Lantern Hollow

Lantern Hollow is a mood piece as much as a game. You wander a small, warmly lit town, tapping objects and piecing together what happened to the people who left. The puzzles are woven into the story rather than bolted on, so solving one usually unlocks another little piece of the mystery.

It's slow, and that's the point. There's no timer, no fail state, just a world to poke at. We found ourselves lingering on scenes just to listen to the ambient sound. The hint system is gentle and never shoves the answer at you, which kept the sense of discovery alive.

At a few hours long it doesn't overstay its welcome. The ending landed better than we expected for a game this quiet. If you want something calming for a long evening offline, this is an easy recommendation.

What we liked

• Beautiful, moody atmosphere
• Puzzles tied to the story
• Relaxed, no-pressure pace