Where the Heart Leads
Review

Where the Heart Leads (2021) is an adventure game where you make life-choices and then see their impact. You play Whit Anderson, as he revisits and alters his past, present, and future. It's a game that creates a surreal dream-like narrative, but one that is rooted in the consequences our decisions have on our lives and on the lives of others.

One fateful, stormy night, husband and father Whit Anderson descends down a massive sinkhole to save the family dog. Tumbling into darkness, Whit emerges in a realm beyond his imagining, where moments from his past, present and future manifest like dreams. Bearing witness to the story of his life, Whit gains the power to change it.

As you progress you choose dialogue and actions in key moments of Whit's life. He reflects on the choices he made and decides whether to change them -- with consequences for him and his loved ones. It soon becomes apparent that there are thousands of choices and dozens of endings so care must be taken to get the outcome you are after.

For example, you’ve just had an argument with your landlord and need to decide whether to encourage your spouse Rene to sell the land she inherited. If she sells, you can move into an affluent area of West Carthage and began a new chapter of your life. If she doesn't sell, you can build a house on it and live in the woods.

Each play through might only see a fraction of the game. And because the differences your choices make span chapters, they may not be immediately apparent. Small things could lead up to huge deviations. It's the depth and reach of these different scenarios that sets this game apart -- with over 600,000 words written to support these various branches.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Where the Heart Leads 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 5 months ago.