Heartbound

Heartbound is a non-traditional role-playing game about a boy, his dog, secrets and sanity. You follow Lore and Baron on adventures through time and space, changing the story through exploration and your interactions with the world.

Exploration and puzzles

The game moves through varied environments with distinct pixel art, an inspired soundtrack and plenty of extra socks. A large set of optional cryptographic puzzles can be solved as a community. The story also includes gags and moments of sadness.

Skill-based combat

Heartbound has no traditional levels, experience or consumables. Combat depends on your skill and can change according to your relationships with others and the things you have done. Weapons found throughout the world affect the damage you deal in certain situations.

Each enemy has its own mini-game, with objectives that vary between encounters. There are no random battles, and you can avoid some encounters depending on how you progress. Combat never ends in death; defeating someone lets you see their memories from their perspective, after which what you do is up to you.