The Wild at Heart

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 503 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Wild at Heart Game Cover
Moonlight Kids have a hit on their hands with The Wild at Heart. It brings a strong narrative, some clever puzzles, and enough of an endearing journey to make it one of the better releases this holiday season on the PlayStation.
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"The Wild at Heart" is a nostalgic storybook fantasy game where players collect and command a horde of magical creatures, the Spritelings, to battle enemies, build paths, and solve puzzles in a richly detailed world. Explore the Deep Woods, uncover secrets, gather resources, and craft structures and upgrades. Confront precarious wildlife and supernatural foes in thrilling battles, and beware of the dark as you unravel the mysteries of this lost realm.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 503 reviews
story95 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautiful art style and immersive sound design that creates a charming atmosphere.
  • Engaging gameplay with a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and adorable characters, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.
  • The story is heartfelt and touching, presenting themes of childhood innocence and self-discovery.
  • Combat mechanics can feel simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge, especially in later stages.
  • The game can be too easy, with some players finding it less rewarding due to forgiving mechanics and a lack of difficulty.
  • The story may feel incomplete or rushed, leaving players wanting more closure and depth in character development.
  • story240 mentions

    The story of "The Wild at Heart" is described as charming and whimsical, featuring engaging characters and a heartfelt narrative that explores themes of self-discovery and adventure. While many players appreciate the beautiful art style and emotional depth, some feel the story lacks closure or depth, with a few finding it predictable or forgettable. Overall, the game is praised for its captivating storytelling, though opinions vary on its execution and impact.

    • “The story is captivating and the characters are absolutely adorable.”
    • “The story is engrossing, the art is gorgeous, the characters are charming, and the gameplay is unique and varied.”
    • “The wild at heart is a story-rich action-adventure that draws you in and pulls at your heartstrings as we follow two children, Wake and Kirby, as they discover who they are and where they belong.”
    • “The first big issue was that I really didn't care about the plot or characters whatsoever, and when the story was finished, I was glad that it was over with.”
    • “The weakest part of the game, unfortunately, is the story (vague talk about the plot ahead).”
    • “If it means story, the story was easily forgettable, really forcing you to watch unengaging cutscenes of two kids talking around a campfire.”
  • gameplay147 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its engaging, Pikmin-inspired mechanics that blend puzzle-solving with exploration in a charming, visually appealing world. While some players find the controls clunky and certain combat mechanics tedious, the overall experience is enriched by a captivating story and unique art style, making it enjoyable for players of all ages. The game successfully balances simplicity with rewarding progression, though some may desire more complexity and depth in its mechanics.

    • “The gameplay, puzzles, and emotional depth all are worth their weight.”
    • “Rich in lore, stunning in visuals and easy to follow gameplay, this game is endearing and charming and very enjoyable to play.”
    • “The story and gameplay are excellent and allow you to appreciate the artwork and enjoy your time playing instead of just appreciating the art and logging off.”
    • “Battles start feeling like a chore because of the fighting mechanic.”
    • “However, even though I liked those parts, the battle mechanic made it feel a little tedious for me, so much so it became boring.”
    • “The game is cute, but it is way too slow and the game mechanics are very simplistic and mostly tedious.”
  • graphics140 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and imaginative art style, which evokes a whimsical, storybook atmosphere reminiscent of children's literature. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals, charming characters, and the overall aesthetic that enhances the immersive experience, making exploration enjoyable and visually captivating. The combination of engaging graphics and a soothing soundtrack contributes to a relaxing gameplay experience, drawing players into its enchanting world.

    • “The art style makes it feel like you're inside a children's book, so each place and character immediately feels very imaginative and nostalgic at the same time.”
    • “Everything from the charming and colorful art style, the peaceful sound design, the unique characters, and the quirky humor made this whole experience a joy to witness.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is very relaxing and the story brought tears to my eyes.”
    • “Still has a few glitches but the art style, colors, and concept as a whole is so nice :)”
    • “The graphics and story of this game (so far) have been incredible.”
    • “While I was hoping for perhaps a little more gameplay complexity or difficulty, I think it delivers on art style, gameplay, story, and pretty much everything, unfolding in a very nice way.”
  • music94 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with soothing melodies that evoke nostalgia and complement the beautiful artwork. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to create emotional depth, transitioning from calm to tense as the game progresses, which adds to the immersive storytelling. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is calming and the map is atmospheric and fun to explore.”
    • “The soundtrack adds a lot to the ambiance of the game and is really relaxing.”
    • “The music and art are gorgeous - really great for the inner child.”
    • “There is a sense of nervousness when the music changes in the afternoon to indicate that it will soon be night and the invisible creature appears, and returns to calm again in the morning.”
    • “While the game itself seems light and easygoing, the music that plays when it's nearing night time fills me with dread and gets me rushing back to the campsite ASAP, and the dreams that I have at night hint at a darker story that the main character might not be able to comprehend as of yet, as he is still a child.”
    • “The art direction and music are doing the heavy lifting here but some of the gameplay mechanics are surprisingly interesting and unique.”
  • emotional27 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story of self-discovery, beautifully complemented by stunning art and music that evoke nostalgia. Players find the narrative both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, with unique character backstories that leave a lasting impact. Overall, the game strikes a balance between cozy gameplay and deeper emotional themes, making it a memorable experience.

    • “The stories behind each and every character are so unique and heart-wrenching.”
    • “Story was very cute and gentle but still made me cry a bit by the end.”
    • “With a story that’s equal parts amusing, intriguing, and emotional, alongside genuinely stunning 2D visuals, you’ll be sucked into this world in no time.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming art style, relaxing music, and immersive sound design, creating a beautiful and enjoyable exploration experience. While players appreciate the atmospheric elements and engaging puzzles, some have noted challenges with navigation and backtracking due to the map's limitations. Overall, the combination of visuals, sound, and gameplay mechanics contributes to a captivating atmosphere that enhances the adventure.

    • “The atmosphere and art style is beautiful, and the story was quite good too.”
    • “The music is calming and the map is atmospheric and fun to explore.”
    • “I love the graphics and atmosphere, but what keeps me playing is the fun mix between puzzle and adventure.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky writing, hilarious character interactions, and amusing descriptions, which contribute to an overall joyful experience. Players appreciate the charming art style and the lighthearted tone, even as it touches on deeper emotional themes, making the game both entertaining and engaging from start to finish.

    • “I loved all the hilarious descriptions for things.”
    • “Everything from the charming and colorful art style, the peaceful sound design, the unique characters, and the quirky humor made this whole experience a joy to witness.”
    • “The wild at heart does cover some heavy emotional threads while weaving them into a bright, bold and funny tapestry.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often leading to boredom, particularly with resource gathering and battle mechanics. Many suggest that the game could benefit from quality-of-life improvements, such as a one-click option for managing resources, to alleviate the repetitive nature of these tasks. Overall, while the game has its charm, the grinding elements detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.

    • “It took me about 16 hours to beat, but that was with unnecessary resource grinding.”
    • “Maybe it's just me, and others might call me a 'little baby' and 'filthy casual', but I ended up switching to adventurer mode as wanderer proved way too time-consuming and tedious.”
    • “The game is cute, but it is way too slow, and the game mechanics are very simplistic and mostly tedious.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game has been reported to have several bugs and glitches, impacting its overall stability. While the art style and concept are praised, the inconsistent tone and short length contribute to a less polished experience.

    • “It can be a little buggy.”
    • “It's too short, it couldn't decide on what it wanted for tone (dark/sad or whimsical/silly), and it's pretty buggy.”
    • “Still has a few glitches but the art style, colors, and concept as a whole is so nice :)”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find the creature fights and engaging gameplay loop encourage revisiting, others feel that once puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to replay. The beautiful graphics, detailed story, and immersive sound design contribute positively, but the lack of new challenges may limit long-term replay value.

    • “Beautiful graphics, surprisingly detailed story, big world, hidden objects to find, side quests, two levels of difficulty, pleasant soundtrack, good interface... not sure about the replay value yet, but I can see picking this up again after a few months.”
    • “[Addicting gameplay loop that entices replayability, art design was well realized throughout, charming dialogue scattered in the story, players are given a fair amount of freedom in the later half, sound effects and music were immersive and relaxing, thoughtful retooling of familiar gameplay concepts.]”
    • “[Addicting gameplay loop that entices replayability, art design was well realized throughout, charming dialogue scattered in the story, players are given a fair amount of freedom in the later half, sound effects and music were immersive and relaxing, thoughtful retooling of familiar gameplay concepts.]”
    • “Replayability is almost non-existent, as only the creature fights can provide an additional challenge - the puzzles have already been solved.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while the character designs are charming and memorable, particularly with humorous names like "litterbox," there is a notable lack of depth in dialogue and character development among the main NPCs. Players express a desire for more engaging interactions to enhance the overall experience.

    • “The character designs are charming, and I still laugh remembering that there's a character called 'Litterbox' who apparently smells really bad.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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