Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 80 | 23 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 90 | 457 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 74 | 6 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 2 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 7 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 5.6 up / 0 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (35)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 68
“But therein lies the rub for The Wild at Heart: It just isn’t memorable. Despite its inoffensive story and well-meaning gameplay, the title never quite finds its groove. There’s no smoking gun I can point to, as nothing here is inherently “bad.” This is a rare case where a gaming experience is simply less than the sum of its parts.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The game’s top-down perspective is quite zoomed in, amplifying the gorgeous details of the storybook art style.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Wild at Heart isn’t a game that rewrites gaming history, but it combines laid-back gameplay and clever puzzles with an emotional story set in a beautifully stylized world, which will make it grow on you. Although not everything is perfect, it gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace… and that’s precisely where its captivating power lies.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Wild at Heart borrows several of its mechanics from Nintendo IP, there's no question about that. This could have presented a bit of a problem had it not been for the exquisite visual style and presentation, not to mention Moonlight Kids' excellent execution of those mechanics. With a story that's equal parts amusing, intriguing, and emotional, alongside genuinely stunning 2D visuals, you'll be sucked into this world in no time. Minor frustrations with combat and loading times aside, this is an adventure you'll be glad you embarked on.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Wild at Heart is a heartfelt exploration game that makes you feel as if you are seeing the world through young eyes. The game follows Wake and Kirby as they cling to their innocence and a need for something greater than their lonely and difficult upbringings, and it is refreshing and bittersweet to follow them throughout this journey. With characters, environments and music that embody a battle between the joys and fears of childhood, The Wild at Heart is a perfect reminder of how our view of the world continues to grow and change.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Sometimes all you need to get excited about a title are a few evocative words, commonly referred to as an “elevator pitch”...”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I am going to continue to explore to my own heart's content, and I look forward to finding every last treasure, missing cat, deep lore page, and mysterious secret. I wish there had been a little more care put into how the difficulty was handled, but even so, this was a really pleasant time. Hopefully this isn't the last we see of Wake and Kirby, as I expect that there is a lot of room for them to continue to grow into young adults, and there is room to perfect what is otherwise an enjoyable experience.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The Wild at Heart is a great game with good stories, graphics, sound, volume, and even fun. It has simple controls you can use various ways during gameplay. Also, the whole game perfectly depicts a child's growth story.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Wild at Heart is a story-rich action-adventure that draws you in and pulls at your heartstrings as we follow two children, Wake and Kirby, as they discover who they are and where they belong. The immersive and detailed storytelling and intuitive gameplay make The Wild at Heart a beautifully crafted showpiece. Whilst some of the gameplay further into the experience can feel repetitive and some mechanics are either underutilised or unnecessary, this is still a game worth sharing with people of all ages as it offers unique experiences for each player. Moonlight Kids have done an amazing job creating this unique and wonderful world and the story within. If you are an avid lover of puzzle adventure games that involve weird and wonderful creatures, coming of age stories, battles against supernatural foes and uncovering secrets, then The Wild at Heart is something you absolutely must experience for yourself.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Wild at Heart is a stunning experience that makes the player want to play all day long.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Part Pikmin with a splash of Metroid, The Wild at Heart takes these concepts but never utilises them to their full extent. That said, it is fun in short bursts when you need to unwind. With a touching plot and beautiful hand-drawn visuals, this is an impressive first outing for developers Moonlight Kids.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Wild at Heart is so well put together with a remarkable level of polish and a real sense of its own identity. The skilful blending together of different mechanics borrowed from high profile titles enables the game to be intuitive but also maintain a distinctive feel, so while not the longest game, it is chock full of character and deserves to find its way into your heart. Plus, the Spritelings are just so effin' cute. ”
read full review ↗
The Punished Backlog
Slant Magazine
Gaming Professors
Nintendo Life
Paste Magazine
Nindie Spotlight
NintendoWorldReport
INVEN
Checkpoint Gaming
Eurogamer
GameGrin
TheSixthAxis…and 23 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hotfix Patch 1.1.10Jan 29, 2026
- Hotfix Patch 1.1.9May 22, 2024
- The "Oh, you guys are still here?" Patch (1.1.8)Nov 16, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- The "Farewell For Now" Patch (1.1.5)Jan 27, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch 1.1.3.0Nov 29, 2021
- "Field Guide Update" Week 1 Patch (1.1.1.0)Nov 18, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The Field Guide Update (1.1)Nov 16, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The October Patch (1.0.21.0)Oct 5, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The Random Lil Goodies Patch (1.0.20.0)Aug 10, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The Big Performance Patch! (1.0.18.0)Jul 16, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The Week 4 Patch (1.0.17.0)Jun 16, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The Week 2 Patch (1.0.16.0)Jun 4, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The "Oopsies" Patch (1.0.15.1)Jun 2, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The Week 1 Patch (1.0.15.0)May 29, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The "Displaced Items" Patch (1.0.13.0)May 23, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- 1.0.12.1May 20, 2021
- Demo Patch 0.0.11Jun 19, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Patch 0.0.10Jun 17, 2020