HopBound

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"HopBound" is a single-player horror platformer game with a good story, focusing on Mayumi, a recluse who must confront her past by journeying through a disturbing 16-bit retro game filled with nostalgic visuals and unsettling audio. Taking place two years after "DERE EVIL .EXE," "HopBound" serves as a continuation but can be enjoyed without playing the previous game. Players will face evolved enemies from the past, creating a heart-pounding experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

story22 positive mentions

optimization1 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging atmosphere, enhanced by a fantastic soundtrack and visuals that effectively convey the story.
The narrative, while complex, offers emotional depth and is driven by real-world events, making it a memorable experience.
Despite its challenging platforming, the game provides a rewarding sense of accomplishment and has frequent checkpoints to ease frustration.

The platforming mechanics can be frustrating due to clunky controls and overly twitchy movement, leading to repeated sections that may deter some players.
The story can feel convoluted and unoriginal at times, with some dialogue seemingly lifted from other well-known games.
The game suffers from performance issues, including occasional slowdowns that can disrupt gameplay and immersion.

story
46 mentions
48 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its rich psychological horror and emotional depth, while others find it confusing and unoriginal. Despite its nonsensical elements and jumbled character arcs, many appreciate the engaging narrative that unfolds alongside challenging gameplay. Overall, the story is seen as a significant aspect that enhances the gaming experience, even if it doesn't always achieve clarity or originality.
- “The story and horror, as always, is incredibly rich in this game, providing an absolutely amazing experience.”
- “I felt that everything from play-style to writing made this game a beautiful story that you got to experience with the characters.”
- “Overall, I really enjoyed the story; it had some spooky moments and a rather heartwarming ending.”
- “The story is very unoriginal, though.”
- “Frustrating gameplay that rewards you with more frustrating gameplay and lackluster story.”
- “I didn't care much for the story but at least there is one.”
gameplay
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as a mix of simplistic mechanics and clunky controls, leading to a frustrating experience for some players. While the game features an eerie atmosphere and a unique story, the overall execution can feel isolating and occasionally tedious. Despite these issues, some users find value in the game's charm and music, suggesting it may still be worth the low price.
- “I think it's worth the $3 for the gameplay and the music.”
- “An effective horror game that starts to get under your skin without being overly in your face: it pulls each string rather effectively while sprinkling in the gameplay to keep you distracted.”
- “The game has an eerie tone to it and pseudo-Game Boy graphics combined with the simplistic gameplay and bizarre story give it a weird isolating feeling.”
- “It's not really a bad game, but the clunky mechanics make some of the game sections much more frustrating than they should be.”
- “Frustrating gameplay that rewards you with more frustrating gameplay and lackluster story.”
music
8 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many players finding it enjoyable and worth the price. However, some reviewers expressed a desire for more depth in the soundtrack. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetics and storytelling.
- “I recommend this game because it has a great story, and I highly enjoyed the aesthetics and the music.”
- “I think it's worth the $3 for the gameplay and the music.”
- “The music and atmosphere are spot on.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players frequently express that the game evokes strong emotions, particularly at its conclusion, highlighting a blend of spooky moments and a heartwarming ending. The storytelling, enhanced by platforming and chat messages, effectively conveys the emotional journey, leaving many feeling deeply moved by the experience.
- “I'll openly admit that by the end of the game, I was emotional.”
- “I admit, this game made me emotional at its completion.”
- “Overall, I really enjoyed the story; it had some spooky moments and a rather heartwarming ending.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective use of music and pacing, which enhances the overall experience without overshadowing the story. Reviewers note that it successfully creates a sense of unease from the outset, drawing players into its immersive world, though some express a desire for greater depth.
- “The pace of the game is perfect as it moves you from one challenge to the next, while never overshadowing the atmosphere and the story that's created.”
- “I would've liked a bit more depth here, but the music and atmosphere are spot on.”
- “An effective atmosphere starts from the first moment as the game lures you and manipulates your unease.”
graphics
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a unique blend of eerie, pseudo-Game Boy aesthetics that enhance its bizarre narrative and simplistic gameplay, creating an isolating atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate how the visuals effectively support the storytelling, contributing to an overall enjoyable aesthetic experience.
- “I highly recommend this game because it has a great story, and I really enjoyed the aesthetics and the music.”
- “The visuals actually do a good job of convincing you of the story of this universe.”
- “The game has an eerie tone to it, and the pseudo-Game Boy graphics combined with the simplistic gameplay and bizarre story give it a weird isolating feeling.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Players have noted a peculiar slow down effect in the game that feels intentional rather than a performance issue, contributing to the immersive environment. This design choice has sparked curiosity about its purpose, indicating that the game's optimization effectively enhances the overall experience.
- “There's a weird slowdown effect that I can't even say is a performance issue: it almost seems purposeful in the world, and the fact that I'm sitting here wondering if it was purposeful means the game was effective in creating its environment.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be a significant highlight, often laughing throughout their experience despite frustrations with platforming challenges.
- “While I was frustrated with platforming, I was also laughing almost the whole way.”