Zero-Sum Heart

About

Romantic, fantastical, and eerie, Zero-Sum Heart is a coming-of-age story about love. Enter a magical boarding school on our protagonist's eighteenth birthday as she makes a monumental decision and derails her life. A ritual sacrifice got her everything she ever wanted: an adoring crowd (faceless), a newfound power (dangerous), and a whirlwind romance (one-sided). But without a heart i…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

story10 positive mentions

The art style is beautiful and unique, creating a magical and nostalgic atmosphere that captivates players.
The story is thought-provoking and explores deep themes of love and self-worth, encouraging players to reflect on their own experiences.
The user interface and choice mechanics are innovative, enhancing the overall experience with animated choices that add a fun element to decision-making.

The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth.
There are occasional typos and writing inconsistencies that can detract from the overall immersion.
Some players may find the abstract storytelling and character namelessness confusing or less engaging.

story
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
9%
The game's story is praised for its fairy tale-like quality, engaging plot, and thought-provoking themes, drawing inspiration from classic literature such as Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid." Players appreciate the natural dialogue and the emotional depth of the characters, despite the narrative's brevity. Overall, the story is described as a beautiful and introspective experience that resonates deeply, enhanced by fitting visuals and music.
- “It's a very bold move and one that I really value; it grabs your attention and stimulates your thoughts, in addition to improving the fixation of the plot and characters in your mind.”
- “The story really caused me to reflect on my own heart, which I think is the best thing I can say about it.”
- “Even though the story implies that you are trading your heart to have everyone else’s, they didn’t turn this game into an opportunity to build a harem or appeal to sexuality to gain an audience.”
- “In this story, I sense the vulnerability of the other characters affected in the main character’s web that she hasn’t fully understood the weight of them being in, but you are left with the ability to help her see it through.”
- “A delightfully introspective and thought-provoking story that has both an earnest core and an unsettling atmosphere.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the magical and mystical atmosphere, with an original soundtrack that is both calming and refreshing. Reviewers note its fitting blend of dreamy and eerie elements, which complements the visuals and aids in storytelling, making it a memorable aspect that players may want to revisit. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful, unsettling, and perfectly aligned with the game's themes.
- “It completes the magic and mysticism of the game; it's the kind of soundtrack that you'll want to collect to listen to later. It's calming and refreshing.”
- “The music was fitting for the visuals presented; dreamy, eerie, pensive, and serene.”
- “The visuals and music are at times beautiful and at times unsettling—whatever they need to be to aid the story in each moment.”
- “The original soundtrack is appropriately off-putting and tender.”
- “The music was fitting for the visuals presented; dreamy, eerie, pensive, serene.”
- “It completes the magic and mysticism of the game, it's the kind of OST that you'll collect to listen to later, it's calming and refreshing.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are praised for their unique art style, which complements a soundtrack that is both dreamy and eerie, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game. Reviewers note that the visuals and music effectively shift between beauty and unease, aligning perfectly with the narrative's emotional tone.
- “The visuals and music are at times beautiful and at times unsettling-- whatever they need to be to aid the story in each moment.”
- “I loved the art style, as well as the music.”
- “The music was fitting for the visuals presented; dreamy, eerie, pensive, serene.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews highlight that the character design is exceptional, showcasing a strong emphasis on visual appeal. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth, suggesting that while the designs are impressive, the depth of character progression may be lacking.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have found the game to be deeply emotional, with certain endings having a profound impact that left them feeling broken. The emotional depth of the narrative encourages replayability as users seek to experience all possible outcomes.
- “I played again to achieve more endings, and I have to say... I didn't think this game could get any better... but it did. One of the endings broke me; it was just so emotional.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of introspection and thought-provoking elements, creating an earnest yet unsettling experience that resonates deeply with players.
- “A delightfully introspective and thought-provoking story that has both an earnest core and an unsettling atmosphere.”