Hollowbody Reviews
Hollowbody is a solid survival-horror experience that takes clear inspiration from the genre's early 2000s offerings.
Hollowbody straddles the line between Silent Hill homage and clone, but more often than not, it's a nostalgic and creepy success.
Hollowbody is a testament to the work of Hamley, and is phenomenal within its own right, but the dedication to various cult classic horror and sci-fi games only adds to how enamored I was with the game; this is how you make a game heavily inspired by other media while making a whole new experience entirely, in a nutshell. But don’t get me wrong, Hollowbody is so much more than its inspirations, made up of multiple moving parts that provide fans of the survival horror genre with something new and refreshing.
Hollowbody is a classic survival horror experience which will delight fans of those PS2-era frights, but some of the dated elements will frustrate.
Hollobody is a tribute to the survival horror era with ideas from PS1 and PS2, but with a slight twist and its own setting and aesthetics that results in a tremendously interesting experience, even if it is not always consistent in its approach.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
At a glance, it’s clear that Silent Hill and Resident Evil were major influences on indie horror game Hollowbody. While its retro PS2-style visuals are what initially drew me toward the game, inside of that is a competent survival horror experience that, while not doing too many things different from its predecessors, establishes a world and setting that’s worth exploring. If you’re looking for a game to scratch the itch of those classic survival horror experiences, Hollowbody is definitely worth your time.
Hollowbody does a great job of capturing the mood and feel of survival horror classics whilst removing some of the genre's more annoying aspects and sits at the very top of the indie horror tree alongside the likes of Crow Country and Signalis.
Hollowbody succeeds thanks to its awesome atmosphere, spooky audio design, and rewarding exploration. Although repetitive encounters and clunky combat prevent it from reaching the heights of the genre's best, its strengths comfortably outweigh its flaws. Headware Games has delivered a memorable experience that captures the spirit of classic survival horror without feeling trapped by nostalgia. For fans craving an old-school horror experience on PS5, this unsettling adventure is easy to recommend.
There are two ways of looking at Hollowbody. As an homage to a bygone gaming era, a conceptual love letter to an influential time, it succeeds pretty well. Without the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia, Hollowbody is a pretty unsatisfying experience.
I’d say Hollowbody was disappointing but everything it gets wrong about the horror genre is so common it's practically expected at this point.
Hollowbody's puzzles are generally simple, many enemies can be avoided entirely, and experienced horror fans may find the challenge level fairly forgiving even on the higher difficulty. Some story developments may also prove divisive depending on what you're hoping to get from the narrative. However, its strengths ultimately outweigh its weaknesses, with its focused design, atmospheric world, engaging mystery, and clear appreciation for classic survival horror coming together to create a game that remains enjoyable from beginning to end. It feels like a genuine love letter to the genre while still feeling distinct thanks to its tech-noir setting and British dystopian backdrop. For horror fans, especially those who miss the style and structure of early 2000s survival horror, Hollowbody is an easy recommendation and a memorable indie effort that makes the most of its compact runtime.
Hollowbody stands as a commendable project from a solo developer, effectively channelling the essence of classic PlayStation 2 horror titles, with a particular nod to Silent Hill 2.
Fun game that pays homage to the survival horror classics of the PS2 era
Hollowbody turns survival horror into a harmless ride: a tribute to the past without its own identity, lacking any sense of danger, and wasting great voice acting on a weak and confusing script.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Hollowbody is an impressive horror game that reminded me of what I loved and hated about the iconic games of the past. It combines elements of the Resident Evil and Silent Hill series. It is not very extensive, but the story is retold in an interesting way.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
In many aspects, Hollowbody can be considered a tribute to the past games of the horror genre, and as a title that takes its example from those games, it offers a satisfying experience,
Review in Persian | Read full review
Hollowbody is a heartfelt tribute to classic Silent Hill, delivering a haunting atmosphere and exceptional audio design, even if its storytelling and combat fail to fully capitalize on its potential.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The truth is, however, that most of the flaws or shortcomings that usually go hand in hand with the productions of the era that *Hollowbody* is trying to emulate can easily be overlooked if the content is of high quality, and fortunately, that is the case here.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Hollowbody blends heartfelt homage with the limitations of a solo project. Its atmosphere and art direction shine, delivering a grim world that recalls Silent Hill without copying it. But the retro gameplay shows its age: awkward camera, stiff combat, and uneven checkpoints. Despite this, it remains a short, sincere experience with a strong identity—imperfect yet bold. If Hamley revisits this universe with tighter writing and more modern mechanics, it could become something remarkable. For now, it’s a rough but intriguing experiment for fans of handcrafted survival horror.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Headware Games brings us a small game that will remind us of the classic action-horror titles.
Review in Spanish | Read full review