The House of Hikmah Reviews
The House of Hikmah is an enjoyable window into Islamic history, with puzzles that let you experiment with different forms of matter as you progress through a coming-of-age story about grief and not letting loss completely weigh you down. It’s a game with fantastic ideas that struggles with mechanical issues that inhibit the gameplay experience.
A very few first games are like The House of Hikmah. These games show not only what a company can make, but also what it thinks games can do. There is a touching study of grief, a beautiful tribute to Islamic learning, a meaningful correction to the lack of SWANA-centered stories in games, and a puzzle structure that treats players with respect.
Maya’s journey through the House of Wisdom is a thoughtful and heartfelt story of grief and how we carry it through life, and simultaneously an incredibly entertaining and engaging puzzle-platformer. Despite some technical issues and a few quality-of-life/design discrepancies, the game’s beautiful narrative, art direction, music, and gameplay all work in harmony to create a fulfilling experience. A beautiful celebration of Islamic culture and history, as well as those who are no longer with us, The House of Hikmah teaches us not to let ourselves get lost in the shadows of grief, but to persevere, to lean on others, and maybe even learn to appreciate that weight in our hearts.
Like a bowl of soup, The House of Hikmah is a satisfying blend greater than the sum of its parts. It takes a hearty stock of engaging story and builds upon it, with beautiful graphics, challenging puzzles, and atmospheric music. And while you may encounter occasional glitches, nothing should be too hard to swallow. In fact, it’ll likely leave you wanting a second helping. I greatly enjoyed my time in The House of Hikmah and I believe you will too. I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award and my personal recommendation.