Game Rant can reveal an exclusive new look atParticle Hearts, an upcoming adventure game with a surreal setting and mind-bending puzzles. The title is set to launch forPCand consoles on August 25.
Developed by Los Angeles-based Underwater Fire and published by First Break Labs,Particle Heartsis anexploration-rich indie adventure gameset in a mysterious world made of visible particles. This intrinsic property of its setting isn’t just set dressing, but actually ties into the gameplay mechanics, as players gradually learn skills that let them manipulate the particles surrounding them in order to overcome various challenges.
Ahead ofParticle Hearts' late August release, Underwater Fire shared a new video overview of its upcoming title, which Game Rant can exclusively reveal. The featurette is narrated by Jess Feidt, aCall of Dutyveteran who left Treyarchin 2022 in order to found the studio behindParticle Hearts. Running for just under 6 minutes, the video sees Feidt play through an early sequence in the game, where the horned protagonist earns their first ability, called Burst.
Particle Hearts Will Let Players Turn Into Particles
The core idea behind burst is that it allows the main character to turn into particles. This offers several benefits, like being able to pass through select barriers. Feidt demonstrates one use of Burst by slipping through a wall of large thorns surrounding a Figment Gate, a type of mysterious glowing portal that transports players to different worlds where many of the game’s puzzles are set. Based on the new preview, Figment Gates appear to serve the same function inParticle HeartsasShrines do inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom.
Burst is also useful for platforming, as it provides players with the means of dashing through the air mid-jump. The Figment Gate world featured in the new video demonstrates this extensively, with level design that encourages use of the ability to traverse various platforms, including moving ones. The footage also shows that Burst lets players pass through materials not only in front of them but also below. This is seen around the 3:36 mark, when Feidt uses it to drop through a large floor grate.Particle Heartswill explore the concepts behind Burst and other abilities, sometimes in combination, to offer a wide range of puzzle-platforming challenges.
A demo for the upcoming game debuted during thelatest iteration of Steam Next Fest. While most SNF demos were pulled as soon as the June 2025 event ended, the trial version of Underwater Fire’s indie adventure is stillavailable for downloadon Valve’s storefront.Particle Heartswill have a same-day release on the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.
