Hotel Sowls
- December 31, 2019
- Studio Sott
- 2h median play time
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Get on SteamIn "Hotel Sowls," players navigate a creepy hotel, solving puzzles and uncovering dark secrets. The game features a unique sketch-style assumption aesthetic and a range of supernatural elements. With a focus on exploration and discovery, players must survive each night in the hotel while piecing together the mystery of the hotel's haunted past.
Reviews
- The game features immaculate aesthetics and a unique art style that many players found charming and engaging.
- It offers multiple endings and a variety of achievements, making it enjoyable for completionists and those who appreciate exploration.
- The story combines elements of whimsy and creepiness, creating an intriguing atmosphere that keeps players invested.
- Gameplay can be obtuse and unintuitive, with issues like unclear item interactions and a lack of feedback when combining objects.
- The translation quality is inconsistent, which can detract from the overall narrative experience and character development.
- Technical shortcomings, such as limited graphics options and clumsy controls, hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.
- graphics22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising its unique and cute art style that enhances the overall aesthetic and atmosphere, while others criticize the low-resolution visuals and amateurish designs that detract from the experience. Many players appreciate the charming character designs and the way the visuals complement the gameplay, though some feel that the graphics could benefit from higher quality and more resolution options. Overall, the game's artistic choices seem to resonate with some players, while leaving others disappointed.
“The game mechanics are very easy to pick up and the visuals are super pleasant all throughout the experience.”
“Spooky and cute cosmic horror, wonderful visuals and charming characters with clever, and tricky puzzles.”
“The heterogeneous graphics that match the dreamy music that flows out give a strange yet indulgent feeling.”
“The artwork here is terrible; it's a blend of old retro pixel 'art' used as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics, and some of the most amateurish MS Paint style drawings I've ever seen.”
“It's unclear if this is due to a lack of budget to hire someone who can do graphics properly, or a lack of talent; regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low as a result of these decisions.”
“There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- story21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a blend of whimsical and dark elements, featuring an endearing cast of characters and a charming aesthetic. While some players found the narrative disjointed and lacking depth, others appreciated its creativity and replayability, particularly in uncovering secrets within the hotel setting. Overall, the story is seen as simple yet captivating, with a unique approach to storytelling that resonates with many players despite some criticisms of its execution.
“A dark but sweet ghost story with an alchemical twist.”
“The plot is both whimsical and horrifying and there's more to unpack with each ending.”
“The story manages to balance these two points without leaning too far to one side, creating an experience that feels cozy and charming yet also has stakes.”
“Tldr; a very cute game with an incredible aesthetic and endearing cast of characters, but the story is a bit disjointed and hard to follow in parts.”
“In the end, I didn't finish the game with enough interest in the characters or story to warrant playing through it again.”
“It didn't leave any big impact on me, though, and the story felt somewhat hamfisted (leftover notes at all places, magical wonder vaccine made from an alchemist's workbench, stuff like that ...).”
- music17 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy and unique qualities, often described as a blend of chiptune and atmospheric sounds that enhance the overall experience. While some reviewers find the soundtrack merely "okay," many highlight its ability to evoke emotions and complement the game's quirky art style and narrative. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a standout feature for those who appreciate its distinctive vibe.
“Simple artwork doesn't mean a game can't creep you out, kick you square in the feels, or have a bloody amazing soundtrack.”
“The art style, soundtrack, and narrative work together to provide an atypical experience.”
“Perfection all the way through, from its incredibly distinctive visual design to its silly, yet chilling soundtrack, this game is like an amalgam of some of my favorite weird games: kids + off + undertale + anodyne.”
“The soundtrack is just 'ok' and doesn't really stand out.”
“The music is mostly chiptune, which may not appeal to everyone.”
“The game gives me some Undertale vibes in terms of the music and humor in it.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Gameplay is described as somewhat obtuse and not very intuitive, with a focus on walking and clicking rather than engaging mechanics or mini-games. While the game features easy-to-learn mechanics and beautiful visuals, it may not appeal to those who prefer more action-oriented gameplay, especially since it is heavily plot-driven. Overall, it offers a brief experience, but many find it worth the price for its narrative depth.
“The game mechanics are very easy to pick up and the visuals are super pleasant all throughout the experience.”
“About 2 hours of gameplay to reach the true ending, but for the price this game is offered at, it's worth picking up to play through yourself.”
“Review pending as far as gameplay goes, but the devs are outstanding, and added fullscreen options, which I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for.”
“But the actual gameplay is a bit obtuse.”
“It might seem silly hearing that complaint out of context, but it was not intuitive during gameplay.”
“The only thing I wouldn't recommend this game for is if you don't like plot-heavy games; this isn't worth your time, as the gameplay basically consists of walking and clicking stuff (unlike Danganronpa, which has class trials with minigames, this game doesn't have that).”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of quirky, cartoonish elements and a mix of sad, creepy, and funny moments, reminiscent of titles like Undertale. Players appreciate the clever writing, which includes fun easter eggs and humorous interactions, all while maintaining an intriguing narrative about the hotel's secret past. Overall, it offers a lighthearted yet engaging experience.
“Great when you want a small game with some mysteries and humor in a cartoon setting.”
“Love the mix of sad, creepy, and funny this game brings!”
“The writing is pretty good too; comprised of fun easter eggs and humorous interactions, and paired with a sense of genuine intrigue towards the titular hotel's secret past.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its captivating and unsettling qualities, blending a charming doodle-like art style with both lighthearted and sinister elements. Reviewers highlight its ability to evoke strong emotions without relying on graphic content, creating an immersive experience that hooks players from the start. Overall, the atmosphere is described as incredible and engaging, enhancing the gameplay significantly.
“It's this odd atmospheric top-down puzzle game that hooks me in immediately.”
“Hotel Sowls proves you don't need a lot of blood and gore to create a horrifying story with an unsettling and shivering atmosphere.”
“It manages to create such an incredible atmosphere in its happier sections and in its more sinister.”
“Hotel Souls proves you don't need a lot of blood and gore to create a horrifying story with an unsettling and chilling atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the intriguing premise, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to evoke any real sense of tension or fear.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a lack of character development, resulting in minimal emotional attachment to the characters and little motivation for players to replay the game for alternative endings.
“There is no character development, leading to little attachment to anyone and no incentive to replay for different endings.”
“The characters feel flat and uninteresting, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
“I found the lack of meaningful character growth disappointing; it really detracted from the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the game offers significant replayability through a variety of achievements and ample inventory space, allowing for exploration and completion of additional content after the initial playthrough.
“There's also some replayability built into the game, as indicated by the numerous achievements and the massive amount of inventory space; I finished my first playthrough with half my spaces open.”
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly impact the story, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple character classes and different strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to the game to try out new builds and approaches.”
“There's also some replayability built into the game as indicated by the numerous achievements and the massive amount of inventory space; I finished my first playthrough with half my spaces open.”
“After completing the main story, I found little incentive to dive back in. The side quests felt repetitive and didn't add much to the overall experience.”
“While the game offers multiple endings, the journey to each feels too similar, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
