Sayonara Wild Hearts

 Switch
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
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  1. The Indie Game Website
    Sep 30, 2019
    70
    Don’t get me wrong, it’s not difficult. If you fail a few times in a row, it even asks if you’d like to skip that section. But it rarely feels like you’re properly in control. I can’t help but think that rhythm game mechanics would have worked better – particularly considering the musical essence of the game.
  2. Everyeye.it
    Sep 30, 2019
    70
    Acceptable and indeed praiseworthy in concept and realization, but maybe less easy to digest at literally twenty cents a minute.
  3. Game Informer
    Sep 19, 2019
    70
    I quite enjoyed looking at Sayonara Wild Hearts, even though interacting with it left me cold. In fact, I probably would have liked it just as much if it were just a short film. As it stands, it’s an impressively stylish title with a disappointing amount of substance.
  5. GameSpot
    Oct 2, 2019
    60
    On repeat playthroughs, I found myself getting more and more used to Sayonara Wild Hearts' quirks and better appreciating each level as I gained the muscle memory for them. Only a few hit me like Dead of Night did, and those levels are stellar. But the rest are either forgettable or somehow discordant, whether because of movement issues or strange timing. I wanted to get lost in the daydream it presented, but I kept getting ripped back to reality, just a bit more melancholic than when I started.
  6. CGMagazine
    Sep 25, 2019
    60
    Sayonara Wild Hearts’ is gorgeous and packs an incredible pop soundtrack, but the actual levels the music accompanies never feels as natural as its audiovisual splendor.
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This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Eurogamer
    Sep 17, 2019
    Simogo shuffles through a stacked deck of rhythm-action delights, mastering yet another genre. [Eurogamer Recommended]
  2. Kotaku
    Sep 18, 2019
    It’s undeniably cool, and if it’s not your thing, then Sayonara Wild Hearts is like, whatever. It wants to take whoever does love it and ride off into the neon sunset with them.
  3. Polygon
    Sep 23, 2019
    Sayonara Wild Hearts feels like the perfect game to relax to just before going to bed, with hopes of washing my dreams with the pink-purple colors of a neon sunset, surrounded by beautiful people who fight as if they’re falling in love.
  5. Vice
    Sep 18, 2019
    Ever listened to an album and let your imagination wander? That's what Sayonara Wild Hearts is like...All I want to do, even as I write this, is play Sayonara Wild Hearts again, and I don’t ever play games again.

Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best Switch Game of 2019
58
#58 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 81
  3. Negative: 6 out of 81
  1. B3R3AL2020
    Sep 19, 2019
    10
    Mesmerizing work! A whole buffet of comfort food gameplay that's like taking multi-vitamins for the third eye with its imagination and music.Mesmerizing work! A whole buffet of comfort food gameplay that's like taking multi-vitamins for the third eye with its imagination and music. What a wonderful debut from these developers. I'm excited to see what's next from them.… Full Review »
  2. hazsch
    Jun 21, 2020
    7
    The music is great, and that's what this game is centred around. The art style is compelling and gorgeous, and I loved seeing what each newThe music is great, and that's what this game is centred around. The art style is compelling and gorgeous, and I loved seeing what each new level would bring in terms of style and gameplay. Each level has varying styles of play and it's a lot of fun, but it's trying to be a rhythm game and it succeeds around 80% of the time. In some sections, you need to press A when a circle comes in line with another circle, and they're kind of sporadic. They'll be on beat half the time and offbeat the other half, and it kinda makes the flow feel weird. This certainly isn't enough to ruin a whole game though. It's so much fun and the aesthetic and general feel of the game is wonderful, and that title theme is just so catchy. You can beat the whole game in less than 5 hours though.… Full Review »
  3. ShoujoWitch
    Jun 19, 2020
    10
    A rare gem of a game that I'm glad to have a physical copy of. It's so damn unique, charming graphics and music, and just a joy to playA rare gem of a game that I'm glad to have a physical copy of. It's so damn unique, charming graphics and music, and just a joy to play through. It's like a psychedelic pop music video. I'm not sure I've ever seen a game quite like this. It's a bit short (you can play through all the stages in an hour), but very replayable and fun. I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.… Full Review »
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