[Bober Bros] The Hole

About

[Bober Bros] The Hole is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by BOBER BROS and was released on December 5, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

The Hole is a short but intense psychological horror experience that disrupts a quiet evening with unsettling noises and mysterious holes in the walls. Featuring retro PS2-inspired graphics and fully voiced Interslavic dialogue, it immerses players in a uniquely atmospheric and culturally rich setting. The game emphasizes tension and uneasy domestic horror over jump scares.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 245 reviews

story13 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game effectively tackles heavy themes of domestic violence and abuse with a respectful and impactful narrative.
Visually, the retro aesthetic and sound design create a deeply unsettling atmosphere that enhances the psychological horror experience.
Despite its short length, the game delivers a powerful message that resonates with players, making it a memorable experience.

The game can be extremely disturbing and may not be suitable for all players, especially those sensitive to its heavy themes.
Some players found the execution of its message to be heavy-handed and lacking in nuance, potentially detracting from its overall impact.
Technical issues, such as bugs and achievement glitches, can hinder the gameplay experience and frustrate players.

story
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The story in "The Hole" is a deeply unsettling exploration of themes such as domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse, conveyed through minimalistic and metaphorical storytelling that leaves a lasting impact on players. While some reviewers appreciated the game's ability to evoke fear and discomfort through its atmosphere and narrative twists, others criticized its lack of character development and depth in handling sensitive topics. Overall, the game is recognized for its haunting narrative and meaningful message, though opinions vary on its execution and emotional resonance.
- “The storytelling is compact but impactful, leaving players disturbed long after the screen fades to black.”
- “It tells a dark story with a deeper meaning that hits hard and makes you think.”
- “The atmosphere is heavy, the story feels disturbingly real, and the dialogue cuts deep.”
- “The game doesn’t really give you enough time to get to know its characters, which makes certain twists in the story feel less significant than they should.”
- “Ultimately this is where my main issue lies: there really isn't anything to the plot other than the sensitive topics.”
- “While I admittedly don't have the full cultural context this story was formed in, I find the use of child sexual abuse and domestic violence more akin to attempts at shock value rather than any proper examination of the issues; little is said about the generational trauma, the effect of child sexual abuse, the role masculinity plays in abuse, nothing.”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
56%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by minimal yet deliberate mechanics, primarily revolving around simple tasks and dialogue choices that often lack significant impact. While some players appreciate the unique blend of dark themes and humor, others find the experience sparse and frustrating due to its limited interactivity and short runtime. Overall, the gameplay serves as a vehicle for storytelling, featuring intriguing mechanics and a haunting atmosphere, but may not satisfy those seeking a more engaging or varied experience.
- “The gameplay is a catalyst for the story to be told and it isn't a long ride (for better or for worse).”
- “Yet its gameplay is fascinating: we witness its protagonist's descent into the darkest recesses of the mind, as he relives his guilty past.”
- “Overall a surprising amount of different gameplay bits, just enough to justify the short runtime.”
- “The gameplay loop can feel sparse, and the lack of agency may frustrate those expecting a more interactive or branching experience.”
- “This game is sloppily put together between the assets, gameplay, and its various filters and the way it handles its intense and incredibly fragile subject matter.”
- “Gameplay is mostly simple tasks (like drinking) and dialogue choices that don't necessarily matter from what I've seen.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The game's graphics feature a retro aesthetic reminiscent of early 2000s horror titles, effectively creating a gritty and unsettling atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the striking visuals and unique art style, which contribute to the game's psychological horror elements, though some note issues with glitches and translation. Overall, the graphics are praised for their ability to evoke discomfort and tension, making the game a memorable entry in the horror genre.
- “The visuals, combined with an uncanny use of fixed camera angles and confined framing, make players feel trapped in a decaying domestic prison.”
- “A true masterpiece of an indie game, from the graphics and eerie, creepy atmosphere to exposing the dark truth behind reality.”
- “Visually, the game adopts a deliberately retro aesthetic, evoking the gritty polygonal look of early 2000s horror titles.”
- “Only thing worse than extremely poor graphics was the glitches.”
- “Not your usual PS2 graphics horror game.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is described as intimate, claustrophobic, and unsettling, effectively conveying deep emotional themes and discomfort without relying on traditional horror elements like jumpscares or gore. While many reviewers praise its heavy and immersive atmosphere, some note that certain sequences feel rushed or unintentionally humorous, slightly undermining the overall experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to create a genuinely terrifying and thought-provoking environment that resonates with players on a personal level.
- “Bober Bros uses this premise to craft a work of horror that’s intimate, claustrophobic, and disturbingly human, proving that atmosphere and suggestion can be far more terrifying than monsters or gore.”
- “I found the game's depiction rather respectful - as a victim myself - relying more on metaphors to convey its story, and while there are no real jumpscares, this game built its atmosphere beautifully and genuinely terrified me during my first run.”
- “A true masterpiece of an indie game, from the graphics and eerie, creepy atmosphere to exposing the dark truth behind reality.”
- “Unsettling atmosphere and characters, metaphors galore... I think the trailer offers more than what you actually get.”
- “The atmosphere is heavy, the story feels disturbingly real, and the dialogue cuts deep.”
- “It has a heavy atmosphere, pressing down on you, puzzles?”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a strong and often conflicting response from players, with some finding it deeply moving and respectful in its handling of heavy themes, while others feel overwhelmed or physically ill due to its intense content. Many appreciate the heartfelt message conveyed at the end, despite the disturbing nature of the narrative, though some criticize the lack of emotional grounding and relatable character development. Overall, the game successfully raises awareness about serious issues, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.
- “I will need a month to emotionally recover from this game.”
- “Obviously the story is heavy as hell, but I think the devs go about it in a respectful manner, and the ending message of the game is really meaningful and heartfelt.”
- “Very moving game, it's more emotional than scary and the tense atmosphere really helps you understand everything going on!”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny while others feel it undermines the serious themes. Many reviews note that the humor often feels out of place, breaking immersion with memes or inappropriate jokes, though some appreciate the lighthearted moments that provide relief from darker content. Overall, the balance between humor and sensitive subject matter is seen as problematic, leading to a disjointed experience for some players.
- “It is a funny game, but it takes itself far too lightly to be taken seriously, and often at times I had any semblance of immersion broken by a meme onscreen or text that wasn't fitting.”
- “Just enough little bits of humor to break up the horrifying nature of this whole thing – getting hammered off 40 beers in my kitchen and then eating microwaved cereal is an experience for sure.”
- “Also good gameplay with some humorous elements sprinkled in.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, frequently crashing during key moments and exhibiting numerous glitches that hinder gameplay. Users have described it as a "buggy mess," indicating a lack of polish and reliability.
- “It crashes at the point where I get the first drawing, and the game freezes without fail.”
- “This is an incoherent, buggy mess.”
- “Not only that, but it was a buggy mess.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised, with users noting that the original soundtrack and cassette tracks are enjoyable and memorable. The inclusion of recognizable shows and unique creations adds to the overall experience, making the music a standout feature that players would love to explore further if an official soundtrack were released.
- “Music slaps, but the game itself throws a brick of trauma at you.”
- “The TV features recognizable selections of shows, including comicolor cartoons from the 1930s and the anime movie 'Defenders of Space' from 1984, as well as their own uniquely created shows like 'Bober Bros.' The original soundtrack tracks on the cassette tapes are good enough that if an OST were available now or in the future, I would definitely grab it for a deeper listen.”
- “The music tapes are fire.”
- “The TV has recognizable infamous selections of shows like comicolor cartoons from the 1930s and an anime movie known as Defenders of Space from 1984, as well as their own uniquely created shows Bober Bros specifically made themselves, including their own OST tracks on the cassette tapes, which I found to be good enough. If there was an available OST now or in the future, I would grab it for myself and give a deeper listen to.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's optimization features minor technical issues, including occasional audio distortion and uneven performance, but these do not significantly impact the overall experience.
- “The game runs smoothly overall, with only minor technical blemishes like occasional audio distortion or uneven performance that rarely detract from the core experience.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for a seamless experience even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate the developers' efforts in optimizing the game, as it maintains a stable frame rate and quick load times.”
- “There are minor technical blemishes, such as occasional audio distortion or uneven performance, but these rarely detract from the core experience.”
- “The game suffers from significant frame rate drops during intense scenes, making it hard to enjoy the action.”
- “Loading times are excessively long, which disrupts the flow of gameplay and can be quite frustrating.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers decent replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings and overall quality, making it a worthwhile experience, especially at a low price during sales. With a playtime of 30-45 minutes, players may find themselves revisiting it for a different outcome.
- “The multiple endings add significant replayability, and especially during a sale, the low price makes its flaws easy to overlook.”
- “It's around 30-45 minutes long and has good replayability due to how well it's made.”
- “The multiple endings add some replayability, and especially during a sale, the low price makes its flaws easy to overlook.”
- “It's around 30-45 minutes long and has okay replayability due to how well it's made.”