I really like how much the dynamic shadows add to the appropriately gloomy atmosphere! Some music, ambient noises, and sound effects could accentuate it further. The animations are nice and the art style is cute enough to make the world seem dark and cartoony rather than brutish. I also like the clean interface design and font choices.
An ability to keep better track of the town's location is essential for the core gameplay. The current best strategy seems to be to get captured so you know where to go and then only to move in cardinal directions from the town's locations. There needs to be something aspirational for players to work towards. Buying food to refill the hunger meter is good as a base, but there should be something beyond that. Inedible items that are actually worth selling could be a good alternative for pacifist players, since the current ones are simply better to eat immediately. I like that the world constantly repopulates with new stuff, but it may be more immersive to do that out of the player's vision, and having specific spawn locations to offer more reason to find new hunting grounds.
The controls feel good and the charging battles are fun. There' s a bug where getting hit while carrying something can send you flying across the map. I don't mind that there's lots of button mashing needed to get away since the towns are so far, but a meter to show how much progress you've made may be a good addition. Maybe the mashing can be a timing thing for when the person carrying you is distracted instead? I like the different personalities of the people you meet, but they don't always stay consistent with what they seem to want to do.
The world could use a bit more density, but it's got a very good foundation. A neat concept for a survival game!