Werewolf: The Apocalypse — Heart of the Forest

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 513 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

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 513 reviews
story139 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written story that captures the essence of Werewolf: The Apocalypse.
  • Beautiful artwork and atmospheric sound design enhance the immersive experience.
  • Choices genuinely matter, leading to different outcomes and encouraging replayability.
  • The game is very short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, leaving players wanting more.
  • Lack of a save feature and no option to skip previously seen text can make replaying tedious.
  • Some character portrayals and political themes may alienate players who prefer traditional lore.
  • story462 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players praising its engaging narrative and meaningful choices that impact the outcome, while others criticize its brevity and abrupt ending, leaving them wanting more. The writing is generally well-received, though some feel it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of character depth. Overall, it offers a unique blend of werewolf lore and environmental themes, but its short length and occasional heavy-handedness with social issues detract from the experience for some players.

    • “It is very obvious that the devs knew what they were writing; you need to think before committing to a choice because each of them opens a whole new storyline with very different consequences.”
    • “The story dialog, sounds, music, and illustrations blew my expectations away.”
    • “A beautifully crafted love letter to Werewolf: The Apocalypse, and a strong story about anger and action and the many ways it can be used.”
    • “The story feels erratic, the characters rushed and a bit flat, and there's no real story arc to speak of.”
    • “The story ends kind of abruptly; I was expecting this game to be twice as long, to be honest.”
    • “The whole game feels like a prologue and needs another 2 or 3 more chunks as a werewolf in the new tribal society, and completing missions, etc.”
  • graphics77 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their unique and striking art style, which effectively complements the storytelling and atmosphere, creating a vivid and immersive experience. While many reviewers appreciate the colorful and evocative visuals, some critique the low art quality in certain areas, suggesting that the artwork may not always enhance the narrative's impact. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and thoughtful art direction contributes significantly to the game's appeal, despite some mixed opinions on specific artistic choices.

    • “The art direction is on point with vibrant and striking visuals.”
    • “The artwork is a beautiful series of modern art collage, and can even be genuinely terrifying during the more violent areas.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the music and ambient sounds are amazing and well done.”
    • “It's a visual novel in which the visuals are of very low art quality.”
    • “Wasn't a fan of the artwork which consists mainly of photos (and some other images) with blocky filters on them and then cut and pasted roughly into a frame to make it clear that's been done, but that's a personal choice.”
    • “This works to establish an aesthetic, but the visuals and the way the writing is handled makes keeping track of things very difficult.”
  • music69 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling, with many reviewers praising its immersive quality and emotional depth. The soundtrack is described as beautiful and well-composed, effectively complementing the visuals and narrative, although some noted instances of minimal music or abrupt shifts in volume. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and art creates a captivating experience that resonates with players, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The music and ambient sound is top-notch, pulling my attention in fully.”
    • “The art was fantastic, really captured the vibe the game was going for, along with the music; the whole audiovisual and UI presentation was excellent.”
    • “The music is beautiful, and the sound effects really add to the created and described environment.”
    • “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.”
    • “Rip to headphone users if they are wearing them when the end credits play though, the loudest end credits song I've ever heard.”
    • “The music fit the game and theme very well, while the sound effects were a little awkward.”
  • gameplay58 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a blend of text-based choices and mechanics that reflect the tabletop RPG experience, with some players praising its engaging narrative and character customization. However, critiques highlight that while the mechanics are well-integrated, they can feel underutilized or simplistic, leading to a sense of missed potential, especially given the game's short length. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable and effective in conveying the story, though it may not satisfy those seeking deeper mechanics or longer playtime.

    • “Excellent narrative, good gameplay, an overall very fun and solid experience of the werewolf tabletop RPG system.”
    • “The mechanics to this visual-novel-styled game are perfect and they carry the game farther than you'd think.”
    • “The customizability of the main character by your choices and the gameplay mechanics incorporated really add to it being more than just a visual novel.”
    • “The stats, character sheet, and overall mechanics, although not the point of this kind of game, also feel lackluster.”
    • “The gameplay is very straightforward, though many of the choices that I (and my wife before me) 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.”
  • replayability44 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its branching storylines and multiple choices, allowing players to explore different outcomes and character interactions. While some reviewers note the game's short length, they emphasize that this brevity enhances the desire to replay and experience various narrative paths. Overall, it is well-regarded for its engaging plot and the variety of choices that contribute to its replay value.

    • “Great setting, well-written plot, cool characters, gorgeous and stylish artwork, and it seems to be very replayable.”
    • “The story was really gripping with interesting choices and a lot of replayability if that's your thing.”
    • “Yes, the replayability is great; you’ll only see a fraction of the setting and get to know a few of the characters in some depth at first, and the more times you play, the more familiar you’ll become with them.”
    • “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 a little short, it does have a lot of replayability with a bunch of possible outcomes.”
    • “I'm sure replayability is the objective here, but, like, seriously, I was hoping one playthrough of 3 hours would be at least majority a part of the Garou world, not pre-first-change human.”
  • atmosphere41 mentions

    The game excels in creating a rich and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the essence of a troubled Polish village and an ancient forest through stunning artwork, sound design, and writing. Players appreciate the emotional depth and ambiance, which enhance the narrative experience, although some express frustration with the lack of quick save options that hinder exploration. Overall, the atmosphere is consistently praised as one of the game's strongest elements, contributing significantly to its appeal.

    • “The atmosphere of this game is amazing and creates an astounding emotional synchronicity to the narrative.”
    • “Impeccable atmosphere and beautifully written.”
    • “The rough but exquisite drawings and sound design of the game add atmosphere to the proceedings that do much to encourage the player to stick around.”
    • “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 excessive postmodernism broke the initial immersion and atmosphere, which had been the strong points of the series.”
    • “I did like its setting and the atmosphere of being in a different country than where most games are set, but that was about the only thing I liked about it.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players feeling a strong emotional connection and others finding it lacking depth in certain story areas. While the narrative can evoke genuine feelings, particularly during impactful moments and character experiences, some elements may feel rushed or underdeveloped. Overall, many players appreciate the emotional engagement and replayability, highlighting the game's ability to create a touching and immersive atmosphere.

    • “Despite this, the game was still emotionally involving (mostly when a certain person suffered for Maia's actions).”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is amazing and creates an astounding emotional synchronicity to the narrative.”
    • “I cried when I finished this game.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the depth and impact of choices on character progression, others feel that it lacks sufficient options and depth, particularly for a game inspired by tabletop mechanics. The presence of a character sheet is noted positively, but many users express a desire for more thoughtful storytelling and varied development paths. Overall, the game's character development is seen as a strong point for some, but a missed opportunity for others.

    • “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 amazing!”
    • “There is a character sheet that resembles pen-and-paper gaming, which is good because long-term character development can be observed.”
    • “So, I've done a number of playthroughs and each decision does have a direct impact on character development.”
    • “Not many choices for character development.”
    • “Pretty slow for a visual novel based on a tabletop game; not enough skills, options, or character development.”
    • “So, I've done a number of playthroughs, and each decision does have a direct impact on character development.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as both random and absurd, with moments that evoke laughter through unexpected comparisons and bizarre scenarios. While some players find the humor to be a refreshing change, others feel it detracts from the franchise's traditionally darker, satirical edge, leading to mixed reactions about its new, more progressive tone. Overall, the humor seems to elicit a range of responses, from genuine amusement to bewilderment.

    • “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.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect tedious, as it hinders exploration of different choices and customization for subsequent playthroughs, ultimately leading to a frustrating waste of time.

    • “It just makes it tedious to explore different choices and tailor your subsequent playthroughs as you want, and it just wastes time.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a chore than fun.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers feel that the game's monetization strategy is underwhelming, likening it to a missed opportunity to fully capitalize on its potential, as it primarily serves as a promotional tool for an upcoming title rather than offering substantial content or value.

    • “Honestly, it feels like this is more of an advertisement for the upcoming werewolf RPG. The game is sitting on a goldmine but only brings up a single nugget instead of squeezing it for everything it has.”
    • “The monetization model is frustratingly aggressive, making it feel like the game prioritizes profit over player experience.”
    • “I can't shake the feeling that every feature is locked behind a paywall, which ruins the enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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