Hook

About

"Hook" is a single-player puzzle game with a simple yet relaxing gameplay mechanic of removing hooks from the board. With 60 levels and more to come, the game offers a calming soundtrack and a minimalistic, zen-like atmosphere. Despite its basic concept, the game boasts stunning graphics and an awesome soundtrack, although it may not offer high replayability and can be grinding at times.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,237 reviews

gameplay166 positive mentions

replayability18 negative mentions

Engaging and satisfying puzzles that gradually increase in complexity.
Relaxing atmosphere with calming music and minimalist design.
Great value for the price, providing about an hour of gameplay.

Very short game with only 50 levels, leaving players wanting more.
Some puzzles may feel too easy, especially in the early stages.
Lack of options or menus, making navigation and settings adjustments cumbersome.

gameplay
595 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
71%
1%
The gameplay of "Hook" is characterized by its simple yet progressively complex mechanics, allowing players to gradually learn and master new elements through intuitive design without the need for explicit tutorials. With 50 levels, the game starts easy and introduces new mechanics at a steady pace, creating a satisfying challenge that culminates in intricate puzzles. While the overall experience is engaging and visually minimalistic, some players feel the game could benefit from additional content and deeper mechanics to enhance replayability.
- “The gameplay is simple to understand and get into, but the puzzles get far more complex and harder the further you progress.”
- “The mechanics of the game are intuitive, and each time a new mechanic is introduced, it is done in a clear, clever, and understandable manner.”
- “The introduction and progression of mechanics is incremental and well done.”
- “The gameplay is simple (untangle the pins and hooks from the grid) but what I like most is how the developer is able to teach the player new mechanics.”
- “The first 39 levels are practically a tutorial to make sure you understand the mechanics.”
- “The gameplay itself starts easy enough with pressing a solid circle to retract a line, but ramps up and adds new concepts nice and slowly, allowing you to find out what each new part does until you have a screen full of lines, dots, hooks and corners.”
music
430 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience of solving puzzles. Many players appreciate the minimalist and ambient soundtrack, which complements the game's aesthetic and helps create a tranquil atmosphere. However, some users noted that the music can become repetitive over time, and there are limited options for adjusting or muting it.
- “The music is great, the simple and elegant graphics help you concentrate, there is no stress involved, it is quite relaxing.”
- “The game is incredibly relaxing, allowing you to solve each level in your own time, with no pressure and with calming background music.”
- “The music is soothing, the graphics are clean and simple, and the brain-teasing is aplenty.”
- “I sincerely hope that in the new update there will be the option to turn off the music!”
- “The music became repetitive after a few minutes and since I couldn't find a way to mute the music alone, I muted the whole game and put some of my own music on.”
- “The ambient music is bland, and the graphics are way too simplistic; it's not always apparent what is blocked by what at a first glance, because later levels are just a mess of lines.”
graphics
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
66%
1%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, providing clean and simple visuals that allow players to focus on the puzzles without distraction. Many reviewers appreciate the elegant design and soothing atmosphere created by the combination of minimal graphics and calming music, making it a relaxing gameplay experience. While some note that the graphics may appear basic or lack polish, they effectively serve the game's purpose and contribute to its charm.
- “The minimalist art style and sounds create a wonderful atmosphere of concentration and relaxation.”
- “The graphics are clean and the sound effects are very calming.”
- “Overall, the simple, clean graphics and relaxing music made this a very enjoyable game.”
- “The ambient music is bland, and the graphics are way too simplistic - it's not always apparent what is blocked by what at a first glance, because later levels are just a mess of lines.”
- “The graphics are a little basic and aren't as easy on the eyes compared to other minimalistic puzzle games, but if you're the sort of person spending pennies on a quick puzzle, I don't think that it's likely to bother you.”
- “While I have no issues with the graphics, there is one thing that is annoying.”
replayability
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
59%
30%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting that once the 50 levels are completed, there is little incentive to return. While some players found enjoyment in attempting challenges with minimal interactions, the absence of features like a level editor or additional content significantly limits replay value. Despite its short playtime and low replayability, the game is considered enjoyable and reasonably priced for a brief experience.
- “I made it a bit more arbitrarily challenging by trying to solve some puzzles with minimal interactions and button presses, and I think if this game had a goal for each puzzle in this regard, it could really help with the replay value.”
- “Being able to design and share your own puzzles would really skyrocket the replayability.”
- “If you space out your play sessions, it probably has pretty good replayability.”
- “A nice little puzzler, but sadly not much replayability once you've completed the 50 levels.”
- “The music is very soothing and relaxing but the game lacks replayability; maybe if the creator would add user levels it could keep me playing once in a while. After beating it, I don't see the purpose of having it in my library anymore.”
- “No replayability, of course, but it's short and cheap for any puzzle game fans.”
atmosphere
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as calming and relaxing, enhanced by excellent sound design and minimalist visuals that create a zen-like environment. Players appreciate the soothing music and sound effects, which complement the gameplay and contribute to a stress-free experience, making it ideal for puzzle-solving. Despite some critiques regarding the puzzles themselves, the overall ambiance is praised as a significant highlight of the game.
- “The atmosphere of the game is calm throughout, and it's a nice way to spend an hour.”
- “The minimalist art style and sounds create a wonderful atmosphere of concentration and relaxation.”
- “The music, while being a loop, creates a calm atmosphere that fosters a very positive environment for solving the puzzles.”
- “I liked the feel and atmosphere, but that can't make up for bad/boring puzzles.”
- “There is a somewhat zen atmosphere to it, but for relaxing I'd recommend to take a stroll instead.”
- “I love the aesthetic and atmosphere of this game, but the gameplay itself is lacking for me.”
story
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
66%
26%
The reviews indicate a general consensus that the game lacks a significant story, with many users noting the absence of a plot or narrative depth. While some appreciate the gameplay experience despite the minimalistic approach to storytelling, others express that a more developed storyline could enhance the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the game's focus appears to be on gameplay mechanics rather than a compelling narrative.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Spoiler alert as I'm going to talk about the plot now, it starts out very rough in the year 1624, fighting for your freedom from the oppressive government, the disdain.”
- “His storyline blurs your thoughts on fear and courage very artistically.”
- “There is no story.”
- “If this game had a better storyline, this might easily become a wonderfully great game.”
- “However, Hook has no story.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
10%
83%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the later levels where puzzles become longer and less challenging. While some enjoy the relaxing nature of the gameplay, many feel that the lack of variety and increasing repetition detracts from the experience, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. Achievements or additional goals are suggested as potential enhancements to mitigate the tedium.
- “Puzzles are fun but not tedious.”
- “A very well done, minimalist puzzle game that's rather challenging and not too tedious or too long either.”
- “The problem is that the levels don't really get harder or more interesting but rather longer and more tedious to complete.”
- “I can't really say that it's a bad puzzle game, but it sure got tedious more than challenging near the end as you have to spend increasingly longer lengths of time retracing routes to be sure you don't accidentally cause an undesired hook to be pulled.”
- “Tl;dr the reason two-thirds of people quit before they complete this game, even though it is only an hour long, is because the last half of this game is needlessly tedious just because there are no colors besides grey and the white background.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is unexpectedly delightful, with players laughing out loud at the clever and convoluted puzzle designs. Despite its abstract nature, the game manages to deliver a funny experience that keeps players engaged and entertained, making it a standout in the puzzle genre. Many appreciate its lighthearted approach, especially given its low price point.
- “You wouldn't expect such an abstract game to be funny, but I have laughed out loud seeing some of the new puzzles.”
- “Keeps you on your observational toes, and had me laughing at some of the convoluted designs the developer came up with.”
- “What's funny about this game is that what attracted me to purchase it was the fact that I didn't immediately figure out what the puzzle mechanics were when I watched the trailer.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome and forgiving nature, making it a recommended choice for casual puzzlers. Players often feel a sense of satisfaction and emotional engagement as they navigate through the simple yet challenging puzzles, fostering a positive gaming experience.
- “It makes you feel emotional.”
- “Wholesome and forgiving; recommended for the casual puzzler.”
- “Hook is a puzzle game where the point is to clear the board by retracting 'sticks' without touching any of the other sticks.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game is praised for its stability, with users reporting no significant bugs or glitches. Despite its low budget, it maintains a solid performance, making it a reliable choice for players.
- “At this price, it's hard to imagine any game that'll fall short of its worth, and it's not that this game is bad or buggy; it's just that in this day and age, low-budget games like this one really struggle for relevance when there are tons of flash games on sites such as Armor Games.”
- “But I'm giving it a positive since it's a neat idea, has no apparent bugs or glitches, and is cheap.”
- “Feels good, so no spotty glitches or anything.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization has been criticized for lacking an options menu, which limits players' ability to adjust settings like resolution, leading to performance issues, especially on lower-end hardware. While the overall performance is generally acceptable, the absence of basic customization features is noted as a significant drawback.
- “Lack of options, poor PC optimization.”
- “There isn’t much to complain about the performance that would require an extensive selection of settings, but basic features like resolution and sound options would’ve been much appreciated.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Hook has been criticized as a cash grab, with users noting its origins as a mobile app that feels out of place on Steam. The game employs typical mobile ad tactics, leading to perceptions of it being a low-effort port aimed at maximizing profit rather than providing a genuine gaming experience.
- “Hook is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs.”
- “You know those mobile ads where you clearly tug on the gate to drop lava on the monster or get the person to the gold?”