Hollow Island
- January 29, 2020
- Edym Pixels
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Hollow Island" is an open-world, survival adventure game set on a mysterious island. Gather resources, craft tools, and build shelters to withstand the island's many dangers, including hostile creatures and treacherous environments. With a focus on exploration and discovery, uncover the secrets of Hollow Island and find a way to escape.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Hollow Island offers a relaxing and immersive experience with a strong focus on exploration, crafting, and combat, reminiscent of games like Stardew Valley but with its own unique twist.
- The game features a generous demo, allowing players to try before they buy, and is praised for its charming pixel art and outstanding soundtrack by Vindsvept.
- Players appreciate the freedom to approach gameplay at their own pace, with no strict time limits or resource management mechanics, making it a casual yet engaging adventure.
- Many players find the combat system clunky and unresponsive, with issues such as stiff animations and a lack of intuitive controls that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The game suffers from a lack of depth in its NPC interactions and story elements, resulting in a lifeless town and a feeling of aimlessness after the initial exploration.
- Some players have reported technical issues, including crashes and performance problems, as well as a grindy gameplay loop that can become repetitive over time.
- music32 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in "Hollow Island" is widely praised for its soothing and immersive qualities, with many players highlighting the exceptional work of composer Vindsvept. The soundtrack enhances the game's relaxing atmosphere and complements its exploration and adventure elements, making it a standout feature that captivates players and encourages them to explore the beautifully crafted world. Overall, the music is described as a significant draw for the game, reminiscent of cozy soundtracks from titles like Minecraft and Stardew Valley.
“The music is a standout feature; from the onset, players are given the liberty to explore vast, mysterious landscapes, battle formidable foes, and unravel the mysteries of a beautifully haunting world at their own pace, giving the player a sense of discovery and personal triumph.”
“Overall, Hollow Island is a compelling blend of exploration, combat, and narrative, backed by an outstanding soundtrack that cements its status as a must-play title for enthusiasts of the genre.”
“The music and atmosphere really draw you in if you let it, and it's hard not to want to explore every single corner of the map.”
“I've noticed it tends to stutter after the music track has ended, but not always.”
“For me personally, I'm not a big fan of these games, and while I quickly lost interest in the cycle of explore, collect, craft, the music of this game really captivated me.”
“The music is relaxing and it has decent enough graphics.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and charming pixel art style that, while not overly fancy, contributes to a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciate the simplicity and usability of the visual design, which complements the gameplay and narrative. Despite some critiques regarding the lack of detail in certain areas, the overall aesthetic is well-received, enhancing the game's enjoyment.
“Was an overall entertaining game with an interesting art style that gave me a couple hours of playtime.”
“Not only does it serve prominent narration, the pixelated graphics are astonishing too.”
“The main focus of the game is to make the players enjoy themselves; the beautiful graphics go hand in hand with the soothing music, creating a relaxing and wonderful atmosphere.”
“When you build roads or a farm or water, the game doesn't autotile (using the proper graphics to show rounded corners, t-junctions...).”
“The graphics are weak and the controls are poor but, overall, Hollow Island is a nice game.”
“Hollow Island is a broad pixel graphic game.”
- story19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players noting a lack of lore, quests, and engaging narrative elements. While some appreciate the simplicity and the potential for exploration without the constraints of traditional questing, others feel that the absence of a compelling story and NPC interactions detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game may appeal to those who prefer sandbox gameplay without narrative demands, but it falls short for players seeking a rich story-driven experience.
“The setting and story looked promising.”
“The story is simple and elegant.”
“You will establish a connection with Burnt-Face Jake, who is spreading positivity, even while having a sad background story.”
“There's no ease-in, no lore, no story to pique your interest, just two rambling old men.”
“After 6 hours in, the game still hasn't bothered trying to explain things further or introduce more story elements.”
“Just keep in mind that there's really no story and no quests.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the game offers a relaxing experience with simple farming mechanics, it can become grindy and repetitive, particularly in resource collection and upgrading. Players noted that farming loses its value after the early game, as crops are less useful compared to other activities like combat and exploration. Overall, the game is enjoyable in short sessions but may feel tedious over time, especially for those who dislike grinding.
“The grind is present, but it feels rewarding rather than tedious.”
“While the game has grinding elements, they are balanced with engaging content.”
“The grind may be noticeable, but it adds depth to the overall experience.”
“After about 20 hours, I edited the save to skip hours of grinding/waiting for cash and some resources.”
“Nice in short bites but starts to feel a bit grindy and pointless after a while.”
“It's actually really grindy, in terms of collecting resources, trying to manage some more precious materials and deciding what the best upgrades will be to suit your purposes.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Hollow Island is characterized by exploration-driven mechanics, with a strong emphasis on dungeon delving and combat, reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley and Terraria. Players appreciate the depth and variety of activities available, although some find the gameplay loop lacking in excitement. Overall, it offers a fun and relaxing experience, allowing for diverse playstyles within a broad map.
“While some might see shades of Stardew Valley in its exploration-driven gameplay, Hollow Island distinguishes itself with a stronger focus on delving into dungeons and engaging in combat, all set within a world rich with secrets waiting to be uncovered.”
“Overall, the gameplay feels fun with a lot of stuff to do.”
“I just wish there were more like the late game mechanical boss, with a proper dungeon and door opening/dungeon mechanics.”
“Has decent depth making the experience somewhat similar to Terraria, but gameplay is top-down like Necesse or The Survivalists.”
“The setting and mechanics have enough depth to them to keep you busy and entertained for a while.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful graphics and soothing soundtrack, creating a relaxing and immersive experience that encourages exploration. Players appreciate the laid-back vibe reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley, with attention to detail in sound effects enhancing the overall ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as gorgeous and engaging, contributing significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
“The main focus of the game is to make the players enjoy themselves; the beautiful graphics go hand in hand with the soothing music, creating a relaxing and wonderful atmosphere.”
“The music and atmosphere really draw you in if you let it, and it's hard not to want to explore every single corner of the map.”
“People will draw comparisons with Stardew Valley, and I agree up until a point - it has a really laid-back atmosphere that's felt down to the smallest sound effect. You're the new kid on the block, and your success is down to your own pursuits; you can farm or go mining, and good lord, the soundtrack is incredible and perfect for the setting.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with minimal glitches reported. However, players experience brief freezes during autosave moments, which can be somewhat frustrating. The presence of a helpful community forum also aids players in overcoming any issues they encounter.
“Almost no glitches, and if you get stuck, there is a really good guild on the forums that covers 95% of what's in the game!”
“It freezes for a couple of seconds whenever it autosaves, which is kind of annoying, but overall the game runs well.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly noting its homage to Morrowind, which evokes nostalgia and a sense of personal investment in the experience. This connection suggests that the developers successfully tapped into the players' fond memories, enhancing their overall engagement with the game.
“The game starts with an homage to Morrowind that made me feel like the developer was creating a game that would be right up my alley.”
“The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their struggles feel personal and relatable.”
“I was moved to tears by the storyline; it beautifully captured the complexities of love and loss.”
