Messy Hearts

Ehh this story isn't cute. It's trying to be, but it isn't. You don't say you're tryna be friends with a married man and then have a "crush" on him. That's not a friendship, you're a homewrecker if anything. Florence is the most stupid, annoying, obsessive person, and Ron knows what he's doing, but does it anyway. The only good thing about it was the portrayal of OCD and the art is amazing.

Messy Hearts is a drama visual novel about two sort-of-friends and coworkers who have series of blurred line interactions at work that leave the protagonist, Florence, lost and confused. As someone with a series of mental health support needs, Florence has worked on building themself up after breaking up with a potential partner in their ENM marriage. With a 5-year-old who has ADHD and an atypical relationship with their husband, Florence is struggling to navigate their stress and family needs as the confusion from their cowroker sets them back in their therapy journey. The game was sombre, with high stress moments and frustration. I felt like I was seeing through an XRay into the inner-workings of Florence's life and how disastrously things could go if they committed to pursuing something with Ron. I grew to hate Ron in the course of the narrative; seeing his communication style was like seeing a ship at sea with no lighthouse - knowing that there were rocks just beyond the next wave and knowing it was going to crash. The art was simple but charming and distinct. I liked the scenes with Florence's son Felix present. The looping animation was nice to watch. I liked the menus and…

The writing and story telling is amazing. I love the pixel art as well. I don't write reviews often but this deserves the attention and recognition.

you really just fall into the story with messy hearts. you start to genuinely care about the MC and her son, and you find yourself thinking about every choice you make and feeling as if you were in her shoes. even the smallest decisions can leave you feeling guilty afterward, which I think really shows how well the characters and story pull you in. i did buy the DLC and chapter 2 was great! It added even more to the story and kept me just as invested. I’m already highly anticipating chapter 3!!! kudos to the devs for making something that feels so heartfelt and real. You can really tell a lot of care went into this game. !! <3

A really lovely gem. Awesome art and writing. Love it

Messy Hearts feels honest and real in its engaging storytelling. It's well paced and has a charming art style, fitting the grounded story. I look forward to future chapters!