Hollow Cocoon

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 150 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Hollow Cocoon Game Cover
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"Hollow Cocoon" is a first-person horror adventure game set in 1980s Japan. As college student Minato Jinba, you return to your mother's hometown after receiving news of your grandmother's critical condition. Uncover chilling truths as you navigate the village and evade monsters, while dealing with the complex emotions and strained relationships within your family.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 150 reviews
story64 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating story with emotional depth and strong character development, keeping players engaged throughout.
  • The atmosphere is beautifully crafted, with stunning graphics and sound design that enhance the horror experience.
  • There is a good amount of replayability due to multiple endings and unlockable content, encouraging players to explore different outcomes.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, with a reliance on hiding mechanics that may frustrate players over time.
  • Some players found the monster's AI to be overly aggressive, leading to moments of annoyance rather than tension.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth in gameplay.
  • story116 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its intriguing and emotional narrative, set in a beautifully rendered rural village during the 1980s, which effectively combines horror elements with deep character backstories. Players appreciate the unique storytelling approach through diary entries and environmental details, although some find the reliance on reading documents to be a barrier to immersion. Overall, the story is described as captivating, with strong pacing and memorable twists that enhance the chilling atmosphere.

    • “The story was told wonderfully in diary entries and letters that never bored me.”
    • “Hollow Cocoon delivers a memorable and chilling supernatural story, focused on the haunting sins of a family and the curse visited therein upon the main protagonist as he ventures to visit his family in the Japanese countryside.”
    • “The amazing story is masterfully narrated not only by the notes scattered across the maps, but also by the perfectly executed atmosphere, and by every single detail of the astonishing visuals.”
    • “It is just not interesting to 'dance' the same 'moves' with the monster to push the story forward.”
    • “Honestly, I missed out on much of the story as there was a lot of reading in the game (I don't like to read in horror games because it takes me out of the 'scary' experience).”
    • “I had to stop reading the documents after a while and lost interest in the story because it was too much reading.”
  • gameplay45 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a simple and repetitive loop of item collection and puzzle-solving, often involving stealth mechanics to evade a relentless enemy. While the controls are smooth and the atmosphere is engaging, many players find the core mechanics frustrating and lacking in originality. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with a focus on story and atmosphere, but it may not satisfy those seeking more innovative gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is really smooth and makes it feel rewarding to be able to sneak around the house.”
    • “Smooth & fun gameplay with notes, items, stealth & hiding, and some puzzle and exploration as well.”
    • “Highly recommend this game for its interesting story, smooth gameplay, and beautiful graphics :)”
    • “The focus of the game is more on its story and lore; the gameplay loop of running and hiding can be repetitive and simple.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, I normally hate games where you're being chased and have no defense other than hiding, but this one is actually not that bad.”
    • “Gameplay is overall very plain: grab key item, use to get next key item, rinse and repeat while occasionally hiding from a stalking monster by stuffing yourself in a closet or a box, chug healing items when you inevitably get slapped by the monster because your running speed is near worthless.”
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals and atmospheric design that enhance the overall experience. While some players experienced minor frame rate drops, the optimization is generally considered solid, allowing for smooth gameplay even at high resolutions. The art style, particularly the Japanese countryside setting, is noted for its nostalgic and immersive qualities, contributing significantly to the game's horror elements.

    • “The graphics in this game are absolutely stunning as well, everything was very well done.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the atmosphere is awesome.”
    • “Excellent presentation with its fantastic graphics and artistic direction, provoking story largely told through notes and the details in the environments but well crafted and well written.”
    • “I also experienced random small frame rate drops in 4k resolution with an RTX 4080 no matter what I selected in the graphic options.”
    • “Visually, graphics might appear a bit dated.”
    • “Although the art style was well made, the game didn't give much sense of direction in my opinion.”
  • atmosphere27 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, creepy vibe, enhanced by stunning graphics, a compelling soundtrack, and effective sound design. Reviewers highlight the immersive storytelling and the tension created by the presence of enemies, which contribute to a consistently engaging experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautifully crafted, with a strong emotional connection that elevates the gameplay.

    • “The game is incredibly beautiful and has a very strong atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly well-done and I was surprised how good the music and writing are.”
    • “From the moment the game starts, the world is oozing with atmosphere and beautiful scenery.”
    • “Some people in the discussion suggested making it a walking simulator (i.e., a no-monster gameplay), but even though I played only for the story and atmosphere, the monster is mandatory to the overall narrative and atmosphere.”
    • “It is short, but it has a highly condensed, well-crafted atmosphere, which I highly prefer over artificial overstretching that does nothing but waste players' time.”
    • “There's plenty of break moments where the atmosphere builds up.”
  • music13 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its fitting and beautifully crafted soundtrack, which enhances the tense atmosphere and complements the story effectively. Reviewers noted the quality of the sound design and voice acting, with particular appreciation for the memorable ending theme. Overall, the music is considered a standout element that contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The game has a lovingly crafted soundtrack which fits the premise wonderfully and many beautiful details to discover.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly well-done and I was surprised how good the music and writing are.”
    • “Music is also fitting, voice work seems to be good (it's in Japanese but still, it sounded right).”
    • “Finally, like in Cineris Somnia, the soundtrack was marvelous, especially the ending theme.”
    • “I wish they will sell the soundtrack later, I've listened to the Cineris Somnia one a lot of times.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players have praised the game for its deep emotional storytelling, highlighting its layered narrative that combines horror with poignant themes. Many found the characters and their backstories to be compelling, evoking strong feelings and even tears, while the immersive atmosphere added to the emotional weight of the experience. Overall, the game successfully transcends typical horror tropes, offering a rich and touching journey.

    • “But after the first discoveries beyond the main setting, the charm grew more and more and I discovered a touching and refined story.”
    • “I'm generally not a fan of horror games because they are often superficial and more into the raw scary material, but you managed to craft a truly deeply horrific, grim, and dark story with a great emotional layer.”
    • “Plus it has a great story, even made me cry a little, quite emotional.”
  • replayability7 mentions

    The game offers decent replayability through multiple endings, unlockable cosmetics, and optional content that encourages players to explore different choices and outcomes. While the main storyline is short, the inclusion of secret endings and customization options adds layers of engagement for those looking to delve deeper into the game. Overall, players can expect a fun experience revisiting the game to uncover all its secrets.

    • “Also has plenty of bonus side content in the form of free unlockables (as the gaming gods originally intended) you can easily get after your first playthrough (plenty of kaiko cosmetics, 2 optional endings, and 2 sound effects for chase and roaming) granting some decent/fun replayability.”
    • “Game's short, but there's a hint of replayability with silly cosmetics to unlock and some extra endings to obtain.”
    • “And on top of that, the multiple endings encourage replayability, since not all the questions are answered by all the endings. You have to play multiple times and try different things to complete the (pretty intricate!) plot puzzle.”
    • “Multiple endings with a shop where you can buy skins and stuff, so there is a lot of replayability.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with users reporting smooth performance even at the highest graphical settings, earning scores of 9/10. The detailed graphics, powered by Unity, contribute to an immersive experience without compromising gameplay fluidity, and players have encountered no significant bugs.

    • “The optimization is rock solid; the game runs smoothly despite the realistic and extremely detailed graphics, which are not powered by Unreal Engine as anyone may think, but by Unity!”
    • “This honestly is a 9/10 game; it's so well optimized, has very beautiful graphics, and is pretty scary.”
    • “I had a good performance during my gameplay with the highest quality in the game, no issues at all.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and annoying, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience by transforming potentially engaging gameplay into a monotonous chore.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Tedious and annoying...”
    • “It stops being scary and just becomes tedious as you wander around.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The game effectively balances serious themes with humor, providing players with amusing customization options and entertaining endings, particularly the alien ending, which leaves a lasting chuckle. Overall, the humor enhances the gaming experience without overshadowing its more serious elements.

    • “This game has a good balance of being serious and using humor.”
    • “The bonus content is amazing as well and gives the player some nice (and some funny) customization options.”
    • “The remaining two endings were good; the alien one was my last one, and I'm glad it was. It got me chuckling, and it was nice to close the game on that note.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is praised for its exceptional design and visuals, effectively reflecting the story's essence, though there are suggestions for improvement in the monster character design and animations.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging, allowing players to truly connect with the characters.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
    • “The backstories and personal growth of each character are well-crafted, adding layers of complexity to the overall narrative.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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