BOOK OF HOURS

About

"Book of Hours" is a combat-free, story-driven crafting RPG set in a sprawling occult library. As the new Librarian, you'll restore the library by acquiring and investigating occult books and curiosities. Your actions will determine how history is written, with the potential for 20-40 hours or more of gameplay. Note: 'House of Light' is a story-driven expansion coming 2024.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+15

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,996 reviews

gameplay214 positive mentions

grinding163 negative mentions

The game offers a relaxing and forgiving experience compared to its predecessor, Cultist Simulator, allowing players to explore and learn at their own pace.
The writing and lore are exceptional, providing a rich and immersive world filled with intriguing mysteries and detailed descriptions.
The art style and atmosphere create a cozy yet eerie environment, enhancing the overall experience of being a librarian in an occult library.

The game lacks a tutorial or clear instructions, making it difficult for new players to understand the mechanics and objectives.
The user interface can be clunky and frustrating, with many actions requiring excessive clicking and dragging, leading to a tedious experience.
Progression can feel slow and grindy, with players often waiting for specific events or resources to unlock new content, which may lead to boredom.

gameplay
1,175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The gameplay of *Book of Hours* is characterized by a slow, exploratory loop that emphasizes reading, cataloging, and unlocking the mysteries of an occult library, contrasting with the more frantic pace of its predecessor, *Cultist Simulator*. While many players appreciate the depth and unique mechanics, they also note a steep learning curve due to the lack of clear instructions, leading to frustration as they navigate the game's opaque systems. Overall, the game offers a relaxing experience for those who enjoy unraveling lore and mechanics at their own pace, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its repetitive nature and clunky interface.
- “The gameplay loop is relaxing and rewarding in equal measure, the equivalent of low skill floor and high skill ceiling in a shooter.”
- “The gameplay is always simple, but the writing and 'feel' is wonderful.”
- “The gameplay loop is so satisfying.”
- “Gameplay feels the same and boring after about 4 hours.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and lacks the vision and cohesiveness of cultist simulator.”
- “It's slow and cozy with very few real failstates, though a very dull gameplay loop once you've figured out how to make what is most convenient for whatever task you are aiming for at a given time.”
story
331 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The story in "Book of Hours" is presented as a fragmented and atmospheric experience, requiring players to piece together lore and narrative elements through exploration and reading. While some players appreciate the depth and unique storytelling style reminiscent of Lovecraftian themes, others find the disjointed nature of the narrative frustrating and lacking coherence. Overall, the game offers a rich world filled with intriguing lore, but it demands patience and curiosity from those who wish to uncover its secrets.
- “The story of the world, and the nature of the occult is super well developed, and there is a lot to find, including very flavorful PDFs that become available after playing for a while.”
- “The storytelling and writing is beautiful.”
- “There's a great amount of story/lore to unravel, and it's presented beautifully, both in terms of visual and sound design.”
- “I was looking forward to a game with story and lore, and what I got was confusing card puzzles that make no sense and lack purpose.”
- “The story fragments are irritating to open up and read, and usually don't convey any coherent, compelling message.”
- “The story is broken up and spread across many different books and rooms that might be read in any order, which doesn't make for an enjoyable consumption process.”
music
300 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack evolves with the seasons, preventing monotony and immersing players in the game's enchanting world. Overall, the combination of music, art, and writing creates a captivating ambiance that draws players into the narrative and gameplay.
- “The music was a surprising delight, changing with the seasons as they pass so it's harder to get bored of a particular track.”
- “The music and atmosphere are wonderful, and the in-game universe is incredibly interesting to dive into.”
- “The music is hauntingly beautiful, the art is gorgeous, and don't even get me started on the words.”
- “The soundtrack is very sparse so far and quite a few songs/sounds have been reused, which is fine but the only major negative.”
- “Some music is neat, love the CS vibes, but 'Sun in Splendour' is so loud that I might as well go deaf.”
- “Overall, the soundscape is passable but you could just turn it all off and play the CS OST and get the same or better experience.”
atmosphere
265 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The atmosphere of "Book of Hours" is widely praised for its immersive, serene, and richly detailed environment, which enhances the exploration of lore and occult themes. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a cozy yet mysterious ambiance, complemented by beautiful art and music, making it a unique experience that encourages slow, thoughtful engagement. Overall, the game is celebrated for its exceptional atmospheric design, which stands out as a key element of its appeal.
- “The art and the music and the beautiful words all blend together to create an atmosphere of serenity with tension bubbling just beneath the surface as you delve further into the occult mysteries.”
- “Book of Hours is atmospheric, immersive, and endlessly fascinating, allowing the player to take part in discovering the world alongside the librarian.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is immaculately crafted, and the lore is so appealing that I'm mad there aren't books I can go and read about it.”
- “Constantly alt-tabbing would be needed, but that completely takes me away from the atmosphere.”
- “There are parts of it that feel a bit obtuse but the general atmosphere of the title makes up for any grumblings I have with the game.”
- “However, it is hard to leave the game when you hang on to the particularly well-written atmosphere.”
graphics
257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The graphics of "Book of Hours" are widely praised for their stunning art style and atmospheric visuals, which enhance the game's rich lore and narrative depth. While many players appreciate the unique aesthetic and intricate artwork, some report technical issues such as low-resolution areas and minor graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Cultist Simulator," contributing to a compelling and immersive gameplay experience.
- “I think the real selling point here, however, is the visuals.”
- “The graphics may look unassuming, but the depth and breadth of storytelling will draw you in and won't let you go.”
- “The art style, the music, the writing, it all comes together to make a more than worthy successor to cultist simulator.”
- “The game, however, has a bit of jank to it – it has some stutters on my (very bad and old) PC, and even on 'high' graphics, some areas of the map you play on are very very low res. Some smaller items don’t scale very well when they are shown as bigger images, and putting something on a shelf is a bit more janky than I really would have liked.”
- “Most of the below is a catalogue of my grievances about the UI and various graphical glitches.”
- “While these don't severely hamper gameplay, they do detract from the otherwise polished aesthetics and mechanics.”
grinding
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game where progression feels slow and rewards diminish. While some appreciate the opportunity for exploration and discovery, others criticize the lack of organization and the overwhelming amount of busywork required to unlock new content. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, making it a polarizing feature that may not appeal to all players.
- “Money is at a perfect spot where it both doesn't feel limitless, but it's also not grindy to obtain.”
- “The pacing is slow but not tedious.”
- “The game becomes pretty grindy and the rewards you get (later rooms, better soul cards and skill upgrades) become/feel less rewarding, and especially if you want to do the 'normal' end of the game (meaning getting a skill to 25), that includes quite some grinding.”
- “While highly addictive at first, in the final hours, juggling all the books into desks to unlock higher level skills started to become tedious, just the rote repeating of: see what aspects I need, glean over the spreadsheet open on the other screen, pixel hunt for the books that give the memories I need, drag them all over the house in desks.”
- “Unfortunately I just can't see myself grinding for hours at a time to unlock one more room that will have books I can't read in it.”
replayability
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
75%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting moderate potential due to multiple endings and self-made challenges, while others find the core gameplay repetitive and lacking significant variation between runs. Many express a desire for features like random layouts to enhance replay value, and while some anticipate future DLC to improve this aspect, others feel that the game may not sustain long-term replayability. Overall, opinions vary widely, suggesting that replayability largely depends on individual player preferences and expectations.
- “Avid fans, including myself, patiently await downloadable content (DLC) that promises to breathe new life and replayability into the rich, dark corners of 'Book of Hours'.”
- “Also, there are 50 plus unique endings resulting in high replayability.”
- “It will not, of course, have the same mass appeal, but it does have its own little charm and a surprising amount of replayability facilitated by its sheer depth, simple gameplay, and variety of ending types.”
- “I'm not sure there's much replay value after completing the game; it's a bit too repetitive and nothing is going to change much on a second run.”
- “It has virtually no replay value, despite all the different endings, as you'll just be repeating the same steps right up until the end.”
- “The only downside is the lack of replayability, in my opinion; after several playthroughs, you mostly figure out the mysteries and the admittedly repetitive gameplay starts to grind a little.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a dry, stoic wit that resonates with players, often evoking laughter through unexpected and absurd scenarios. While some find the writing amusing and engaging, others express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the game, blending fun storytelling with moments of hilarity amidst its deeper lore.
- “The story tidbits are fun to read and tend to have a dry, stoic sense of humor that I really enjoy.”
- “It is a super fun game, I love it, I don't know what's going on, books are dangerous, things are scary, it's always raining, and people come to me for advice, so I throw books at them, and they leave happy, and pay me in funny looking quarters.”
- “Oh yes, if you like wonderful art, deep lore, incredible music, and the occasional bit of text so dry and unexpected you fall out of your chair laughing (if I break something fragile you'll be getting an invoice via the tech support channels you are so diligently and attentively monitoring), then this game is exactly what you're looking for.”
optimization
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
76%
12%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly in mid-game and on lower-end systems like the Steam Deck, where frame rates are capped at 30 fps. While some users feel that optimization isn't critical for enjoying the game, others recommend waiting for further updates to address the lag and item management problems before purchasing. Overall, the developers are acknowledged to be working on performance improvements, but current optimization is considered subpar.
- “There was a moment where I felt frustrated that I wasn't building my skills right and that was hampering my long-term progress, but ultimately the game is plentiful enough in resources that you can easily get through it for a minor or major victory, and optimization really isn't as necessary as it may seem at first.”
- “You won't notice a dip in performance when you unlock the village, and probably not when you get Hush House's first couple of rooms open, either.”
- “Maybe wait to buy until more optimization passes have been done if your computer isn't on the strong end.”
- “As I've progressed further and unlocked more of the hush house, my performance has degraded further and further.”
- “The optimization is subpar, leading to frequent lag, and the item management is lacking.”
- “Because I'm me, I have to talk about the performance on Steam Deck, which is abysmal.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience with the game, feeling a mix of curiosity, frustration, and joy as they engage with its intricate mechanics and lore. Many express a sense of personal connection, likening the experience to cozy moments with a good book, while others describe feelings of inadequacy and despair, particularly when faced with challenging puzzles. Overall, the game evokes a wide range of emotions, from the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles to the weight of existential reflection.
- “Emotionally devastated.”
- “Nothing has ever made me feel so much like a genuine wizard.”
- “The game is amazing, the interface is amazing, the depth is amazing and it makes for a wonderful emotional experience.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and graphical glitches that can disrupt gameplay, often requiring players to revert to earlier saves to resolve problems. However, it performs well on the Steam Deck, despite not being officially verified for that platform.
- “Also runs great on Steam Deck despite not yet being verified.”
- “The game is fundamentally broken and buggy, with a huge list of issues that you need to load an earlier save to fix.”
- “Most of the below is a catalogue of my grievances about the UI and various graphical glitches.”
- “Seems pretty obtuse and buggy.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express concern over the monetization strategies associated with the expansion of the weather factory, indicating a preference for more traditional game development approaches rather than aggressive advertising tactics. The prevalence of targeted ads has raised apprehensions about the future direction of the game's monetization.
- “The expansion of the weather factory really makes me hope that they continue to make wonderful games for a long time to come - just, please, not like this!”