Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn

About

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn is a single player puzzle game with a mystery theme. It was developed by hannahontrek and was released on March 7, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Ever since a young woman died in an accident at the White Oak Inn, strange things have been happening there. Now, her spirit roams the inn, and an employee is receiving threatening letters. What dark secrets wait to be found? You, as Alex Hill, are on the case. Follow Alex in her story as she cracks the case! Solve puzzles and find clues in an haunted inn. Explore and interact with the environm…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn screenshot

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 315 reviews

story96 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

The game captures the nostalgic feel of the classic Nancy Drew games while introducing a more mature storyline.
The puzzles are engaging and provide a good mix of challenge without being overly difficult.
The voice acting and character development are well done, making the story compelling and immersive.

Some players experienced bugs and glitches that affected gameplay, such as freezing or difficulty triggering events.
The game can feel a bit short, with some players wishing for more puzzles and content.
There is a lack of a hint system, which can lead to aimless wandering when players are unsure of how to progress.

story
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The game's story has been widely praised for its engaging narrative, intriguing characters, and unexpected plot twists, often drawing comparisons to classic Nancy Drew games but with a more mature and darker tone. While many players appreciated the depth and pacing of the storyline, some noted issues with unresolved plot points and a linear progression that could hinder gameplay. Overall, the writing and character development received positive feedback, making it a compelling experience for fans of mystery and adventure genres.
- “Overall, I found the story engaging. I liked most of the puzzles, and I appreciated the little side plots and twists the story threw in to try to lead you off track.”
- “The story was engaging, and the suspects were interesting.”
- “I loved the aesthetic, the premise, how the case developed, how truly every character we interacted with could be the potential culprit, the gasp-worthy plot twist in the middle of the mystery, and how I could not step away for more than an hour before crawling back to the story.”
- “While it is certainly impressive that a single person wrote and developed this project, I thought the story lacked intrigue and the gameplay was unintuitive and downright tedious at times.”
- “The voice acting wasn't great in my opinion and the story wrapped up without even explaining really the most intriguing mystery... aka what happened to Audrey?”
- “The story was weak and shallow, the puzzles not very rewarding, and the length was pitifully short.”
graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
61%
9%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic charm reminiscent of old adventure games, while others noted that character models and certain visual elements could be improved. Some found the backgrounds decent and fitting for the cozy mystery atmosphere, but others experienced graphical bugs and issues with clarity. Overall, while the graphics may not meet modern AAA standards, they evoke a sense of nostalgia and contribute positively to the gameplay experience for fans of the genre.
- “I loved the aesthetic, the premise, how the case developed, how truly every character we interacted with could be the potential culprit, the gasp-worthy plot twist in the middle of the mystery, and how I could not step away for more than an hour before crawling back to the story.”
- “The graphics were nice and I enjoyed how interactive stuff is in the game.”
- “The music was great, the storyline was compelling, and the graphics were solid.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional; it's pretty easy to figure out the culprit and the motives, and the graphics for the character models in particular leave much to be desired.”
- “I know it's unrealistic to expect the level of detail and resources that larger developers have from an indie game like this, but I found the soundtrack and graphics to be sparse and not contribute much to any mysterious or spooky tone.”
- “The graphics gave me an uncanny valley/mid-aughts feel, the maneuvering was very clunky, and it just completely failed to grab my attention at all.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric and soothing qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some found the soundtrack engaging and reminiscent of classic adventure games, others criticized it for being repetitive or lacking depth, particularly noting issues with abrupt pauses during dialogue. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's cozy atmosphere, though there are calls for improvements in variety and integration with voice acting.
- “The music, activities, exploration, factoids, funny little musings, voice performances, puzzles and more - all are aiming high to give us that cozy feeling we used to get, on top of adding some fresh perspective.”
- “I love the music as it is very soothing and fits the atmosphere.”
- “Great story, well-written characters, and a lovely soundtrack to solve a locked-door mystery.”
- “I know it's unrealistic to expect the level of detail and resources that larger developers have from an indie game like this, but I also found the soundtrack and graphics to be sparse and not contribute much to any mysterious or spooky tone.”
- “However, there is sudden silence once the characters start talking as the music just stops playing.”
- “Also, the music was pretty low-quality (all piano, all pretty much the same, with lots of repetitive notes) and did little to add to the sense of atmosphere, and I ended up turning it way down because it got on my nerves.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The gameplay of "hannahontrek" evokes nostalgia with its point-and-click mechanics reminiscent of classic Nancy Drew games, offering a mix of sleuthing, exploration, and puzzles. While many players enjoyed the intuitive controls and engaging dialogue, some found the gameplay unintuitive and occasionally tedious, with frustrations stemming from linear progression and the need for specific interactions to advance the story. Overall, despite some bugs and a desire for more content, the game is recommended for fans of puzzle-solving and detective narratives.
- “I'm very picky about the gameplay that I like, and I can easily say that Hannahontrek has scratched the nostalgia itch with this game.”
- “The gameplay, characters, story, puzzles, and ending were all incredible and felt like home, reminding me of the old Nancy Drew games vibes.”
- “It has such a nostalgic feel with point-and-click mechanics and provides the perfect combo of sleuthing, exploring, talking to suspects, puzzles, and minigames.”
- “While it is certainly impressive that a single person wrote and developed this project, I thought the story lacked intrigue and the gameplay was unintuitive and downright tedious at times.”
- “The time passage system is also frustratingly vague - there is no mechanic to know if you’ve gathered all the clues you can for the day/night, and I spent a good chunk of time cycling through locations and suspects with nothing happening, only to give up, go back to the inn to see if I missed something there, and then exit the inn to find that I had been wasting my time and could’ve moved on to the next day.”
- “Many, many times, the plot can only be moved forward by having a specific dialogue with a specific person (often about something that’s not even relevant), so most of the 9-10 hours of gameplay was spent making rounds to each of the characters and the phone contacts, trying to trigger the next event.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
40%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic charm, cozy settings, and soothing soundtrack, which enhance immersion and engagement. While many players appreciate the rich storytelling and character interactions that contribute to the overall ambiance, some note that certain environments lack detail and that the music can be repetitive. Overall, the atmosphere successfully evokes the spirit of classic adventure games, making it a highlight for fans of the genre.
- “It has a nice atmospheric soundtrack, and the graphics are charming in that old adventure game way.”
- “From the inexplicable coziness of the setting's atmosphere, to the flavor enriching little interactions with the environment that just make you smile and add to the immersion, to the easter egg references, these are the foundational qualities of what made the Nancy Drew games so special for me.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is something special!”
- “Again, I don't know anything about coding. I'm sure the more complicated the environment is, the harder it is for the game to run/load, but I just felt like some of the rooms needed a bit more ambiance/atmosphere, something like that?”
- “- Atmosphere: the quality of the environments don't match the rich beauty of the original Nancy Drew games. The assets and lighting were kind of wonky, which is reasonable for an indie game, but it meant a lot of the environments were places I didn’t really enjoy spending time in (two exceptions would be outside the curio shop and the entrance to Alex’s room).”
- “Also, the music was pretty low-quality (all piano, all pretty much the same, with lots of repetitive notes) and did little to add to the sense of atmosphere, and I ended up turning it way down because it got on my nerves.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke nostalgia and comfort, reminiscent of beloved childhood games. Players appreciate the intriguing characters and their touching backstories, which contribute to a storyline filled with surprising twists and genuine emotional reactions. However, some noted that weak voice acting detracted from the emotional impact of key plot elements.
- “What really stood out was how the game made me feel.”
- “It was emotional and comforting, just like the games I loved when I was a child.”
- “There are very real reactions in this, people getting emotional about the right things and usually in a very comparable way to how people in real life would.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying a mix of witty dialogue, campy characters, and amusing voice performances that enhance the overall experience. Many found themselves laughing out loud at the clever writing and funny interactions, while the inclusion of quirky environmental details and optional mini-games adds to the lighthearted atmosphere. Despite some minor glitches, the humor consistently delivers a cozy and entertaining vibe throughout the gameplay.
- “Seriously, this is worth the money so far, and I have been laughing and enjoying every second of this well-crafted game.”
- “The sense of humor in some of the dialogue lines was definitely my cup of tea; I literally laughed my lungs out at least a few times.”
- “It's also really fun to find what you can interact with in the environment that is just there for the sake of being there (and for Alex to make a funny comment or pop-culture reference), and there are multiple mini-games that you can optionally play.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
88%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing significant bugs and crashes, particularly in the initial days post-launch. However, many have noted improvements following patches, with some users reporting smooth gameplay and minimal issues. Overall, while glitches are present, the developer is actively addressing them, and many players have managed to complete the game without major disruptions.
- “As an old-school Nancy Drew fan, I was lucky enough to play the game with no glitches or crashes. For those struggling, the developer is wonderful at answering questions via Discord and has made sure to patch issues as soon as they arise.”
- “The game's stability is impressive; I experienced no crashes or bugs during my playthrough, which made for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate how the developers prioritize stability, ensuring that players can enjoy the game without interruptions or technical issues.”
- “The first few days after purchase trying to play the game were very buggy and even after the patch I had a few crashes, but I learned to save often and was able to finish the game.”
- “Unfortunately, it is deeply buggy currently.”
- “The game is buggy; as I clicked around, sometimes the screen would flash or be glitchy, but it would pass quickly and really didn't bother my gameplay.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report smooth performance and successful adjustments to display settings, others experience significant issues such as lag, freezing, and audio problems, particularly during nighttime transitions. The game's performance may vary depending on the system, leading to a lack of consistent recommendations.
- “The game runs smoothly for the most part, though I did notice occasional lag when turning.”
- “Between freezing when the game goes to night, the music cutting out regularly, multiple puzzles going outside of the display area, and generally poor performance, I can't recommend this game in its current state.”
- “I also tried adjusting the display settings to optimize performance.”
- “Regarding performance, my laptop was able to run Midnight in Salem and Mystery of the Seven Keys decently, and I’ve also updated Whispers at White Oak Inn with the latest patch.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling stuck due to unclear objectives and the need to repeatedly explore environments and interact with characters. While some puzzles advance the plot, the overall gameplay can become frustratingly monotonous, leading to a halt in progress.
- “While it is certainly impressive that a single person wrote and developed this project, I thought the story lacked intrigue and the gameplay was unintuitive and downright tedious at times.”
- “A lot of times this results in having to run around talking to everyone again and scanning the screen with your mouse again to make sure you didn't miss anything, and it can get tedious.”
- “I got stuck so many times, wandering around unsure of where to go or what to do, only to find out I just missed one tiny little thing that stopped the story to a grinding halt.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players found it fun and engaging enough to revisit, others criticized its shallow story and lack of achievements, which diminished its long-term appeal. The short playtime of under four hours also contributed to the perception that it offers limited replay value.
- “I think the game could've used a few more puzzles, but it was still very fun and replayable!”
- “Because the story and scenery were so shallow, it lacks replay value.”
- “I scored over a million points (if I remember correctly), but nothing happened, so an achievement system could enhance replay value.”
- “I would recommend picking it up on sale, since I finished in less than four hours and it offers little replayability, but I was happy to support this indie developer and look forward to the next case!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for exceeding expectations, contributing positively to the story and overall game progression, despite some criticism regarding character design.
- “The story, character development, and game progression exceeded my expectations.”
- “One of my very few criticisms is the character design, which is more of a double-edged comment.”

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7h Median play time

7h Average play time

6-9h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn is a puzzle game with mystery theme.

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn.

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn was released on March 7, 2025.

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn was developed by hannahontrek.

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Alex Hill: Whispers at White Oak Inn is a single player game.

Similar games include ASYLUM, Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys, The Night of the Rabbit, Unforeseen Incidents, Kathy Rain and others.

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