At PAX West 2024, All Ages of Geek sat down with Vincent and Eve, the minds behind Heartworm, a throwback survival horror experience built with love, loss, and a little bit of Gothic dread.
What is Heartworm?
Heartworm is a retro-inspired survival horror game, taking heavy notes from classics like Silent Hill and Resident Evil while adding some modern updates along the way.
- A journey through grief and loss
- Fixed camera and third-person perspectives
- A camera as your main weapon against death itself
- 4-6 hours of gameplay with multiple endings
You’ll explore eerie environments, solve classic puzzles, and survive haunting encounters—all while navigating Sam’s emotional journey.
What to Expect in Heartworm
The story follows Sam, who struggles to move on after her grandfather’s death. After finding a strange forum online, she’s led to a supernatural house in the mountains—rumored to connect the living with the dead.
Inside, it’s not just ghosts you have to worry about. You’ll face off against strange creatures, twisted reflections of grief, and the weight of time itself.
Core Features
- Classic survival horror puzzles
- Combat using a camera as your only weapon
- Modern and classic control options (tank controls optional)
- Pre-rendered and in-game cutscenes
- Atmospheric retro environments
- Haunting original soundtrack
- Optional pixelation and retro effects
Art and Visual Style Inspiration
Vincent shared that the game’s visual inspiration came from photographer Gregory Crewdson, known for surreal, unsettling suburban photos where “something just feels off.”
Instead of going all foggy and gray, Heartworm brings richer colors—purples, greens, and deep contrasts—making the world feel more alive yet still deeply wrong.
Eve added that keeping the colors strong without crossing into cartoonish was key, pulling influences like Gala to strike a rich, eerie atmosphere.
Quick Pitch: 3-5 Words
- Vincent: Suburban Gothic Survival Horror
- Eve: Goth Fatal Frame
Pretty much nails it.
Where to Play and Support Heartworm
- Current Demo: Available now on Steam
- New Demo: Coming October 2024 during NextFest
- Full Release: Planned for Q1 2025
Wishlist Heartworm on Steam (it seriously helps indie devs a ton)
Final Thoughts
If you grew up sneaking in late-night sessions of Silent Hill and Resident Evil, Heartworm is made for you.
It’s packed with atmospheric dread, a heavy emotional core, and enough 90s survival horror goodness to make any old-school gamer feel right at home.
Be sure to check out all the awesome Event Coverage All Ages of Geek does to support some amazing creators around the world!
All Ages of Geek is a fully independent media platform, brought to life and sustained by the dedication of two sisters and the generous support of our community through donations. We’re passionate about creating content that resonates with our audience, and we’re excited to share our latest project with you—an upcoming game developed with our unique vision and creativity. Explore our other content and see how you can support our journey. Your engagement and contributions make a significant difference. Thank you for being part of our story.
