Where Is My Heart?

Did You Know?

• The idea for the game came from designer Bernhard Schulenburg's memories of being lost in the woods as a child while on a hike with his parents.
• The game is an homage to platformers of the 1980s and '90s.
• Its story and art direction are inspired by German fairytales, mythical creatures of Central Europe, and Japanese pictogram aesthetics.

Gameplay

The game begins as a typical platformer but soon the image breaks into frames of varying sizes that often shuffle. Players navigate by piecing together where their character appears in any given frame, while also collecting hearts and solving puzzles. The player can switch between three monster characters at will, each with a special ability that aids in solving levels.

Reception

The PSP version received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic, while the PC version received mixed or average reviews. David Sanchez of GameZone praised the gameplay and art direction, calling the PSP version a wonderful experience that is both a work of art and a proper homage to classic game design. Brendon Keogh of Edge commended the separated frames mechanic, noting that a less skilled developer could abuse such a device but the restrained design ensures the game lasts just long enough. Christian Donlan of Eurogamer described the concept as ingenious and stunning that he had never seen it before. Conversely, David Wolinsky of The A.V. Club found the PSP version interesting but somewhat repetitive, calling it a one-note experience despite the interesting note. IGN's Ryan Clements complained that the game's play-through time is too short, recommending it for something different even if the experience lasts only a few hours.