<p>Myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening condition that significantly impacts human health, leading to dysfunctional heart function, myocardial cell death, heart failure, and uncoordinated pumping action with potential mechanical collapse. Despite recent advancements in biomaterials, the scarcity of donor hearts for MI treatment highlights the need for alternative therapies. Hydrogels, due to their biocompatible nature, have emerged as promising materials for treating and repairing damaged cardiac tissue. This review comprehensively discusses the properties of hydrogels in the context of heart regeneration and repair during MI. Hydrogel-based approaches, including both injectable hydrogels and cardiac patches, have shown promising applications in recent cellular therapies for heart repair. Injectable hydrogels can deliver bioactive molecules and cells for in situ repair and regeneration, while hydrogel-based cardiac patches reduce myocardial wall stress and passively counteract ventricular enlargement. We highlight the progressive methods used to prepare cardiac patches for MI. Although many of these hydrogel technologies are still in preclinical stages, further development is paving the way for more robust applications in the near future. In conclusion, the current review provides insights into ongoing clinical trials and their potential impact on future MI treatment strategies.</p>