BOOK OF HOURS
- August 17, 2023
- Weather Factory
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
Reviews
- Beautiful art style and atmospheric music create a cozy and immersive experience.
- Engaging lore and storytelling that encourages exploration and note-taking.
- Relaxed gameplay with no fail states allows players to progress at their own pace.
- Lack of tutorials and guidance can lead to confusion and frustration for new players.
- UI and UX issues make navigation cumbersome, especially as the game progresses.
- Repetitive gameplay loop can become tedious, especially in the late game.
- gameplay570 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Book of Hours" is characterized by a complex and often opaque system that requires players to engage in exploration and experimentation to uncover its mechanics, reminiscent of its predecessor, "Cultist Simulator." While many players appreciate the depth and unique card-based interactions, the user interface and lack of clear tutorials can lead to frustration, particularly for newcomers. Overall, the game offers a more relaxed pace compared to "Cultist Simulator," allowing for a cozy experience focused on lore and discovery, though some find the gameplay loop repetitive and the mechanics convoluted.
“Gameplay revolves around discovering bits & pieces of the world's history until you craft your own.”
“Deceptively simple mechanics, requiring logistically complex problem solving.”
“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 feels dragged and confusing; I spent all my time trying to figure out what to do, then I got stuck.”
“The gameplay loop is repetitive and lacks the vision and cohesiveness of Cultist Simulator.”
“The mechanics are completely obtuse, with no explanation of systems, interface, or gameplay mechanics.”
- story160 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Book of Hours" is characterized by its intricate world-building and atmospheric storytelling, inviting players to piece together fragmented narratives through exploration and reading. While some players appreciate the depth and mystery of the lore, others find the scattered presentation and lack of a coherent main plot frustrating. Overall, the game offers a unique experience for those who enjoy slow, discovery-driven storytelling, though it may not cater to those seeking a straightforward narrative.
“The story is simple: you are a librarian who has moved to an island library in order to restore it and your own sordid past.”
“There's a great amount of story and lore to unravel, and it's presented beautifully, both in terms of visual and sound design.”
“The writing is top-notch; piecing together the story of 'Until the Fire' from clearing Hush House room by room was a horror novel in one wing and a love letter to memory in another.”
“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.”
“Before buying, consider if you want to play a game which tells you a story, or this game, where you must build a story out of tiny scraps and fragments with nobody to tell you what the story should look like.”
- music146 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a hauntingly serene soundtrack that evolves with the seasons. Many reviewers noted that the music complements the game's lore and visuals, creating an immersive environment that encourages exploration and reflection. While some tracks are reused from previous titles, they are still considered fitting and contribute significantly to the game's charm and ambiance.
“The music was a surprising delight, changing with the seasons as they pass so it's harder to get bored of a particular track.”
“What needs pointing out is the absolutely beautiful and atmospheric soundtrack, matching the seasons in its own style.”
“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.”
“There's no tension or danger (despite a soundtrack that has some really driving music for some reason) at all in the game.”
“Overall, the soundscape is passable but you could just turn it all off and play the cultist simulator OST and get the same or better experience.”
- atmosphere129 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Book of Hours" is widely praised for its chill, immersive, and beautifully crafted environment, combining stunning art, an enchanting soundtrack, and rich lore that invites exploration and contemplation. Players appreciate the cozy yet mysterious ambiance, which enhances the experience of delving into the game's occult themes and narrative depth. Overall, the game excels in creating a unique, atmospheric experience that captivates those who enjoy lore-driven storytelling and a serene gaming environment.
“Well made atmosphere, very interesting lore and beautiful music, this game has it all.”
“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 a beautiful puzzle RPG that is dripping with incredible writing and atmosphere.”
“Constantly alt-tabbing would be needed, but that completely takes me away from the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere, esoteric lore, and feeling of achievement you get when you finally make some sort of progress are what set this game apart and make it shine: but all those qualities are hidden behind a barrier of reading (seemingly) nonsense.”
“However, it is hard to leave the game when you hang on to the particularly well-written atmosphere.”
- graphics127 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their gorgeous art style, unique aesthetics, and immersive atmosphere, which effectively complement the storytelling and gameplay. Many reviewers noted the beautiful visuals and music, highlighting how they enhance the overall experience, although some mentioned minor technical issues and a few graphical glitches. Overall, the art direction is seen as a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Cultist Simulator," making it a visually captivating experience.
“The vibes on this game are immaculate, the art style is amazing, and the game has just hooked me so deeply.”
“There are layers to layers to pretty much everything and both the writing and artwork are so amazing and unique and complement each other so well that sometimes I can't believe a game like this really exists.”
“The graphics may look unassuming, but the depth and breadth of storytelling will draw you in and won't let you go.”
“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 low resolution. 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 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.”
- grinding82 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Book of Hours" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages of the game. While some appreciate the organizational challenge and the depth of exploration, others feel that the grind for resources and skill upgrades becomes excessively time-consuming and detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as a step up from its predecessor, "Cultist Simulator," but still suffers from significant grind-related issues 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.”
“Playing 'Book of Hours' feels fine for the first 15 hours or so, but at some point the base gameplay loop gets really repetitive and grindy.”
“At the later stage of the game you are bound to waste lots and lots of time waiting for the right weather and grinding for memory cards every time you want to read a book, level up a skill or unlock a new room.”
“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.”
- replayability27 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the multiple endings and potential for self-made challenges, while others find the core gameplay repetitive and lacking significant changes between playthroughs. Many express a desire for additional content or features, such as random layouts, to enhance replay value. Overall, while there is some replayability, it may depend heavily on individual player preferences and future updates.
“Took me about 50 hours on a blind playthrough, and it seems to have a lot of replayability!”
“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'.”
“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 also wish this game was more replayable--beyond the class endings, again, nothing would change.”
“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.”
“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.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a dry, stoic wit that resonates with players, often invoking laughter through unexpected and absurd scenarios, such as the quirky interactions with books and the game's lore. While some players appreciate the clever writing and amusing situations, others find the gameplay mechanics frustrating, which can detract from the overall comedic experience. Overall, the humor is a blend of cleverness and absurdity, appealing to those who enjoy a unique narrative style.
“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, then this game is exactly what you're looking for.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with players noting significant performance issues, particularly in the midgame and on lower-end systems like the Steam Deck, where frame rates are capped at 30 fps. While some users feel that the game remains enjoyable despite these issues, others recommend waiting for further optimization updates before purchasing, as performance degradation becomes more pronounced as players progress. Overall, the developers are acknowledged to be working on these performance concerns, but current optimization leaves much to be desired.
“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 rooms open, either.”
“Maybe wait to buy until more optimization passes have been done if your computer isn't on the strong end.”
“Once you reach the midgame, the amount of things unlocked will drop the game's performance.”
“As I've progressed further and unlocked more of the hush house, my performance has degraded further and further.”
“The game starts to chug at the mid-game - it's not optimized well.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players describe the emotional experience of the game as deeply immersive and multifaceted, evoking feelings of curiosity, frustration, and a sense of accomplishment. The game creates a cozy, whimsical atmosphere that resonates with players, making them feel like eccentric keepers of knowledge and secrets, while also challenging them with complex mechanics that can lead to moments of self-doubt and triumph. Overall, it offers a rich emotional journey that combines warmth and intellectual engagement.
“This game has its own unique feeling to it altogether, and made me feel a curiosity for the lore underlying all the beautiful writing.”
“It feels like curling up in a warm padded chair, draped in a blanket, with a cup of fragrant tea by your side, and an intriguingly wholesome book in your hand...”
“The game is amazing, the interface is amazing, the depth is amazing and it makes for a wonderful emotional experience.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
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 maintains a solid frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
“I experienced no crashes or bugs, which made for a smooth gaming experience.”
“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.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express concern over the monetization strategies associated with the weather factory expansion, indicating a saturation of targeted ads and a desire for future games to avoid similar practices. Overall, there is a hope for continued quality in game development, but a clear preference for less aggressive monetization approaches.
“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!”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
