Hob

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,765 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Hob Game Cover
Runic Games' atmospheric stab at Zelda is enjoyable despite some fuzzy portable graphics.
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# WORDLESS NARRATIVE Presented without text or dialogue, Hob’s story is revealed as you explore the planet and interact with the strange lifeforms that inhabit it. # TRANSFORM THE WORLD Solve puzzles and repair the planet. The landscape will change before your eyes, opening new areas to uncover and explore. # GRAPPLE, PUNCH, and WARP Use your mechanical glove-arm abilities for traversal as we…

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,765 reviews
story147 positive mentions
stability69 negative mentions
  • Beautiful visuals and art style that create an immersive atmosphere.
  • Engaging exploration and puzzle-solving mechanics that reward curiosity.
  • Unique storytelling approach with no dialogue, allowing players to interpret the narrative themselves.
  • Fixed camera angles can lead to frustrating platforming and navigation issues.
  • Occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause soft locks.
  • Lack of clear direction and guidance can leave players feeling lost at times.
  • story542 mentions

    The game's story is primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and visual cues, with no dialogue or text, which some players find intriguing while others feel it lacks clarity and depth. Many appreciate the minimalist approach, noting that it allows for personal interpretation and exploration, but others criticize it for being too vague and difficult to follow. Overall, the narrative is seen as simple yet engaging, with a captivating world that invites players to piece together the story as they progress.

    • “The game tells an amazing story with great world building and not a single word needed to be spoken.”
    • “The story is intriguing and mysterious, and the mechanics are simple and not frustrating.”
    • “Without dialogue, the story reveals a touching depth that can be found from developers with passion to an overall vision of a game.”
    • “Without any kind of story or comprehensible level design, I felt like I was in a skinner box where I was pushing whatever buttons someone had put in front of me.”
    • “If storytelling weighs heavily on your purchase decision, maybe give this one a skip.”
    • “But the complete lack of a story or any sense of direction really keeps this game from being good.”
  • graphics494 mentions

    The graphics of "Hob" are widely praised for their stunning art style, vibrant colors, and beautiful environmental design, creating an immersive and visually appealing experience. Many players appreciate the unique aesthetic that combines elements of steampunk and whimsical charm, although some report occasional graphical glitches and performance issues. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's exploration and puzzle-solving elements.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the combat is engaging and fun, and the level designs are unique.”
    • “The art style is breathtaking, and the world design is fantastic, making it a joy to explore.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely breathtaking as you watch the world transform around you.”
    • “The game is very un-optimized without any settings to lower the graphic settings etc to at least reduce the lag.”
    • “My only complaint (and only reason the game is a 9.5 and not a 10) is that I can't run the game at a high graphics setting because my computer.”
    • “You'll also run into quite a few graphical glitches, bugs that broke immersion for me.”
  • gameplay401 mentions

    The gameplay of "Hob" is characterized by a blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and light combat, reminiscent of classic titles like "The Legend of Zelda." While many players appreciate the beautiful art style and engaging mechanics, some have noted issues with controls, camera angles, and occasional bugs that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game offers a satisfying mix of environmental interaction and platforming, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more combat-focused experience.

    • “The gameplay is centered around exploration and observational puzzles.”
    • “The amazing gameplay mechanics, fun/intuitive/not-too-hard puzzles, cool aesthetics, great story, and incredible music make it a relaxing escape from reality.”
    • “The gameplay consists mainly of solving environmental puzzles, fighting enemies, platforming, and exploring.”
    • “The gameplay is not that different from top-down Zelda games with puzzles and similar combat systems.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, the environments varied, and the gameplay relaxing.”
    • “The beautiful visuals and stunning soundtrack don’t make up for some clunky gameplay and a story that may fail to engage players.”
  • music208 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its soothing, haunting, and melancholic tones that complement the beautiful visuals. However, some players feel that the soundtrack is minimalistic and lacks the boldness or memorability found in other titles, leading to moments where the absence of music during gameplay can feel uneventful. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for many, there are mixed opinions on its impact and presence throughout the game.

    • “The music is soothing, haunting, and melancholy all at once.”
    • “The music is ambient and soothing for the most part and adds to the beautiful and fantastic atmosphere of an alien world.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic.”
    • “The music is unnoticeable, not intriguing nor engaging ¯\_(ツ)_/¯”
    • “It's just ambience which is a sad excuse for a soundtrack.”
    • “This game has so much character and it could be brought to life through music, but it is just stagnant in that respect.”
  • atmosphere115 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and unique art style, creating a captivating and serene experience. Players appreciate the ambient music and environmental sounds that enhance the exploration of its beautifully crafted world. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, drawing players into a mysterious and enchanting environment.

    • “The atmosphere is lovely, the world is gorgeous, and the combat is just tricky enough to challenge someone who isn't great at video games.”
    • “The atmosphere, sound design, and environments are top notch.”
    • “This is such a fantastic adventure right from the get-go; the whole atmosphere just draws you into this immersive experience.”
    • “The back story and characters don't really have a lot of emotional depth; however, it's really the place with all its charm which provides the depth atmosphere.”
    • “One of the best aspects of the game, I think, is to let the player play the game. There is no tutorial in this game; it doesn't hold your hand. It makes you connect the dots with unique flowing level design that 'builds' the player quite literally into the atmosphere.”
    • “In fact, I think it works incredibly well because of the world's mysterious atmosphere.”
  • stability73 mentions

    The game is widely reported to be quite buggy, with numerous players experiencing glitches that can affect gameplay, such as getting stuck in terrain, camera issues, and minor visual bugs. While some players found these issues manageable thanks to a respawn feature, others felt that the bugs significantly detracted from their overall enjoyment. Despite the technical problems, many still appreciate the game's design and gameplay, suggesting that it may be worth trying for those who can tolerate its instability.

    • “It's a very enjoyable game; it runs great on Deck. Pick it up during the next sale.”
    • “Amazing indie game; runs great on ROG Ally.”
    • “It's fairly bug-free, but I did get stuck in the terrain a few times.”
    • “The game is buggy and crashed on me a few times.”
    • “There were some dumb hit-box glitches that I've noticed where I dodged properly, but the enemy still was able to hit me even though his weapon did not even touch me.”
    • “That said, the amount of bugs and glitches completely ruined the experience for me.”
  • optimization60 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as frame rate drops, stuttering, and high GPU usage, even on capable hardware. Despite some users experiencing decent performance, the lack of effective graphical settings and persistent bugs detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, while the game has potential, its current state is marred by optimization problems that hinder gameplay.

    • “Lastly, performance is great with steady frames; however, there are a few minor bugs every now and then.”
    • “The world design, seamless levels, absolutely gigantic areas, the art style, subtle but exact to the point music, beautiful animations, progression system, performance... I can go on forever.”
    • “I've had a great deal of fun with the game so far and hope that sooner rather than later the performance issues will be ironed out.”
    • “The game is very unoptimized without any settings to lower the graphic settings, which makes it difficult to reduce lag.”
    • “The engine, which is the same they always used, is not handling the game well. I've experienced performance issues ranging from inconsistent frame rates to severe performance drops in parts of the game, which is unreasonable for a title that is visually simple.”
    • “The one thing I hate about this game is how bad the optimization is, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering regardless of your computer specs.”
  • replayability27 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among users. While some appreciate the potential for replaying to achieve 100% completion or tackle harder difficulties, many feel that the game lacks significant replay value, often describing it as a "one and done" experience. Players who enjoyed the initial playthrough may not feel compelled to return, as the game primarily focuses on puzzles and visuals rather than varied gameplay.

    • “It's got a lot of replay value with the achievements.”
    • “Other than that, this is an amazing game with a very high replay value.”
    • “Lots of replay value and has hard mode and a speed run achievement.”
    • “I feel satisfied for ending it, but if you are one for replayability, then this may not be your cup of tea.”
    • “This game is more for the puzzles and the visuals than anything else, and it has near zero replayability.”
    • “We're talking about a game that doesn't offer very much in replayability; you can find all the collectibles or replay the game on a harder difficulty, but there's no variety to it in that sense.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with repetitive puzzles and combat that can become frustrating over time. While some elements, like the engaging world interactions and satisfying mechanics, are appreciated, the overall experience can feel drawn out and lacking substance, especially as the game progresses. The fixed camera and slow traversal further contribute to the sense of monotony, making it difficult to maintain interest in the gameplay.

    • “Not gonna lie, after playing this game for 15 hours it got a bit tedious at times.”
    • “It gets incredibly tedious, and really starts wearing on you after you catch onto the fact that there is no more substance to the game.”
    • “In the back half of the game, enemies take enough hits, and give so little reward for beating them, that combat becomes tedious and usually just best avoided.”
  • emotional15 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to convey a touching story without dialogue, relying on environmental storytelling and minimalist design to evoke feelings of joy and investment. While some players appreciate the heartwarming interactions, such as petting animals, others note a lack of deep emotional stakes and character backstory. Overall, the game creates a charming atmosphere that resonates emotionally, despite its simplistic narrative approach.

    • “Amazed by how such a touching story can be told without a single word.”
    • “I've hugged, patted, nuzzled, and belly-rubbed my way through this amazing world, and it made me feel so much more invested in it than I might have been otherwise.”
    • “To be sure, the wordless approach allows for touching moments, as when your golem buddy releases a butterfly while our hero looks on in admiration.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning character designs and animations, which are praised for their uniqueness and personality. While the story may not be the primary focus, the open world and the ability to choose endings enhance the overall experience, making players eager for potential continuations. The art style and aesthetics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, showcasing a vibrant and immersive environment.

    • “Character design and animation is also top-notch and full of personality.”
    • “Unique world and character designs, smooth motions, open world, good story and you can even choose your ending.”
    • “Beautiful character design, an open expanding world to explore, numerous enemies to defeat and different strategies for different play styles.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
    • “Despite the appealing character designs, the story fails to provide any substantial growth or evolution for the characters.”
    • “While the character animation is impressive, the overall development of the characters is disappointing and uninspired.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it entertaining and funny, particularly in unexpected moments like bugs or glitches. However, some critiques highlight that while the humor can enhance the experience, it doesn't compensate for issues like poor controls and repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game is noted for its amusing elements, making it a fun investment for players.

    • “Anyway, a very funny and entertaining game and definitely not a bad investment.”
    • “A bug or a glitch is unintentional, and they can even be funny, like the invisible guy.”
    • “After all the energy spent on crafting Hob's world - and the world is very pretty - I can sympathize with Runic's solution to the bug, even if as cynical patches go, it's a devilishly funny one.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization approach of the game is praised for its refreshing absence of microtransactions and loot boxes, contrasting sharply with the prevalent $60 games that often exploit players financially. Additionally, the inclusion of a small advertising comic effectively conveys important narrative elements without compromising the gameplay experience.

    • “This game is a breath of fresh air in a time when $60 games are filled with microtransactions, loot boxes, and other ways to drain money from players.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and transparent, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend extra money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases, making it accessible for everyone.”
    • “There are narrative elements the development team thought were important to convey when advertising the product, but not in the product itself.”
    • “This game is a breath of fresh air in a time where $60 games are filled with microtransactions, loot boxes, and other ways to drain money from players.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

Buy Hob

Play time

8hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
10hMain story
16hCompletionist
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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