Reception

Heal: Console Edition is a great puzzle game that tells us about the daily life of an old man who lives alone. Its wide variety of puzzles and its attractive mental challenge ensure that it does not decline at any time. On the contrary, the adaptation of the touch controls of the original game to the pad has not been achieved with good results and solving...

Heal: Console Edition is a point and click, puzzle adventure which made its original release on PC (Steam) in April 2020. It comes from Jesse Makkonen, the developer of the Distraint series. The port onto consoles is by Ratalaika Games. For fans of Makkonen, does this offering live up to the standard of his previous releases? There’s only one way to...

Unfortunately, I don’t think the game particularly explores themes of ageing and dementia in any clear or substantial way. At least, not other than creating a quiet, lonely atmosphere punctuated by moments of fear. The music mostly rests in gentle, bittersweet melancholia, but occasionally drops a tingling sense of danger. It’s got a lovely main soundtrack,...

Heal isn’t a long game; it’ll likely take you only a couple of hours to reach its conclusion, with a pause to shout at that one frustrating puzzle. But you’ll still be engrossed by this OAP’s otherworldly outing.