- Publisher: Vincent Adinolfi , Transmute.io , DreadXP
- Release Date: Jul 31, 2025
- Critic score
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Aug 19, 2025Heartworm is an intriguing ode to the survival horror games of old. It looks and plays like a first-generation PlayStation title, complete with a wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack. Sam’s story feels personal and sincere, though it doesn’t quite stick the landing. What truly matters, however, is the exploration, the horror, and solving puzzles in a twisted world. Heartworm presents some very strong ideas, though it sometimes only uses them a handful of times, and the game can definitely feel too easy at points, which undermines the horror a bit. Even so, I believe Heartworm does enough to be worth the time of Resident Evil and Silent Hill fans.
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Aug 3, 2025Heartworm is an imperfect but emotionally powerful experience. It doesn't revolutionize survival horror, but it demonstrates a deep understanding of what made the classics special. Its greatest success lies in using nostalgia as a vehicle to explore universal themes of loss and grief.
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Aug 1, 2025Heartworm is a moody homage to classic survival horror, with strong puzzles and an effective retro style. It leaves an impression, but falls short of its ambition and lacks the depth to truly resonate.
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Jul 28, 2025It's not really scary, but Heartworm remains a fun retro-styled survival horror game nonetheless, thanks to its intriguing story and rewarding puzzles.
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Sep 12, 2025All in all, Heartworm is a fascinating look at memories, trauma, and our experiences in dealing with both. The limited combat options meant that the disempowerment of needing to avoid combat when possible helped to serve the feeling of unease. Unfortunately, there are some issues that bring down the experience as a whole, and I wish they would have been fixed before release. Even so, Sam’s quest for meaning in the face of anguish is a relatable one, and that’s where this adventure truly shines.
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Aug 22, 2025Heartworm starts off very well, presenting an intimate and personal theme like grief and its processing, a well-crafted atmosphere, and a sense of growing tension. However, when it tries to do more, this is where it begins to falter.
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Jul 28, 2025Heartworm delivers a moody and nostalgic survival horror experience, drawing clear inspiration from genre staples like Resident Evil and Fatal Frame. Its retro presentation, eerie sound design, and clever environmental puzzles evoke a sense of dread that fans of classic horror will appreciate. However, despite a promising setup, the game falters with a thin, disjointed narrative and several underdeveloped mechanics, leaving the full promise of its design unrealized.