’t tip the scales to qualify as the main focus.”
    • “The story goes back and forth between the present day and wén’s high school days, introducing you to some of the friends in his life that go way back and establishing how he met Etsuko.”
  • music
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the immersive experience, blending Brazilian rhythms with nostalgic 90s anime influences. Reviewers note that the soundtrack beautifully complements the visuals and cultural elements of São Paulo, creating a vibrant atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the music is described as pleasant, uplifting, and a significant strength of the game.

    • “The music is beautiful and really pulled me into this game's moments, making me feel like I'm really there.”
    • “The music is nice too; it does hit that vibe that the locations or scenes give off pretty well and they were pleasant to listen to.”
    • “You can palpably feel the passion and care the developers had for the world, the characters, the music, the illustrations, everything.”
    • “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
    • “While the soundtrack attempts to capture the essence of Brazilian culture, it often falls flat and feels generic.”
    • “The audio mixing is poor, with sound effects overpowering the music, detracting from the overall experience.”
  • graphics
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are praised for their appealing art style and diverse character designs, with multiple outfits for major characters enhancing visual variety. The vibrant depiction of São Paulo's culture, including its traditions and environments, adds depth to the visuals, making the overall aesthetic both beautiful and engaging.

    • “The art style is really nice, and I loved how diverse the character designs were and how the major characters got multiple outfits.”
    • “This novel also features the beautiful and colorful culture of São Paulo through traditions, rich artwork depicting foods, environments, and events the characters attend.”
    • “The first thing that caught my attention was the art style of this novel.”
    • “You can see your achievements list in the game (the same ones you unlock through Steam) but when you click on them it does not enlarge the artwork.”
  • emotional
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply resonant, with many expressing feelings of validation and connection through its diverse characters and heartfelt romance. The narrative evokes a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, while maintaining a wholesome atmosphere that celebrates love and affection. Overall, the game successfully creates an immersive experience that feels both genuine and uplifting.

    • “I am polyamorous and have never played a game with anyone 'like me' before, and the romance in this game made me feel so whole and loved for who I am, while at the same time being hard-hitting and making me cry several times.”
    • “The little details, the vibes, everything feels so real and heartfelt.”
    • “Pivot of Hearts is a story about finding love again with a wholesome, positive vibe filled with a unique cast of diverse characters.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting its ability to evoke genuine laughter through clever jokes and engaging dialogue. Many found the comedic elements to enhance the overall experience, making the story and characters more enjoyable and addictive to read. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that keeps players smiling throughout their gameplay.

    • “I came for the joke early in the story that made me laugh for a minute straight and stayed for the interesting story and characters.”
    • “It has a really nice flow to it that makes it almost addicting to read, and I liked the humor that was in the script.”
    • “There were so many moments where I found myself laughing, and I spent a lot of time reading Pivot of Hearts with a smile on my face.”
  • gameplay
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay primarily revolves around tarot readings, with an optional tutorial available to help players understand the basics of tarot cards. This unique mechanic adds an engaging layer to the overall experience.

    • “The gameplay portion is done through tarot readings, and there's a great tutorial available if you wish to engage with it. The tutorial explains the basics of tarot cards, making it accessible for everyone.”
    • “The gameplay portion is done by tarot readings, which can be engaging if you choose to dive into the tutorial that explains the basics of tarot cards, but it feels optional and disconnected from the overall experience.”
    • “While the tutorial for tarot readings is helpful, the gameplay itself lacks depth and can become repetitive quickly.”
    • “The reliance on tarot readings for gameplay feels like a gimmick rather than a meaningful mechanic, making the overall experience less enjoyable.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers appreciate the diverse character designs and the appealing art style, noting that major characters are given multiple outfits, which enhances their development and individuality within the game.

    • “The art style is really nice, and I loved how diverse the character designs were, especially how the major characters had multiple outfits.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Pivot of Hearts is a casual simulation game.

Pivot of Hearts is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

Pivot of Hearts was released on May 21, 2025.

Pivot of Hearts was developed by Dragonroll Studio.

Pivot of Hearts has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Pivot of Hearts is a single player game.

Similar games include WYRMHALL: Brush and Banter, Sigh of the Abyss, Witches x Warlocks, Heartspell: Horizon Academy, Gerda: A Flame in Winter and others.