Tin Hearts
- November 8, 2018
- Rogue Sun
- 46h median play time
Tin Hearts tells a moving story through a wonderful narrative, smart puzzles, and one of the most beautiful scores written for a video game.
In Tin Hearts, guide a troop of tin soldiers through Lemmings-inspired puzzles in a Victorian home, uncovering whimsical inventions and a moving narrative of family, love, and compromise. Spanning four acts and 50+ puzzles, each location offers unique challenges and a glimpse into the inventor's past. Immerse yourself in a captivating atmosphere with refined puzzle design and a resonating tale.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics, a charming soundtrack, and an engaging story that enhances the puzzle experience.
- Puzzles start off easy but gradually increase in complexity, providing a satisfying challenge as players progress.
- The game introduces new mechanics at a steady pace, keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting throughout.
- Controls can be unintuitive and frustrating, especially when using a keyboard and mouse, making the game feel clunky at times.
- The camera can be sluggish and may hinder gameplay, leading to difficulties in placing objects accurately during puzzles.
- Some players found the story to be underwhelming or clichéd, detracting from the overall experience of the game.
- story63 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it emotionally engaging and beautifully intertwined with the gameplay, while others criticize it as clichéd and lacking depth. Many appreciate the detailed graphics and music that enhance the narrative experience, but some feel the storytelling is drawn out and not particularly groundbreaking. Overall, it offers a heartfelt journey that resonates with those who invest time in its unfolding, especially in the context of a puzzle game.
“The soundtrack, story, lore, and clues are beautifully interwoven into each scene.”
“The story is a beautiful journey that had me playing one level after another because I wanted to know what happened in the end.”
“The story will take you on a journey full of emotion, and the ending delivers a true punch.”
“Sadly, to no direct fault of the makers, the game stumbles with the modern crutch of storytelling.”
“The story is nothing to write home about as it's essentially: 'a family man who gets engrossed with his work so much so that life events happened and he hides his grief behind his work until he realizes that his family is so important to him' type of story.”
“It takes a while for the plot to really get rolling (the first few hours are mainly to establish Butterworth and his family), but it's worth sticking it out for a while.”
- music20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful composition, enhancing the storytelling and overall atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight how the soundtrack is intricately woven into the gameplay, creating a relaxing and immersive experience, although some note that it can be repetitive at times. Overall, the combination of music, graphics, and narrative contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The soundtrack, story, lore, and clues are beautifully interwoven into each scene.”
“The sad story of the family who lived in the house and the excellent music bring an emotional element to the overall atmosphere.”
“The piano music throughout is a delight and very relaxing.”
“Little to no music.”
“With the music, the story (which takes a while to get into) the puzzle design.”
“It has very impressively detailed graphics, emotional music, and a major family story during and in between the levels.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a well-paced introduction of new mechanics and a gradual increase in puzzle difficulty, keeping the experience engaging without becoming overwhelming. While the controls can be finicky initially, they become manageable with practice, allowing players to enjoy the beautiful graphics and interesting story. The game effectively avoids repetition by regularly introducing new challenges and mechanics, making it appealing for fans of mechanical and physics-based puzzles.
“The puzzles start off pretty easy and there is a slow but steady difficulty curve where you are taught new game mechanics.”
“It's super pretty, the level design is really cute, the puzzles require you to think but are not overwhelming and new mechanics are added at a good pace, so it doesn't get boring.”
“On the plus side, the challenges get more complex from level to level and new gameplay mechanics are introduced regularly, so it does not become repetitive too fast.”
“The gameplay portion is what I want to focus on and why I exercise caution.”
“Why are you giving me mechanics and obstacles that hopscotch in appearance per level?”
“While the game mechanics are very solid, the controls can be a bit finicky at times, but they're serviceable and once you're used to them, they pose no obstacle to getting the job done.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their outstanding quality, with detailed and lifelike visuals that enhance the emotional storytelling. Players appreciate the beautiful art style and charming environmental design, which contribute significantly to the overall experience. While some reviews mention that graphics are not the primary focus, the consensus is that the visuals are exquisite and add depth to the gameplay.
“Graphics quality is outstanding, and the tin soldiers are so detailed and lifelike.”
“A lot of love and heart has been poured into this little gem, it's full of character and spirit, and the art style is without doubt nothing but wonderful.”
“And while you're working out that solution, you'll have time to enjoy some character moments - which are woven into the puzzles - and the absolutely gorgeous graphics design.”
“The visuals are decent.”
“Graphics don't matter in this game.”
“Just my impulse reactions to visuals.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt narrative, which intertwines a touching family story with gameplay, creating a poignant atmosphere enhanced by detailed graphics and evocative music. Players often find themselves moved by the melancholic themes and the exploration of memory and loss, making it a standout experience in the puzzle genre. Overall, the game successfully evokes strong emotions, resonating deeply with players through its storytelling.
“It has very impressively detailed graphics, emotional music, and a major family story during and in between the levels.”
“The sad story of the family who lived in the house and the excellent music bring an emotional element to the overall atmosphere.”
“Tin Hearts is a heartwarming story told in Victorian times about a husband, wife, and the daughter they have.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Tin Hearts is described as magical and cozy, enhanced by excellent music and an emotional narrative about a family's story. While the game maintains a relaxing vibe, some players find the pacing too slow for a puzzler. Overall, the art and the unique gameplay elements contribute to a satisfying and immersive experience.
“The sad story of the family who lived in the house and the excellent music bring an emotional element to the overall atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is magical and relaxing, and the moment the puzzle 'clicks' and you get to watch the soldiers march away is very satisfying.”
“Played through the first chapter and one more level and really loved it thus far - great art, atmosphere, and using various toys to guide your tin soldiers to exit is a really nice mix-up on the Lemmings formula.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally acceptable as long as it aligns with its branding as a 3D Lemmings game. However, players suggest enhancing the advertising experience by incorporating game lore into banners or providing higher resolution textures for better readability.
“The monetization in this game feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy without spending money.”
“I feel like the game is designed to push players towards microtransactions rather than providing a fair experience.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy it repeatedly without losing interest. This aspect contributes significantly to its long-term appeal and engagement.
“The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“Every run feels fresh and exciting, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
“The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in outcomes, which severely limits its replayability.”
“After finishing the main story, I found that there were no new challenges or content to explore, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its creative animations, such as a soldier performing a comedic roundhouse kick, which elicits genuine laughter. This lightheartedness is effectively contrasted with more serious emotional moments, creating a dynamic experience that balances humor with poignant storytelling.
“I just completed a level where you have to push four things with the direct control soldier. Each animation for the soldier was different, with the final one being a kind of roundhouse karate kick that almost made me laugh out loud, only to be brought down to earth with a lump in my throat at the cutscene between Albert and his wife. Gulp.”
“The dialogue in this game is absolutely hilarious! I found myself chuckling at the witty banter between characters, which really lightened the mood during intense moments.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into its gameplay mechanics. The silly animations and unexpected character interactions kept me entertained throughout my playthrough.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have noted that the game's isometric view, coupled with time pressure, can lead to a frustrating experience, particularly due to occasional stuttering of the camera, which detracts from overall optimization.
“You may also start to cry because the isometric view combined with time pressure and sometimes a stuttering camera.”
“The game suffers from severe frame drops, making it nearly unplayable during intense moments.”
“I constantly experience lag and glitches that ruin the overall experience.”
Critic Reviews
Tin Hearts Review
Tin Hearts is a lovely little puzzler that's engaging and emotional in equal measure. It takes all the right inspiration from Lemmings but manages to stand on its own two feet with a unique visual style, clever mechanics, and a wonderful narrative told effortlessly during gameplay. Technical hiccups pull it back from true greatness, including a choppy frame rate and jarring camera movements, but if you're after a relaxing puzzler that's not too taxing on the ol' noggin, then you really can't go too wrong with this.
80%Tin Hearts Review – Time, Tin Soldiers, and Tales
Tin Hearts is a Lemmings-style game with an emotional narrative about family and relationships, where players guide tin soldiers through cleverly designed levels, using mechanics like time control. Despite some technical issues and lack of VR support at launch, the game offers an engaging experience and potential replay value with the upcoming VR support.
70%Tin Hearts (Nintendo Switch)
Tin Hearts offers puzzle gamers a touching story and plenty of challenges across its 40+ levels, some of which are quite lengthy and rewarding. However, user interface issues, inconsistent graphics, and a few odd development decisions make toy time a little less fun than it could have been.
75%