Cards of Heart (2024)

Developer: GoodMind Games
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: RPG, Strategy, Free To Play
Rating: 4.6 of 5, 50 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 2.2 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A gentle, introspective RPG where you slowly build a deck of cards from everyday life to confront inner darkness, with a hopeful and therapeutic feel.

introspectivehopefulstory-driventacticalturn-basedtherapeuticgentleemotional

What players say

Players praise the charming art and music, and many connect deeply with the game's mental health themes. The card system is cleverly tied to the story, where health acts as mana. However, the game is very short, around 2 hours, with only four battles, and some find it mechanically unbalanced or the main character a bit annoying.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.