Drake Hollow

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 540 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Drake Hollow Game Cover
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Welcome to The Hollow, a blighted and dying place, and home to the Drakes.Drakes are the friendly vegetable folk native to these parts, and they need your help. They’re hungry, thirsty, and need a place to sleep. They can - quite literally - die of boredom. It’s on you to save them. Build gardens to provide them with food, wells for water, and yoga balls and puppet shows to keep them entertained. …

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 540 reviews
story37 positive mentions
grinding40 negative mentions
  • The game features charming graphics and a delightful art style that enhances the overall experience.
  • The mechanics are easy to learn, making it accessible for players of all skill levels, and the gameplay loop of exploration, resource gathering, and base building is engaging.
  • The drakes are adorable and add a unique element to the gameplay, providing buffs and requiring care, which adds depth to the experience.
  • The game can become repetitive quickly, with limited enemy variety and similar tasks across different regions.
  • Combat feels clunky and lacks depth, with issues related to hit detection and movement that can frustrate players.
  • There are significant limitations in base building and resource management, which can lead to a feeling of being constrained and hinder exploration.
  • story122 mentions

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it interesting yet lacking depth and coherence. While some appreciate the whimsical elements and character design, others criticize the narrative for being vague, disjointed, and ultimately unsatisfying, especially after completing the main quest. Overall, the game offers a basic storyline that can feel underdeveloped, with players expressing a desire for more engaging content and clearer connections between story elements.

    • “The story is really good and the drakes are so cute.”
    • “The campaign storyline -- a 'find journal pages' sort of thing, mostly -- is well-paced and interesting, its overtones of foreboding and melancholy balancing the peaceful charm of sandbox play.”
    • “The story itself unfolds slowly through quests and finding letters left in the world from its previous inhabitants - I'm keen to see how it unfolds.”
    • “The story is nonexistent, starting off strong with not explaining the reasons for anything and bossing the player around, and continuing for the entire rest of the game with diary entries from 'a mysterious magician' laying around the islands that you must find.”
    • “The story is bland and, sadly, I do not really care if the cute little guys live or die.”
    • “There is a story, but it's weak, and you only get snippets once in a while, making it hard to care.”
  • gameplay115 mentions

    The gameplay in this title is characterized by a simple and repetitive loop of exploration, resource gathering, and combat, which can become monotonous after a few hours. While the mechanics are easy to learn and the art style is appealing, many players feel that the lack of depth and variety in gameplay elements, coupled with some frustrating design choices, detracts from the overall experience. The game is best enjoyed in co-op mode, as it allows players to share the burden of its grindy nature, but it ultimately leaves players wanting more in terms of complexity and engagement.

    • “The gameplay is fun, graphics are pretty, and the story is interesting.”
    • “Drake Hollow is a very relaxing co-op survival base-builder with great art style and a simple gameplay loop: explore the map, collect resources, free drakes, return to your base, and build to defend and care for the drakes.”
    • “What impressed me the most is how the game manages to make all these different systems deep and interconnected to each other, and offers such a unique and addictive gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very cyclic to the point of repetitiveness.”
    • “But for a paid game, the core gameplay loop is very weak.”
    • “The core gameplay loop, however, gets repetitive really quickly.”
  • graphics97 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and vibrant art style, which many liken to a softer version of Fortnite. Players appreciate the cute visuals and smooth animations, noting that the graphics enhance the overall gameplay experience, making it enjoyable and immersive. However, some users mention occasional graphical glitches and a lack of customization options, suggesting that while the aesthetics are appealing, they may not meet everyone's expectations for high-end graphics.

    • “The art style is beautiful and fits perfectly with the gameplay, which is a masterpiece on its own.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely adorable and you can't help but fall in love with the charm.”
    • “Super cute game - beautiful graphics, smooth, fluid movement in both characters and animations.”
    • “This game has constant graphical glitches, gameplay glitches, janky controls, and underwhelming, boring combat, which means I cannot really recommend it.”
    • “The only thing that carried it was the cute graphics.”
    • “I wanted to like the art style, but as I played, it seemed really dated and didn't draw me in.”
  • grinding41 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game where resource gathering and travel become monotonous. While some enjoy the mechanics and interactions, many express frustration with the lack of enemy diversity and the overwhelming grind required for progression, especially in solo play. The game has potential but is often described as frustratingly grindy, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall enjoyment.

    • “It's also not too grindy for my taste; I enjoyed the island-to-island gameplay and was quite immersed in the cute stylized graphics while collecting trash like a vampiric raccoon for my base.”
    • “Late game is grindy to the point where I rushed to the end in the final region just to get it over with.”
    • “Once I cleared all the islands in the final season, I was unable to get more crystals outside of forcing raids, which was tedious and boring, as I've been combating said raids since early summer.”
    • “Travelling from island to island beating the crap out of vines becomes really boring and quite tedious, especially if you want to cover all of the islands in a region and honestly there isn't that much reason to do so.”
  • music31 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience with its ethereal and melancholic tones. However, some players find it repetitive over time, suggesting the use of personal playlists for a more enjoyable ambiance. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a beautiful complement to the game's charming graphics and engaging gameplay, though a few users noted a desire for more memorable compositions.

    • “The music is very soothing and the animations, especially for the drakes interacting with the environment, are top-notch.”
    • “Between the ethereal voices of the little creatures you're protecting, the devastated landscape you're exploring, and the melancholic exploration soundtrack, it feels like a waking dream.”
    • “I really recommend this beautiful piece of art, the music, the story, the immersion... it's worth every single penny.”
    • “Oh, the music gets a bit boring, so make use of your own playlists; it's a much nicer ambience that way.”
    • “Plays great, the music is amazing but repetitive after so much time; just put on some lo-fi and melt away into this world.”
    • “Text boxes and interface texts overlap (the second half of the magpie's store was not readable and clickable) in windowed mode, music and sound cuts off and starts at random times.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its memorable moments, such as the goat ritual dance and amusing achievements, which contribute to an enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the lightheartedness and charm, although some find humor in the game's glitches, like getting stuck in the environment. Overall, the blend of cute characters and funny scenarios adds a refreshing touch to the gameplay.

    • “I died laughing at the goat ritual dance.”
    • “Some of the achievements are pretty hilarious and cute too.”
    • “A refreshing, sweet, and hopeful resource management game with a lot of depth and humor, plus thoughtful, lovely graphics!”
  • stability8 mentions

    The stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, while others have experienced minimal issues and found the game enjoyable. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there are some good elements, the presence of bugs can make the experience frustrating for many users.

    • “No glitches at all.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
    • “I haven't experienced any bugs or issues during my playthrough.”
    • “Has some good elements but currently feels like a buggy, unfinished mess.”
    • “This, with constant graphical glitches, gameplay glitches, janky controls, and underwhelming, boring combat, means I cannot really recommend this game.”
    • “It's a decent game, but it was so buggy it was infuriating in the end.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, running smoothly at 2560x1440 and 120 fps, with impressive graphics and gameplay. While some users reported minor performance issues, they are generally not significant and can likely be addressed in future patches.

    • “It seems to be well optimized, given that it runs at 2560x1440 at 120 fps without issues.”
    • “Awesome graphics and good performance alongside well-done gameplay make it a good game to play with your friends for a few evenings.”
    • “There are a few performance issues I've experienced, but nothing major that can't be fixed in a patch.”
    • “The idea and the performance itself are charming; many solutions, like fast traveling between waypoints or ghost walking after death, are pretty cool.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, featuring dynamically generated environments and seasonal changes that enhance the experience. Players appreciate its balance and visual appeal, making it enjoyable in both multiplayer and single-player modes.

    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “I unreservedly recommend the game as a well-balanced, visually beautiful multiplayer or single-player game with lots of replay value.”
    • “Dynamically generated and colorful world regions and seasons increase replayability.”
    • “However, I unreservedly recommend the game as a well-balanced, visually beautiful multiplayer or single-player game with lots of replay value.”
  • character development3 mentions

    The character development in the game is noted for its appealing design and an engaging story at the outset, but players feel that it lacks depth and progression, leaving them wanting more after a short gameplay experience. Overall, while the initial involvement is appreciated, the brevity of the game diminishes the potential for deeper character growth.

    • “When I bought this game, I was pleasantly surprised by its visuals, music, and character design. My friend and I got it together to play, and it was a great few sessions.”
    • “I like the character design, and the story felt involved at the beginning.”
    • “The character design is okay, but the character development is lacking.”
    • “The game is far too short, and you feel like you haven't even fully developed your character by the end.”
    • “While the visuals and music are impressive, the character development feels rushed and underwhelming.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere evokes a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of early Minecraft, blending whimsical exploration with elements from titles like Grounded and Life is Strange. Players appreciate the unique ambiance that enhances the overall experience, making exploration and base building feel fresh and engaging.

    • “This game’s atmosphere reminds me of those whimsical early days of Minecraft Alpha, where everything was new and exciting and I didn’t know what to expect.”
    • “This game is like Grounded meets Remnant: Ashes with a touch of Life is Strange atmosphere, and it works.”
    • “Overall, the game is great; I love the atmosphere, the exploration, and the base building mechanics.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of intense sadness, particularly during the death of characters like the drakes, which elicited strong feelings and tears.

    • “I cried when the drakes died.”
    • “I cried and cried; my tears would not dry.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviews suggest that while the game has potential for success with improved advertising, its monetization strategy may not align with the casual experience it offers, leading to a disconnect between expectations and reality.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
34hAverage play time
5-14hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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