80
Hermit and Pig is a whimsical adventure RPG that kept me engaged throughout. The unique take on turn-based combat creates a sense of urgency, and I can only praise the decision to make conversation look like a battle. Even though combat became a bit repetitive for me after the halfway point, the story kept me engaged and made me laugh out loud. If you’ve ever thought about searching for magic mushrooms yourself, don’t! Stay inside and play this game instead.
90
Heavy Lunch Studio LLC successfully delivered on an RPG that takes from classics such as Earthbound and Pokémon and makes it all their own in Hermit and Pig. Featuring wonderful writing, a busy battle system that challenges you to think on your feet, great characters, and an explorable trippy world.
88
Hermit and Pig is an offbeat RPG where conversation is just as consequential as combat. Here, empathy, listening, and connection is the focus, rather than conquest. Although it’s a rather linear tale, an inventive dialogue system, salient themes, and a heartfelt exploration of loneliness make it a moving experience that shouldn’t be overlooked.
10
This hidden gem **** is perfection, and I sincerely hope it doesn't stay hidden for long. It strikes the right balance on all levels. Its high pressure combat system has timed key combos that lengthen as you upgrade in the game, and you have to pick the right attack for each enemy. It's a lot of quick thinking if you like that, but you can also dial it back in a number of ways. You can change the difficulty, remove the combos completely, turn off timers, and equip different trinkets that help you where you may otherwise be weak. They really thought of everything. The characters all manage to be hilarious, charming, and deeply meaningful. Pig becomes that once in a lifetime pet we all have had or want to have. Hermit may be anti social, but not the cynical kind - he has a pure heart on the inside. Every supporting character has nuance even in the shortest interactions. The art style is on point. The palettes are lovely, the unique pixel art style is minimalist yet never lacking in detail. There are loads of beautiful and weird mushrooms, moody dreamscapes, and a contrast of natural environments and harsh urban conditions. The enemies all strike a hilarious pose when you pick the right attack or give an awkward conversation response. Its all just brilliantly thought out. The writing is also topnotch. It delivers authentic humor and comedy, but also manages to convey serious messages about finding community and resisting corporate greed and fascism without ever being too on the nose. It all comes together in a way that just feels light and enjoyable to play through, and then delivers some surprisingly heartfelt moments from a talking pig. Oh and the soundtrack is awesome. I think many people who play this will be completely taken by surprise by the depth of this game.
9
While I feel that this game is slightly lacking in the story department. It’s charm is as undeniable as its crisp turn based combat.
10
Hermit and Pig has many interesting mechanics I was wonderfully surprised by. The game is short and sweet. Will be happy to see more from the developer!
Hermit and Pig
Released On:
Feb 5, 2026
Metascore
Generally Favorable
87
User score
Universal Acclaim
9.5
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
87
100% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Feb 2, 2026
95
I came to Hermit and Pig expecting a cute, humorous take on timing-based combat, and I got that, but I also got so much more. It’s truly rare for a game to have such thematic cohesion in both storytelling and mechanics, but Hermit and Pig delivers on that promise without coming off as pretentious or preachy. Heavy Lunch has something deeply important to say about our current moment, but they say it with a smile and laugh, enough to make the herbal remedy for humanity’s worst excesses go down easy. It’s clear that the developers understand and love human beings, despite all our flaws, and believe in our potential to create a better world than the one we have now, if only we could focus less on the “I,” and more on the “We.”
Feb 4, 2026
91
Hermit And Pig’s focus on mushrooms becomes an apt and immediate metaphor for our current moment. Like fungi, our communities function like a large, interconnected, singular organism. An attack on any one of us affects all of us, and it will be through mutual cooperation that we will get through the grim times ahead. The cartoonish depiction of our present societal ills allow the game’s messaging to motivate us in a time where we all might need it. Hermit And Pig is an uplifting take on sending the capitalists running with their tails between their legs, and a reminder that it will take your friendly neighborhood fisherman, a neurotic old lady, the young students of the next generation, and every other eccentric person in your community to save the world from those destroying it. It is the exact kind of game worth playing to kick anyone out of cynical doomerism. If Hermit and Pig can break out of their day-to-day—their “business as usual”—for the greater good, then so can all of us.
User score
Universal Acclaim
9.5
100% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Feb 13, 2026
10
This hidden gem **** is perfection, and I sincerely hope it doesn't stay hidden for long. It strikes the right balance on all levels. Its high pressure combat system has timed key combos that lengthen as you upgrade in the game, and you have to pick the right attack for each enemy. It's a lot of quick thinking if you like that, but you can also dial it back in a number of ways. You can change the difficulty, remove the combos completely, turn off timers, and equip different trinkets that help you where you may otherwise be weak. They really thought of everything. The characters all manage to be hilarious, charming, and deeply meaningful. Pig becomes that once in a lifetime pet we all have had or want to have. Hermit may be anti social, but not the cynical kind - he has a pure heart on the inside. Every supporting character has nuance even in the shortest interactions. The art style is on point. The palettes are lovely, the unique pixel art style is minimalist yet never lacking in detail. There are loads of beautiful and weird mushrooms, moody dreamscapes, and a contrast of natural environments and harsh urban conditions. The enemies all strike a hilarious pose when you pick the right attack or give an awkward conversation response. Its all just brilliantly thought out. The writing is also topnotch. It delivers authentic humor and comedy, but also manages to convey serious messages about finding community and resisting corporate greed and fascism without ever being too on the nose. It all comes together in a way that just feels light and enjoyable to play through, and then delivers some surprisingly heartfelt moments from a talking pig. Oh and the soundtrack is awesome. I think many people who play this will be completely taken by surprise by the depth of this game.
Feb 11, 2026
10
Hermit and Pig has many interesting mechanics I was wonderfully surprised by. The game is short and sweet. Will be happy to see more from the developer!
Mar 2, 2026
90
Heavy Lunch Studio LLC successfully delivered on an RPG that takes from classics such as Earthbound and Pokémon and makes it all their own in Hermit and Pig. Featuring wonderful writing, a busy battle system that challenges you to think on your feet, great characters, and an explorable trippy world.
Feb 2, 2026
90
Hermit and Pig is a unique and charming RPG, with engaging and fast paced combat, cozy vibes, and plenty of scrumptious mushrooms.
Mar 2, 2026
88
Hermit and Pig is an offbeat RPG where conversation is just as consequential as combat. Here, empathy, listening, and connection is the focus, rather than conquest. Although it’s a rather linear tale, an inventive dialogue system, salient themes, and a heartfelt exploration of loneliness make it a moving experience that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Mar 19, 2026
80
Hermit and Pig is a whimsical adventure RPG that kept me engaged throughout. The unique take on turn-based combat creates a sense of urgency, and I can only praise the decision to make conversation look like a battle. Even though combat became a bit repetitive for me after the halfway point, the story kept me engaged and made me laugh out loud. If you’ve ever thought about searching for magic mushrooms yourself, don’t! Stay inside and play this game instead.
Feb 2, 2026
80
Hermit and Pig is a cozy turn-based RPG that lacks in its story, but packs humor in its quirky dialogue and entertainment in its arcade-like combat. The gameplay switches up every so often that it never gets tired—an absolute must for its six to eight hour runtime. Hermit and Pig offers a satisfying and fun run for those looking for a chill adventure that at times, feels like a grounded social anxiety sim.
Feb 11, 2026
10
Fun game. Earthbound on mushrooms would be the most basic comparison, but I found quite a bit more in this little gem ****.
Feb 11, 2026
9
While I feel that this game is slightly lacking in the story department. It’s charm is as undeniable as its crisp turn based combat.
Feb 7, 2026
9
Similar to the standard RPG trope which takes you from collect 5 sticks to fight actual God, (the literal) Hermit and Pig start their day collecting mushshrooms, they are then put on a journey to save the town and end up dismantling a cog of capitalism all while trying not to take literal cringe damage from your dialogue option choice, where everything is wrapped in a whimsical, wholesome and cute vibe.
SummaryHermit and Pig is a story-rich, turn-based RPG where you fend off wild assailants, forage mushrooms, survive social anxiety, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy with your trusty pig.
