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) | – | 69 | 31 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 80 | 250 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 162 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Sep 29, 2025) · 162 reviews sampled · 149 total reviews in window · weighted 95.9 up / 16.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (16)
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.
- 90
“Heartworm is more than just a tribute, it’s an evolution. Equal parts chilling and contemplative, it knows when to whisper and when to scream. From the stunning environments to the rich audio and the elegant blending of old and new mechanics, every piece feels hand-placed with purpose. Vincent Adinolfi and the small team behind Heartworm have crafted something special, a horror experience with soul. It’s one of 2025’s finest indie titles and a must-play for anyone who ever felt their skin crawl in a PS1 hallway.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Given the small team behind this project, there’s a clear enthusiasm and love for survival horror that shines through in blood-soaked glory. While it is a bit rough around the edges, and is certainly not without its issues, difficulty and level balancing notwithstanding, Heartworm is a decent ride while it lasts”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Heartworm has a strong atmosphere, greatly enhanced by an excellent use of PS1-style graphics. And that’s it. That’s the only thing good about this indie survival horror experience. A survival horror experience where the only true horror is the boredom that will have to be endured while the protagonist runs around aimlessly (without anything posing any real threat). It's all topped off with occasional not-exactly-that-deep thoughts on life and death.”
read full review ↗ - 62
“Heartworm seems to be a sincere homage to the heyday of survival horror. It has a remarkable level of accuracy in capturing the style, sound, and cadence of its inspirations.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While Heartworm isn't very challenging in its survival horror, its creative and well-designed puzzle elements still present a fun gameplay experience. It wears its inspiration of 1990s survival horror classics on its sleeve, while also making its own footprint in gorgeous, colourful visuals and lonely atmosphere.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Heartworm is another top notch indie horror to add to the collection and one that perhaps feels the closest to the games that clearly influence it. The mixture of Fatal Frame combat and Silent Hill gameplay is perfectly judged and the end result is a game that not only pays homage to the classics but deserves to be considered amongst them.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Heartworm works best in its subtlest areas, leaving players to experience the tension of its beautifully creepy environments and its subtle, anxiety-inducing score and story. While some of the moments intended to put you on edge don’t work as well, the game overall is still a great piece of nostalgia and an experience worth having on your own.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Heartworm is a game with a clear vision and strong aesthetic, its atmosphere, puzzles, and audio stand out and will appeal to fans of classic survival horror, but its ambition falls short due to unpolished mechanics, shallow storytelling, and lacking gameplay precision, making it more of a brief, atmospheric experience than a fully convincing modern classic.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“Heartworm is a love letter to survival horrors of the 90’s, with a great look and feel that apes those older games brilliantly. Boring boss fights, an uninspiring tale, and some user interface niggles stop this being a full-hearted recommendation, but if you’re in the market for old school Resident Evil-like gaming, then this should fit the bill nicely.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Heartworm is a very self-aware, intelligent take on classic survival horror franchises, that utilises some really clever ideas and will find ways to connect with the player through its themes, setting and mechanics. It’s rough around the edges at times and it’s style won’t be for everyone with the way you get around, the look and even the gameplay feel, but for those who grew up on the origins of the genre or those who look at it fondly and with respect, Heartworm is as good of a modern interpretation of it as has ever been made.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Heartworm is not just a love letter to classic horror games, but an odyssey through loss and the emotional toll of grief. On the surface, it has all the hallmarks of a classic PlayStation horror game, yet it also incorporates lessons learned from 30 years of game development. Beneath the surface, it explores overcoming the pain that comes with loss and how our memories of the past can differ from reality.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Heartworm doesn’t break any new ground, but it succeeds as a heartfelt and atmospheric tribute to the golden era of survival horror. Its emotional storytelling, eerie environments, and satisfying puzzles make it a worthwhile journey for fans of the genre, even if the combat and some design choices can fall short. If you’re in the mood for a nostalgic survival horror experience with a bit of emotional depth, Heartworm is well worth a visit.”
read full review ↗
TheBigBois
TheReviewGeek
Cubed3
GamesCreed
GameLuster
TheSixthAxis
Try Hard Guides
Gameliner
Xbox Tavern
Expansive
8Bit/Digi
Use a Potion…and 4 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Unity Security Update/Small Bug Fix PatchOct 10, 2025
- Save/Load HotfixOct 2, 2025
- Heartworm 1.1 UpdateSep 29, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- The Heartworm 1.1 Update Release DateSep 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Heartworm Update - Version 1.0.4f7Aug 14, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- End of Year Development UpdateDec 21, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Post-PAX Development Update!Sep 16, 2024
- Demo *Final* Update - 4.1Nov 29, 2022
- Demo Patch 2.2.2Nov 2, 2022