The game world was inspired by feudal Japan, and it features four different biomes, each based on one of the four seasons. The team did not make Wild Hearts an installment in the Toukiden series because they felt that the game had its own distinct presentation and combat mechanics. Monsters and creatures were designed to be threatening and challenging, so that players would not feel 'guilty' about killing them. To stand out from other monster hunting games, the team introduced Kemono, monsters which were described as 'a fusion of nature and animals', and Karakuri, a building mechanic which supplements the game's melee combat. According to game director Kotaro Hirata, the team learned from their experience developing the Toukiden series, and intended to create a modern Japanese monster-hunting game. The game was developed by Japanese developer Omega Force. Players can team up with two other players as they progress in the game. The team estimated that players can complete the game's narrative campaign in about 30 hours. As the player progresses in the game, they will unlock new weapons and armors, allowing players to hunt more challenging monsters. Building Karakuri consumes thread, which can be acquired through simply attacking enemies. Players can also build Karakuri to aid transversal. Constructed items are permanent until they are destroyed by Kemono. These items can be combined to form larger machines, such as a bulwark that blocks an enemy's path.

For instance, players can build crates which can be leapt off of to perform powerful attacks, or a torch which can be used to ignite enemies. In addition to using weapons to defeat enemies, players can also build items to assist combat through the Karakuri mechanic.

The game features eight different weapon types, including the likes of wagasa and katana. Azuma is not an open world, but instead, several large areas that players can freely explore.

Players assume the role of a nameless hunter, who must embark on quests to hunt down massive monsters known as Kemono in the world of Azuma. The game was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on February 17. The game tasks the player to hunt massive monsters in Azuma, a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan. Wild Hearts is a 2023 action role-playing video game developed by Omega Force and published by Electronic Arts under its EA Originals label.

Wild at heart game wiki