The Excavation Of Hob's Barrow Reviews
Not only that, but this is the definitive example I will use when it comes to smaller studios producing absolute gems. If you don't have the time to play this game, I highly recommend clearing your schedule at the earliest opportunity and digging into this masterpiece.
A beautiful point and click adventure that dives into the English folklore with a lovecraftian vibe. Great writing, strong emotions, smart puzzles... it works on every level.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A slow-burn psychological experience which taps into the tropes of folk horror with precision, and leaves a truly memorable mark on your subconscious.
Narrative-driven adventure game done right, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow goes from suspenseful to downright ghastly, with the in-between being filled with excellent writing, awesome presentation, and flawless atmosphere. Lovecraft meets Edgar Alan Poe, meets Pagan folk horror, in a point-and-click that won't challenge your puzzle-solving skills, but it will masterfully play with your mind, and force you follow to the main heroine's journey towards her inevitable demise. The actual game requires five or so hours. The experience will stay with you far longer.
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a fantastically spooky mystery for those looking for some point and click horror with solid puzzles, but it unfortunately doesn't quite nail the ending.
Without comparing it to other big adventure games of the year, I'll say this directly: The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is one of the best adventure games released this year. Folk horror fans will feel right at home anyway, but I think this game is also a great opportunity for everyone to meet Dave Gilbert and the Wadjet Eye adventure games.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is a well-written, very classy point & click adventure game with an interesting ending that might be hard to digest. Thomasina’s fate feels like it’s been sealed long before the young archeologist arrives in the small town stuck in time. There’s a certain inevitability to her story that makes the ending even more sad than it is.
Delivers a mix of rural character, old-school adventure, and some legitimately chilling revelations
At its best, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow feels like the halcyon point-and-click days of LucasArts. Some of its puzzle chains are compelling, immersive, and pitched just right difficulty-wise. It gets a bit messy in the third act, but not enough to undo the excellent scene-setting and plot-thickening that precedes it. Hob's Barrow could have been hobbled by its muted setting; instead it brings a barrowload of supernatural chills.
With its skilled application of a foreboding atmosphere instead of cheap jumpscares, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is the perfect game to lead us into the spooky season. It's a well-crafted mystery that is creepy in all the right places, taking us back to a not-too-distant past of superstition. If you're in the mood for a suspenseful tale of oft-overlooked folklore and themes of grief and loss, the Excavation of Hob's Barrow gets my firm recommendation.
It’s not the only horror game set in the UK, but its Englishness and its historical setting is a constant boon. And while the ending is a sliver too familiar to be perfect, the journey to that point is so wonderfully chilling that, unlike its protagonist, you won’t regret digging into The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow.
It’s not the longest game, at about ten hours depending on how quickly you puzzle through it. However, there’s a haunting quality to Hob’s Barrow that will stay with you long after you finish playing. It’s a fine example of literary and gothic horror being brought to the video game medium, and that’s something I’ve been asking for more of in video games for quite some time now.
What The Excavation of Hob's Barrow lacks in puzzle density and difficulty, it more than makes up for in ambience, presentation quality, and a story that'll stick with audiences long after the credits roll. Wadjet Eye Games are no stranger to dark, uncomfortable storytelling, but Thomasina's time in Bewlay reaches a level of unsettling that's genuinely hard to shake off. Haunting atmosphere, chilling music, and an unshakeable feeling of dread all culminate in an unforgettable ending that'll either make or break the story for players. Yet, the fact Cloak and Dagger Games end Thomasina's journey on such a bold note is exactly what elevates the script to a more profound, mature level. It may not be their best, but The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is Wadjet Eye Games' most memorable nightmare yet.
I had a great time playing Hob’s Barrow and I’m excited to play more soon. The game delivers an engaging folk horror story in 1800s England that we don’t see very much of and feels like a fresh take on the genre. Experiencing Thomasina’s story in this point-and-click adventure mystery can have its moments of frustration and unintentionally feeling silly but overall is excellent. The game looks and sounds great with the graphics & audio going hand in hand with the gameplay as well as delivering plenty of content for players. I am delighted to give The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow the Thumb Culture Gold Award. I can’t wait to see what Cloak and Dagger Games bring out next. If you enjoyed my thoughts on Hob’s Barrow then why not click the link for my review of the interactive horror game The Quarry?
The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is a very strong and cohesive experience that deftly executes an absorbing folk horror atmosphere in virtually every moving part. No element of the traditional adventure game format is wasted, with every facet contributing to make it a focused and memorable journey, with a very strong identity. It’s the kind of game that immediately makes you want to play more adventure games.
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a nice bite-sized mystery horror adventure with well-done pixel art graphics and quality voice acting.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow was a pleasant surprise for me — a fantastic game in its own right, but one whose story doesn’t deserve to end here. I absolutely need a book, film, or TV adaptation of this story, and the great thing is you wouldn’t have to change much for it to be ready for consumption in other media. Although I did find myself struggling to make sense of the ending, I suspect a second playthrough is all I’d need to clear up any questions I still have. The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is truly a pixel art masterpiece — one that definitely deserves a deep dig.
The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is a clever and creepy indie game that isn’t afraid to show how much love they have for this style of storytelling. It may not be the kind of game that will please everyone, but it will satisfy those looking for an old-school experience wrapped up in eldritch horror. Switch owners looking to expand their adventure game library will find a solid experience here, and the low price point will work in its favor. Thomasina’s misadventure is a story worth playing, so long as you go in ready to tussle with the old-school quirks of the genre.
As time goes on and Thomasina becomes haunted by strange dreams and flashbacks of her past alongside some disturbing encounters in Bewlay, the cosmic horror elements of Hob's Barrow slowly come to the forefront, leading to the game's harrowing conclusion. With a recent resurgence of the point-and-click genre, this game is a great example of how to do the style justice. Although it's occasionally stifled by less-than-stellar quests, the overall storytelling, acting, and general ambiance of The Excavation of Hob's Barrows make it well worth a player's time.
The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow doesn’t do anything new for the adventure game genre, but its outstanding atmosphere and well-executed gameplay should interest any fan of the genre who doesn’t mind a story that isn’t afraid to go to some rather horrifying places. Make sure to check it out.