Hollowreach

Hollowreach is a walking, poking, puzzle-solving adventure through a valley everyone left behind. You explore ruined homes, piece together what happened, and solve environmental puzzles that grow naturally out of the world rather than blocking a door for no reason. It's the kind of game you play with headphones and no distractions.

The atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting. Wind, distant sounds and hand-drawn backgrounds pull you forward, and the story reveals itself in fragments you have to actually think about. I spent a whole evening on a single chapter and didn't notice the time.

A couple of puzzles lean on obscure logic, and there's no hint system, which will frustrate some players. If you like slow, atmospheric adventures that trust you to pay attention, Hollowreach is worth the trip.

What we liked

• Gorgeous, moody art
• Puzzles rooted in the world
• Story told through fragments