The Wild at Heart

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 whimsical adventure game where two children discover a magical realm filled with curious creatures and oddball guardians. Tasked with helping to restore order to this hidden world, players will embark on a journey of self-discovery and wonder. With its captivating art style and strategic gameplay, this game promises to transport players into a unique and enchanting experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 356 reviews

story70 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game features beautiful art and music, creating an immersive and charming atmosphere.
Gameplay is engaging with clever puzzles and a unique mechanic of using Spritelings to solve challenges.
The story is heartwarming and resonates with themes of adventure and self-discovery.

The combat system can feel simplistic and lacks depth, often reducing encounters to throwing Spritelings at enemies.
The day/night cycle can be frustrating, as it forces players to return to camp frequently and interrupts exploration.
Some players found the character backstories and interactions lacking depth, making it hard to connect with them.

story
181 mentions
39 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, praised for its charming and whimsical elements, engaging characters, and beautiful art style, often evoking nostalgia. However, some players feel it lacks depth and character development, leading to a disconnect with the plot and its resolution. While the narrative features intriguing themes and emotional moments, it can also feel short or unfinished, leaving players wanting more closure and complexity.
- “The art direction, music, and story all felt wonderfully unique, while at the same time capturing the essence of books like 'Where the Wild Things Are.'”
- “The story is engaging and the NPCs in particular are interesting, each with their own personality and will help you in different ways.”
- “The story is heartwarming and its length fits perfectly to this sweet little game.”
- “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.”
- “The aesthetic and vibes were on point and the chemistry between Wake and Kirby was so cute, but then the story turned into a bit of a dumpster fire by the end.”
- “If it means story, the story was easily forgettable, really forcing you to watch unengaging cutscenes of two kids talking around a campfire.”
gameplay
119 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of Pikmin-inspired mechanics and Metroidvania-style exploration, featuring engaging puzzles and resource management that keep players invested. While some mechanics, like the night cycle, can feel tedious and lead to backtracking, the overall experience is enhanced by charming visuals and a captivating story. Players appreciate the balance of accessibility and challenge, making it enjoyable for both casual and experienced gamers.
- “Such a fun unique mechanic to use different helpers to accomplish goals.”
- “Gameplay is like if Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion had a baby with a map that's expertly designed and slowly becomes more and more interconnected as you progress.”
- “The gameplay strikes a great balance of being accessible but still clever enough to be satisfying for people with a lot of experience with games like Pikmin.”
- “After spending 1.5 hours in the game, I found myself mostly doing repetitive tasks, like collecting seeds, using a dryer on haystacks, and directing minions to carry wood. I pushed myself to keep playing, and when I encountered fire minions, the gameplay remained mostly the same instead of them getting certain things on fire.”
- “The game is cute, but it is way too slow, and the game mechanics are very simplistic and mostly tedious.”
- “Unfortunately, it is let down by its poor explanation of its mechanics and a confusing map, which can leave you aimlessly wandering around.”
graphics
109 mentions
60 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, which is often described as charming, whimsical, and reminiscent of a children's storybook. Players appreciate the unique and immersive visuals, complemented by a relaxing soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some minor bugs were noted, the beautiful artwork and engaging character designs consistently captivated players throughout their experience.
- “This game has a really pretty art style and a nice universe!”
- “A stunning art style, an immersive soundtrack, a storyline which has notes of Studio Ghibli sprinkled throughout, all wrapped up inside a game that is genuinely fun to play from start to finish.”
- “The graphics and visual style are very unique and original, mixing beautiful textures and (apparently) hand-drawn figures, painted with pastel and vivid colors.”
- “The art style is a bit too strong/unappealing for me.”
- “Combat can be a little clunky against a couple of enemy types (like flying enemies), and that's mostly caused by 2.5D graphics not displaying throw trajectories right.”
- “Still has a few glitches but the art style, colors, and concept as a whole is so nice :))”
music
71 mentions
58 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its relaxing and immersive qualities. It effectively complements the art style and narrative, creating a whimsical yet occasionally eerie ambiance that resonates with players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth.
- “The art direction, music, and story all felt wonderfully unique, while at the same time capturing the essence of books like Where the Wild Things Are.”
- “A stunning art style, an immersive soundtrack, a storyline which has notes of Studio Ghibli sprinkled throughout, all wrapped up inside a game that is genuinely fun to play from start to finish.”
- “The music is calming and the map is atmospheric and fun to explore.”
- “The game is pretty, in its own way, and the soundtrack hits hard at night, scaring the hell out of me.”
- “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, hinting 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.”
emotional
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story of self-discovery, characterized by a blend of heartwarming and poignant moments that resonate deeply with players. Users appreciate the unique and heart-wrenching character backstories, alongside beautiful art and music that evoke nostalgia. Overall, the game successfully combines cozy gameplay with impactful emotional depth, leaving players both entertained and moved.
- “If you love cozy games, beautiful art, and a touching story about self-discovery, this is for you.”
- “The stories behind each and every character are so unique and heart-wrenching.”
- “The journey you go on with the main character and his best friend is heartwarming.”
atmosphere
13 mentions
77 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful art style, charming characters, and calming soundtrack, creating a unique and whimsical exploration experience. Reviewers highlight the engaging sound design and atmospheric music that enhance the overall ambiance, despite some navigation challenges. The combination of delightful visuals and a captivating story contributes to a rich and immersive atmosphere that keeps players engaged.
- “The art style, soundtrack, and overall atmosphere are absolutely beautiful and very unique.”
- “The atmosphere and art style are beautiful, and the story was quite good too.”
- “The wild at heart is a charming and atmospheric exploration and puzzle game, with wonderful characters, an interesting story, superb music, and wonderful graphics.”
- “The atmosphere is so incredibly charming and full of life.”
- “I adore this game's atmosphere, simple story, and mechanics, but where I struggled the most was figuring out where to go as the map is decent, but there are some sections where I had to keep backtracking and looking at walkthroughs.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, with many expressing frustration over the slow pace of collecting resources and upgrading items. While some appreciate the game's charm and exploration, the repetitive mechanics and resource management can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a desire for more streamlined options.
- “I’d like to go back after completing the main story to gather all the collectibles, but collecting game currency to buy upgrades and items from the game’s shop got tedious and slow very fast.”
- “It took me about 16 hours to beat, but that was with unnecessary resource grinding.”
- “Maybe it's just me, and others out there 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.”
humor
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its charming characters, witty descriptions, and quirky interactions, creating a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the gameplay, such as the amusing chaos of item collection and the humorous writing found in NPC interactions. Overall, the blend of whimsical art and funny storytelling enhances the game's appeal, making it a delightful alternative to similar titles like Pikmin.
- “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.”
- “I bought this mostly for the great art and cute characters but interacting with the NPCs, the humorous writing, the lore, the puzzles, and combat kept the game fun from start to finish.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits some bugs, particularly with spritelings getting out of bounds, but these issues are not game-breaking and do not require resets. While players note the presence of glitches, they appreciate the art style and concept, indicating that the stability concerns do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “It can be a little buggy.”
- “While there are a few bugs, mostly due to the spritelings getting out of bounds, there's nothing game-breaking and I never had to reset due to glitches.”
- “It's too short, it couldn't decide on what it wanted for tone (dark/sad or whimsical/silly), and it's pretty buggy.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by appealing designs and engaging introductions that foster player attachment, though some reviewers express a desire for deeper dialogue and more substantial growth among main NPCs. The humor in character names, like "litterbox," adds a memorable charm, but overall, the depth of character interactions could be improved.
- “I really love the character designs, and the introduction for the characters made you care about them.”
- “The character designs are charming, and I still laugh remembering that there's a character called 'Litterbox' who apparently smells really bad.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with them on a personal level.”
- “I was disappointed by how quickly the characters' arcs were resolved, leaving little room for growth or meaningful change.”
replayability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Replayability is generally considered low, as the main challenge lies in creature fights, while puzzles remain solved. However, the game's beautiful graphics, detailed story, and various side quests may encourage players to revisit it after some time.
- “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.”
- “Replayability is almost nonexistent, as only the creature fights can provide an additional challenge - the puzzles have already been solved.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play again since the experience remains largely the same.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes or different paths makes replaying the game feel redundant and unexciting.”
optimization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, delivering impressive performance with consistent 120 fps at 1440p on high settings, even on older hardware like the Vega 64. This contributes to an overall charming experience enhanced by beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay.
- “It's a charming title with beautiful graphics, solid gameplay, engaging environmental puzzles, and great performance. I achieved fairly consistent 120 fps with everything on max at 1440p on an old Vega 64.”