Heartworm understands the appeal of late-1990s survival horror: fixed cameras, low-resolution visuals, unsettling sound, deliberate puzzles and a vulnerable protagonist. In Garri Bagdasarov’s PlayStation Universe review, those ingredients make for an atmospheric adventure, but thin exploration, backtracking and an opaque story keep it from becoming more than an uneven homage. He scores the PS5 version 6/10.
What is Heartworm?
Heartworm is a psychological horror adventure about Sam, who is grieving her grandfather and searching for a way to contact the dead. An online message board leads her to a remote house associated with the afterlife. The premise makes grief and memory the emotional center of the journey, while the setting and presentation draw on classic survival horror.
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The game’s official site names Silent Hill, Resident Evil and Dino Crisis as influences. That lineage shows up in its retro 3D presentation and survival-horror framing, rather than making every room or mechanic a direct lift from one particular game. The PlayStation Store listing describes both fixed-camera and over-the-shoulder perspectives, classic puzzles and limited combat using a camera as a weapon.
PlayStation Store listing: Heartworm for PS4 and PS5. Official site: Heartworm.
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What works best in Heartworm?
Retro presentation and sound
Bagdasarov finds that the low-resolution visuals evoke the era the game is trying to recall. The sound design and original soundtrack are among his strongest points: they help sustain unease even when the spaces themselves do not offer much to discover.
Puzzles that ask you to pay attention
The puzzles are another highlight in the review. They recall an older approach to adventure design, where players are expected to remember clues encountered earlier and may want to take notes. That can be rewarding if you enjoy connecting information across locations; it is less inviting if you want every objective clearly signposted.
Rank #2
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Where does the PS5 review find Heartworm lacking?
Exploration can feel empty
The review’s central reservation is that exploration often yields little. Some areas feel sparse, and returning through familiar spaces becomes a substantial part of progression. Backtracking can reinforce the slow, uneasy rhythm of survival horror, but Bagdasarov finds that it is not consistently supported by new discoveries or meaningful developments.
The story asks players to fill in too much
Sam’s grief gives the adventure a clear starting point, but the reviewer finds the story difficult to follow unless players read the inventory files and diary entries. The ending also leaves questions unresolved. That ambiguity may suit a surreal horror tale, but here it risks making the narrative feel under-explained rather than intriguingly mysterious.
Rank #3
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Combat stays basic
Sam uses a camera to stun or defeat enemies; conventional weapons are not part of the combat described in the review. The reviewer considers the system simple, with limited enemy variety and challenge, and notes that enemies may return. Combat is therefore a supporting mechanic, not a deep action system.
How long is Heartworm, and what is it like to play?
The PlayStation Store estimates a 4–6 hour playthrough and notes multiple endings. That is a storefront estimate, not a guaranteed time for every player; puzzle-solving pace and exploration can affect how long a run takes. GamesRadar+ repeated the same estimate in its October 2, 2026 coverage.
Rank #4
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The official listing describes fixed-camera and over-the-shoulder views, along with optional tank controls. Those choices let players lean further into an older control style or use a more contemporary approach. The listing also characterizes the experience as exploration, puzzle-solving and limited camera-based combat rather than weapon-focused action.
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Is Heartworm worth playing on PS5?
Bagdasarov’s 6/10 verdict points to a game most likely to appeal to players who value atmosphere, retro visuals, sound and traditional puzzle-solving more than fluid exploration or a clearly explained plot. Its influences are easy to recognize and, at their best, give the game a distinct mood. Its weaker stretches—empty-feeling areas, repeated backtracking, basic combat and unresolved narrative threads—make the homage feel less fully developed than its inspirations.
Best Value
- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
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For release context, the PlayStation Store listing displays January 10, 2026 and includes PS4 and PS5. PlayStation Universe reports an October 2, 2026 US release and lists PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox Series S/X and Xbox One; GamesRadar+ also describes a console launch on October 2 and mentions Switch and Switch 2. These are source-specific dates and platform listings, not a single universal release schedule. The review and its score are available at PlayStation Universe; the separate launch coverage is at GamesRadar+.
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