Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 761 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest Game Cover
Despite some flaws, Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest is an engrossing visual novel with heavy RPG elements.
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"Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest" is a narrative-driven role-playing game set in the World of Darkness universe. Players step into the shoes of a young woman exploring an ancient forest, uncovering secrets and battling supernatural foes as a shapeshifter. With multiple branching storylines and character customization options, each playthrough offers a unique experience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 761 reviews
story213 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Engaging and immersive story that captures the essence of Werewolf: The Apocalypse.
  • Beautiful art style and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Meaningful choices that affect character development and story outcomes, encouraging replayability.
  • Very short playtime, typically around 2-4 hours, leaving players wanting more.
  • Some characters feel underdeveloped and lack depth, making it hard to connect with them.
  • No save or chapter select feature, making it cumbersome to replay and explore different paths.
  • story679 mentions

    The game's story is described as immersive and well-written, featuring interesting characters and meaningful choices that impact the narrative. However, many reviewers note that the story is relatively short, often feeling like a prologue rather than a complete experience, which leaves players wanting more. While the atmospheric elements, such as art and music, enhance the storytelling, some critiques highlight a lack of depth in character development and a tendency for the plot to become erratic or overly focused on modern themes, detracting from the werewolf lore.

    • “A well-written story with interesting characters and situations within the world of Werewolf: The Apocalypse. This narrative game is an excellent introduction to every basic element of it and offers a compelling experience of what a good campaign could be.”
    • “The story is captivating, with meaningful choices that genuinely affect the outcome. It feels like a well-structured narrative that allows for replayability and exploration of different paths.”
    • “The story is beautifully crafted, with a rich atmosphere created by the art and music. It draws you in and keeps you engaged throughout the experience.”
    • “The story feels erratic, the characters rushed and a bit flat, and there's no real story arc to speak of.”
    • “The story is dull, uninspiring and written in quite a heavy-handed style, with some strange and forced political tropes that don't fit there at all.”
    • “The story ended just as I felt it was beginning.”
  • graphics129 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and striking art style, which effectively complements the dark and immersive atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the vibrant and surreal visuals that enhance the storytelling, although some note that the quality can vary, with a few expressing dissatisfaction with certain artistic choices. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic and emotional impact.

    • “The art is a standout feature, with surreal and vibrant visuals that enhance the game’s unsettling and mystical tone.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the music and ambient sounds are amazing and well done.”
    • “Visually the artwork is impressive, dark, creepy, and really cool to look at.”
    • “It's a visual novel in which the visuals are of very low art quality.”
    • “The game looks very simple with no complex resources spent: almost no graphics (just a series of images representing the scenes told), no outstanding music or sounds, very simple interface.”
    • “The art is ugly, messy garbage too; it looks like someone hired the people who used to do album artwork for Marilyn Manson and the Goo Goo Dolls.”
  • music105 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience and complementing the visuals and narrative. Many reviewers highlight the haunting and evocative soundtrack, which captures the game's dark themes and emotional moments, while some note that the end credits music is particularly striking. However, a few critiques mention instances of sparse music or sound, suggesting that more could have been included to further enrich the experience.

    • “The soundtrack is haunting and immersive, perfectly complementing the game’s dark and surreal aesthetic.”
    • “A moody and evocative soundtrack amplifies the game’s themes, pulling players into the story’s eerie and tense moments.”
    • “The music is stunning, and the story is captivating.”
    • “Very little visuals or music.”
    • “Music is almost nonexistent and there are no voices, so you're better off playing some spooky music in the background to help the mood.”
    • “The game looks very simple with no complex resources spent: almost no graphics (just a series of images representing the scenes told), no outstanding music or sounds, very simple interface.”
  • gameplay86 mentions

    The gameplay of "Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest" is a blend of visual novel and RPG mechanics, featuring advanced stat systems that influence choices and outcomes, though some players find the impact of these mechanics unclear or underutilized. While the game successfully captures the essence of the tabletop experience with engaging narrative and character customization, many reviews note that the gameplay can feel rushed and lacks depth in certain areas, leading to a desire for a longer experience. Overall, the mechanics are appreciated for their integration into the story, but some players feel they could be more fully realized.

    • “Excellent narrative, good gameplay, an overall very fun and solid experience of the werewolf tabletop RPG system.”
    • “The mechanics of rage, health, willpower, and others were a good idea as well, bringing some freshness to the genre of interactive novel.”
    • “Striking the right balance between the tabletop RPG-like mechanics with the visual novel formula and telling an engaging story with a bit more moral ambiguity than one might expect, and choices that can affect the way the plot plays out without feeling entirely like it all boils down to one choice at the right moment.”
    • “While the stat-raising mechanics add a layer of depth, their impact often feels unclear.”
    • “The gameplay is very straightforward, though many of the choices I encountered seemed completely out of line with the assigned prompts, the narrative, or the intention of the choices.”
    • “The game is well written and has some interesting choices as a choose-your-own-adventure should; however, it is painfully short to the point where many of the mechanics introduced later in the game are pointless and are only used maybe once.”
  • atmosphere70 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of art, music, and storytelling, creating a haunting and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the striking visuals and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the emotional depth and lore-rich environment, particularly in settings like a troubled Polish village and an ancient forest. While the atmosphere is consistently described as beautiful and engaging, some players note that the game's brevity and lack of certain features can detract from fully exploring its rich world.

    • “Paired with striking visuals, it creates an eerie yet captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The art and music create a beautiful, haunting atmosphere alive with possibility.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is amazing and creates an astounding emotional synchronicity to the narrative.”
    • “The excessive postmodernism broke the initial immersion and atmosphere, which had been the strong points of the series.”
    • “This feels like a first draft where so much effort was put into creating atmosphere that the authors forgot that they had a word count.”
    • “The overall atmosphere of the game seemed fine but before even finishing my first playthrough I was ready for my character to flip everyone off and just leave despite trying a fairly spiritual path.”
  • replayability64 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its multiple archetypes, branching paths, and varied outcomes, making it appealing for players who enjoy exploring different storylines and choices. While some reviewers note its short length, they emphasize that the rich lore and diverse gameplay options significantly enhance its replay value. Overall, it is regarded as a worthwhile addition to any visual novel library for those interested in replaying to uncover all possible narratives.

    • “While it's not without flaws, its replayability and rich lore make it a worthwhile addition to any visual novel library.”
    • “The story was really gripping with interesting choices and a lot of replayability if that's your thing.”
    • “For such a small game, the replayability is incredible.”
    • “I'm not entirely sure whether the choices you make affect the storyline enough to make it really replayable.”
    • “It looks like it would have a fair bit of replay value, but the scope of the game is just so incredibly small.”
    • “While it's short, it does have replay value.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players feeling deeply connected to the characters and story, while others find the emotional weight lacking due to underdeveloped backstories and superficial choices. However, many reviewers highlight moments of genuine emotional impact, particularly in well-crafted scenes and character arcs that resonate strongly, leading to a rewarding experience even in less favorable endings. Overall, the game's atmosphere and narrative can evoke strong feelings, making it a memorable emotional journey for many players.

    • “That was surprisingly engaging and emotional!”
    • “A touching and introspective story in a unique setting!”
    • “I cried when I finished this game.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the impact of choices on character progression, while others criticize the lack of depth and options available. Although the game features a character sheet reminiscent of pen-and-paper RPGs, many feel that the support cast is underdeveloped, leading to confusion and a missed opportunity for richer storytelling. Overall, while there are moments of meaningful character development, the execution leaves players wanting more.

    • “One of my favorite games of this style, I've played it over and over again because the text, music, sound effects, and character development are so incredibly good!”
    • “The choices matter, and while the short duration doesn't allow for some real character development, I think the game still delivers.”
    • “There is a character sheet that resembles pen-and-paper gaming, which is good because long-term character development might be observed.”
    • “They completely skipped what is called character development.”
    • “Not many choices for character development.”
    • “Pretty slow for a visual novel based on a tabletop game, not enough skills/options/character development.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as both unexpected and absurd, with moments that evoke genuine laughter, such as the "werewolf supremacists" line. Players find amusement in the game's strange scenes and analogies, despite some feeling that the humor may stem from translation issues. However, there is a sense that the game's shift towards a more progressive tone has diluted its original dark humor and satire.

    • “The get of Fenris being described as 'werewolf supremacists' had me laughing really hard due to how straight-up random and out of the blue it felt.”
    • “Fringe weirdos think this game is propaganda; I think that's hilarious.”
    • “I'm going to gloss over most (but not all) details and just describe that the session with my brother devolved from sincere enthusiasm to mild disbelief, to tacit recognition that a scene or so was a little... strange (probably due to translation), into some Captain Planet analogies which I found humorous despite myself, to the moment this game jumped the friggin' shark.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly without any performance issues or noticeable bugs, leading to a highly positive user experience.

    • “Runs beautifully, with no performance issues or noticeable bugs.”
    • “⚙️ Settings & performance are well-optimized for an enjoyable experience.”
    • “💯 Performance is top-notch, ensuring smooth gameplay.”
    • “The game struggles with optimization, leading to frequent frame drops even on high-end hardware.”
    • “Despite adjusting the settings, I still experience significant lag and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “The lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems, which is frustrating.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when attempting to explore different choices or tailor subsequent playthroughs, which can detract from the overall experience. While the story may be enjoyable for a single playthrough, the repetitive nature of grinding makes extended gameplay feel like a waste of time.

    • “If you are looking to play the story once, I think it is worth it. For everything more than that, the game is very tedious and not necessarily what I'd want to spend my time on.”
    • “It just makes it tedious to explore different choices and tailor your subsequent playthroughs as to how you want, and it just wastes time.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as underwhelming, with players feeling that it serves more as a promotional tool for an upcoming RPG rather than fully utilizing its potential. Users express disappointment that the game does not capitalize on its rich narrative and gameplay opportunities, offering only minimal content instead of a more substantial experience.

    • “Honestly, it feels like this is more of an advertisement for the upcoming Werewolf RPG, but the game is sitting on a goldmine and only bringing up a single nugget instead of squeezing it for everything it has.”
    • “The monetization model is frustrating; it feels like the game is designed to push players towards spending more money rather than enjoying the experience.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to fully enjoy the game without spending extra.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting no crashes, bugs, or glitches throughout their playthroughs. Overall, players have experienced a smooth and reliable gaming experience.

    • “There were no bugs, crashes, or glitches during my full run-through of the game/story.”
    • “No crashes, no bugs, no glitches.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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