Back to Hearth

Back to Hearth

Released Sep 2025

Step into a quiet, abandoned Ukrainian village, left empty after the Calamity. In this short, meditative, and melancholic journey, you’ll rekindle the hearths of deserted homes, restoring warmth and hope to the families who once lived here.

98% positive · 365 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence

Where to buy

Steam $2.39 $3.99 −40%
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Evaluation

Back to Hearth launched on September 25, 2025 as a self-described "short, meditative, and melancholic" experience about restoring five houses in an abandoned Ukrainian village. The store description frames this as a compact, complete narrative journey with no mention of expansions, seasons, or ongoing content cycles. Following launch, the developer shipped a series of bug-fix and localization patches through November 25, 2025, addressing save file issues, collision bugs, cutscene timing, and improving translations. On September 11, 2026, the developer released update 1.4.2, adding full controller and Steam Deck support, native Linux support, and various polish fixes. This is a platform compatibility and quality-of-life update, not new story or gameplay content. The closing line of the September 11, 2026 update — "your support and feedback drives our team and inspires us to do more for you" — is an encouraging message to players but does not constitute an announcement of specific future content. There are no unreleased DLC listings, no announced expansions, and no roadmap pointing to additional content. The game shipped as a finished product, and all post-launch activity has been corrective and compatibility-focused.
Evidence
Back to Hearth launched on September 25, 2025 as a complete game.
news post · Sep 25, 2025 source content shipped
high
Short description calls the game a 'short, meditative, and melancholic journey,' reinforcing it as a complete, finite experience.
store metadata source development ending
medium

Media

Details

Publisher
Marevo Collective
Achievements
16
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player

About this game

MISION

The Calamity devastated this small village, stripping it of laughter, voices, and life. You play as a character determined to repair the damage, clean up the homes, and rekindle their hearths — creating comfort so the villagers are no longer afraid to return.

GAMEPLAY

The village has 5 houses. Each one needs to be restored — sometimes with a hammer, sometimes with a broom or a screwdriver. Some repairs also require drawing special "gestures".

RESIDENTS

Once the house is cleaned and the fire is burning in the stove, you have to wait a little. The residents are about to return. You will have the opportunity to listen to their stories.

EXPLORATION AND NARRATIVE

Back to Hearth is a game about more than just cleaning houses — it’s about uncovering the lives once lived within them. Each home holds memories, belongings, amulets, and other details that gradually reveal the villagers’ stories. Some of these items are added to your Collections after interaction, which you can view anytime in the main menu.

FEATURES

  • short game - 1 hour of playtime

  • melancholic fall atmosphere

  • setting of an Eastern European village, specifically a Ukrainian village

  • casual meditative gameplay

  • opportunity to eat apples, grapes, and raspberries

  • opportunity to chase after chickens

  • personal and household items that allow you to learn more about the residents

  • collections (search in the main menu)

  • graphic stylization, like in games of the 2000s

Last evaluated Oct 4, 2026
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