HOLEHOLE

About

HOLEHOLE is a single player action game. It was developed by Lu and was released on June 1, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"HOLEHOLE" is an adventure game where players collect objects, help residents, and explore a dungeon with no set purpose. Progress is made through visual novel-style storytelling and interactions, with freedom to play as desired. To achieve the true ending, players must increase their status by eating, win a single battle, and give items to three people.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 80 reviews

story10 positive mentions

character development3 negative mentions

The game features a touching story that explores themes of love and grief, providing an emotional experience.
The character designs and visuals are charming and artistic, contributing to a unique aesthetic.
It's a short and relaxing game that allows players to explore and interact with a colorful cast of characters.

Controls are clunky and can be frustrating, making gameplay less enjoyable.
The overworld and gameplay loop become repetitive quickly, leading to boredom after a short time.
The narrative can be confusing and lacks clarity, leaving players unsure of the overall story.

story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
58%
12%
The game's story is described as a sweet and touching exploration of themes like love and grief, though it suffers from repetitive gameplay and confusing narrative elements. While some players appreciated the emotional depth and unique storytelling approach, others found the plot lacking and the mechanics tedious, leading to a mixed reception overall. The visuals and character designs received attention, but the overall experience was often overshadowed by gameplay issues and fragmented dialogue.
- “A nice short little story on love, grief, and examining the 'holes' grief leaves years afterwards and accepting the marks they left.”
- “I got a smile out of the experience and the story was touching.”
- “Rather than be grim, it takes the ideas of delving into things (be it projects, friendship, romance, and grief) by allowing the player to interact with NPCs and face a story which is core to the game's setting itself.”
- “Story is sweet but the overworld repeats itself after like the 5th iteration and the cutscenes consist of singular images sometimes with loading screens, which make going through it after you have seen it all on the overworld kind of annoying.”
- “There is one very small map to explore that gets periodically rehashed the entire time, broken up with fragments of poorly translated dialogue and another small chapter of the overriding 'story' when the map has been traversed each time.”
- “Holehole feels more like a developer trying to expand their programming knowledge, rather than a product that tries to deliver an entertaining or meaningful experience, which ironically ties a bit into the foggy story.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique blend of 2D flat sprites and a simplistic 3D world, creating a vivid aesthetic that reflects the developer's individual art style. While the visuals may not reach AAA standards, they effectively convey a range of emotions, from dark undertones to cute charm, making the overall experience visually appealing and engaging. Users appreciate the artistic design, particularly the character artwork, despite some confusion regarding the integration of 2D and 3D elements.
- “Giving off a made-by-a-single-person vibe, holehole uses RPG Developer Bakin’s engine to showcase a vivid aesthetic that is complemented by Lu’s own unique art style of 2D flat sprites inhabiting a simplistic 3D world.”
- “These stories travel through all kinds of emotions, from happy familial charm to lonely endeavors to melancholy nostalgia, and they push into some fairly dark corners at times, yet never lose a sense of cuteness complemented by the art style.”
- “[Kawaii/casual] Casual, short, calm, and relaxed game with unique cute furry anime artwork.”
- “Venturing into this game, I found a confusing blend of 2D and 3D that's harder to digest than a husky eating spicy tacos.”
- “It has some dark undertones, both from the story and the visuals, not to mention the sexualized look of most characters.”
- “These stories travel through all kinds of emotions, from happy familial charm to lonely endeavors to melancholy nostalgia, and they push into some fairly dark corners at times, yet never lose a sense of cuteness complimented by the art style.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay is characterized by a simplistic and repetitive loop, primarily involving exploration of a small hub, interacting with NPCs, and engaging in minimal combat. Players may find enjoyment in the casual nature of the game, but it lacks depth in mechanics and storytelling, often feeling clunky and underdeveloped. Overall, it caters to those who appreciate light, exploratory gameplay rather than complex mechanics or narratives.
- “The core gameplay loop revolves around running around a cave and talking to NPCs.”
- “In between this brief gameplay loop, you will jump into a hole that leads to a story scene with text and images before getting sent back to the cave with slight alterations in the loop.”
- “Instead, the gameplay revolves around interactions and exploration of this small hub, finding things to devour, and speaking to the residents.”
- “But like many of the other games, it lacks any real gameplay or story, other than the bits you vaguely get.”
- “The core gameplay loop revolves around running around a cave, talking to NPCs.”
- “Gameplay itself is almost non-existent, consisting of just exploring the same hub each day, a few jumping puzzles to reach some pieces of food, and one dungeon fight with a monster that only acts as a check to see if you have consumed enough food by that point in the game to pass by it.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players are pleasantly surprised by the emotional depth of the game, describing it as a wholesome and heartwarming experience that evokes genuine feelings, often leading to tears. Despite its lighthearted premise involving cute animal characters, the narrative unfolds in a way that resonates deeply, leaving players with a sense of joy and reflection. Overall, the game is praised for its touching story and potential for future emotional impact.
- “It is just a wholesome experience. I was expecting a funny game about cute animal girls in a dungeon, but in the end, I almost cried. Worth the little it cost 100%.”
- “Holehole is a visual novel game; it is a very good game, and the story is very sweet and heartwarming. When you start to realize what the story is about, make sure you go in the hole.”
- “I got a smile out of the experience, and the story was touching.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Reviewers appreciate the character development for its engaging designs and memorable models that enhance dialogue interactions, showcasing the creator's effort in bringing the characters to life.
- “I have to give the creator credit for actually using character designs and models for some dialogue.”
- “Character designs are very nice and memorable.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
- “The dialogue often feels forced, and the characters don't seem to grow or change throughout the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as wholesome, with players initially expecting a lighthearted experience featuring cute animal girls in a dungeon, but instead finding themselves emotionally moved, highlighting the game's unexpected depth and value.
- “It is just a wholesome experience. I was expecting a funny game about cute animal girls in a dungeon, but in the end, I almost cried. Worth the little it cost 100%.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game is characterized as mellow and lo-fi, serving as a redeeming quality amidst otherwise lackluster elements. While it may appeal to some players, it is not the primary attraction of the game.
- “The mellow, lo-fi music is a standout feature that adds a unique charm to the experience.”
- “The images on the store page will likely be its biggest draw, but they (if they are indeed your thing) and the mellow, lo-fi music are the only elements of this 'game' I found to be even slightly redeeming.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
The game offers moderate replayability, particularly for players who wish to uncover the hidden "real" ending, with multiple playthroughs feeling engaging rather than tedious.
- “The game offers multiple paths and choices, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With various character builds and story outcomes, I find myself coming back to explore different strategies and endings.”
- “There’s some replay value if you don’t find the secretive 'real' ending on your first playthrough, but even playing through it two or three times doesn’t seem like a chore.”
- “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back and play again. The story doesn't change enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.”
- “While there are different choices to make, the overall experience feels too similar each time, making it hard to stay engaged for a second run.”