Heartbound is an upcoming role-playing video game developed by American indie developer Pirate Software. The game centers around a boy who deals with depression, anxiety, and fear as he embarks on a journey through different locations in search of his dog, Baron.[1] The narrative changes with different pathways and endings, depending on how the player interacts with the environment, other characters, and combat system. Each choice or interaction has the potential to change the game by adding dialog, encounters, or interactive objects to the world.[2]
An alpha version of the game was released for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux in November 2016 on Steam Greenlight. An early access version of the game has been released in December 2018, however Steam's Early Access note warns that the game has not received any updates for more than 13 months.[3][4]
A gameplay screenshot of Heartbound, showing Lore in combat against an enemy named Barghest in a memorization mini-game.
Heartbound is a role-playing game that borrows many conventions from other gaming genres. Progress is achieved by exploration and player choice, and how the player interacts with the world shapes the story line and the environment for the rest of the play-through. According to the Pirate Software website:
"Every time you interact with an object, talk to an NPC, forget to turn off a light-switch, take out the trash, or disregard a sparkly bush the game remembers this and will change subtly for all further interactions. The greatest part about this design is that it already works and is in the current builds of the game. Both minor and major differences are going to pop up throughout the game and give the community something to share with one another. Everything you do matters no matter what kind of player you are or choose to be."[5]
Alternate reality game
A series of cryptographic puzzles can be solved outside of Heartbound, available from the game's website. These puzzles provide additional lore and offer an alternative narrative parallel to the game. Completing portions of the Alternate reality game (ARG) can foreshadow or unlock additional game content.
Heartbound was initially greenlit on Steam in December 2016.[6] A Kickstarter campaign for the game early 2017 met its funding goal in less than two days[7] and finished raising $19,272 of its $5,000 goal. Heartbound released into Steam early access in December 2018,[8] featuring the Chapter 1 (titled Homeworld) and Chapter 2 (titled the Tower)[9] of the game's five chapters, and an expansion to the game's companion alternate reality game.[10]
Over the next five years, Heartbound continued development, with much of it streamed live on the studio's Twitch channel.[11]
As of February 2025, the game had not received any development updates for a period of greater than 13 months and Steam added a note to the Early Access section warning consumers the game may be abandoned.[12][13]
Reception
Both IGN and Game Skinny have shown interest in the direction the game is headed.[1][2] On 3 October 2018, the game was in second place for top indie release on Game Jolt;[14] On January 1, 2024, the game is in first place.[14]
Heartbound is an indie RPG with a 'retro' graphical style and unique combat mechanics, which is somewhat similar to games created by Toby Fox, Undertale and Deltarune. These superficial characteristics lead to a brief controversy involving popular YouTuberMatPat[15] when a video on the GTLive channel about the game linked to Undertale, Deltarune, and Toby Fox but not to Heartbound or Pirate Software.
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