Hollow Lantern

Hollow Lantern is a slow, atmospheric adventure and it knows exactly what it wants to be. You wander an abandoned coastal town with only a lantern for company, solving environmental puzzles and piecing together what happened to the people who left. The pacing is deliberate, almost meditative.

The puzzles are logical rather than obscure, which is a relief. We never had to resort to a walkthrough, though a couple of the later ones made us stop and think properly. Tapping to interact works well, and the inventory stays out of your way until you need it.

What really stays with you is the mood. The sound design and hand-painted backgrounds create a loneliness that feels intentional and earned. A short game, but one worth sitting with.

What we liked

• Beautiful hand-painted art
• Fair, satisfying puzzles
• A genuinely moody atmosphere