Steam game

Back to Hearth

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.

$2.59 September 25, 2025

By Podoba Interactive

Windows macOS
View on Steam
Back to Hearth - Podoba Interactive. Popular. Released September 25, 2025
Screenshot of Back to Hearth gameplay showing in-action mechanics Screenshot 2 of Back to Hearth - additional gameplay view Screenshot 3 of Back to Hearth - more gameplay footage Screenshot 4 of Back to Hearth - final gameplay screenshot

Overview

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

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