My Hole is a Mouth of Dirt
- April 13, 2020
- AestheticGamer
- 3h median play time
A lonely cloaked being called Mole services instructions from what he believes is the voice of God. As he wanders a desolate, otherworldly underground his faith is tested as he must deliver a baby.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and surreal experience with a compelling narrative that explores deep themes related to religion and personal belief.
- The atmosphere and sound design are exceptional, creating a creepy and immersive environment that enhances the horror elements.
- As a free game, it provides a worthwhile short playtime, especially for fans of the developer's previous works, connecting well with the lore of the Yai Gameworks universe.
- The gameplay is overly simplistic and linear, lacking in interactivity and replayability, which may leave some players wanting more depth.
- The protagonist's slow movement speed can be frustrating, especially during chase sequences, making navigation feel cumbersome.
- Some players found the religious commentary to be preachy and lacking in subtlety, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story61 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as intriguing and dark, serving as a prequel to "Close Your Eyes" and providing a unique experience with a mix of horror and character development. While some players found the narrative engaging and atmospheric, others felt it lacked depth and coherence, particularly towards the ending, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, the game is appreciated for its storytelling potential, though many players expressed a desire for more character development and a clearer plot progression.
“The story is fantastic, but I won't say anything to avoid spoilers.”
“This is a short and honestly outstanding game, I've played through it twice and the scares still get me and the story and just the atmosphere and everything is so interesting and engaging to me.”
“The story itself is part of an ongoing series, earlier games being Red Haze and Close Your Eyes, which I haven't played but could still appreciate this outside of the series, though no doubt playing those will enhance the knowledge of the story lore.”
“The ending was a bit odd or anticlimactic and did not really seem to connect to the rest of the story.”
“It's hard to get into the story, since you have little input on what's happening aside from moving.”
“Firstly, the protagonist lacks character which makes it hard to invest in their story.”
- music39 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional impact of the experience. However, some users noted that certain tracks felt out of place or jarring, particularly those with lyrics, which detracted from immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and storytelling.
“The atmosphere is great and the soundtrack suits the game.”
“The best part of the game for me was hands down the sound design and soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack helped a lot with creating a suitable atmosphere for exploring the underground, and it's often your only companion in the lonely tunnels, at least until you run into something creepy that shouldn't be in a space where you're all alone.”
“The only issues I had is that sometimes all the soundtrack was distorted and the fact that there is no confirmation prompt when going back to the main menu.”
“- the music: I'd never recommend lyrics and writing you have to read and understand (it's not accessible for many people), and some of the music felt particularly out of place - in particular, the jukebox was playing something too cheery.”
“I love the characters and I live for the art style, but the music choice was pretty jarring at some points though.”
- atmosphere29 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and sound design that effectively heightens the sense of dread and engagement. Reviewers note that the well-crafted visuals and interconnected stories contribute to a haunting experience, making it a standout element that draws players in and keeps them on edge throughout. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a major strength, successfully creating a compelling and unsettling environment that resonates with players.
“The atmosphere is immaculate, the OSTs are amazing and I love that the stories are all (or most of them) somehow connected to each other.”
“I'm not someone to get spooked easily, but the atmosphere created by the game and the sprite work managed to host a feeling of dread that followed me throughout the game - I was watchful of the corner of my screen, unsure what I may see peeking forth.”
“A major reason for this is the excellent atmosphere the game sets and maintains from start to finish.”
“I'm not someone to get spooked easily, but the atmosphere created by the game and the sprite work managed to evoke a feeling of dread that followed me throughout the game. I was watchful of the corners of my screen, unsure of what I might see peeking forth, and I was jumpy towards any new weird thing I encountered, uncertain whether it could hurt me or not.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly eerie; I was always on the edge of my seat.”
“The game gets its spookiness from its atmosphere, not resorting to cheap jump scares, which is awesome in my opinion.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are noted for their unique and interesting visuals, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and theme of madness. While some users found the art style captivating and reminiscent of other beloved titles, others pointed out inconsistencies in asset styles and sluggish controls. Overall, the visuals are praised for their vividness and artistic expression, though some minor issues were mentioned regarding pacing and execution.
“Took about an hour and the art style is really unique and added to the vibe; the only downside is the walking in this game is very slow; I wish there was a run/sprint option.”
“But admittedly, the game has a focus on its visuals and environments, which I believe were solid and contributed well to the idea of a descent into madness.”
“The visuals are incredibly done throughout, alive with color and artistic prose, which fans of Hello Charlotte or Yume Nikki will feel instantly at home in.”
“Graphics are bare bones, but the designs for the monsters, etc., are cool and did spook me once or twice.”
“You walk too slow and assets are in very different art styles.”
“The controls were sluggish and the artwork was a bit rough around the edges, but that's a nitpick when it comes to games like these.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simplistic and linear, offering a basic experience that may not satisfy those seeking depth or complexity. While some players appreciate the accessibility and straightforward controls, others feel that the gameplay lacks substance and could benefit from more engaging mechanics and challenges. Overall, it serves as a decent one-time experience, particularly for fans of the narrative and atmosphere.
“Sure, there's places it could be improved in terms of gameplay and sound, but for a game you're not even paying for, it's amazing.”
“Incredible plot, character design, writing, gameplay, god just everything.”
“It's far more accessible than most of the yai-s games in terms of gameplay: no hardcore chase sequences, no cryptic puzzles, no ARG, no non-linearity (the last part actually saddens me, but hey, it's a 1-hour game).”
“Although, I'm afraid to say, while I loved the story and the development of previous titles, the gameplay could be an absolute pain sometimes.”
“Although improving on common issues from other games, such as expecting players to have fast enough reaction times to sprint from enemies/room to room, only having one save, and having overly complex puzzles, it definitely feels as if the gameplay was put on the back burner a little.”
“Finally, the gameplay is too simple.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its disturbing yet ultimately relieving journey, particularly highlighting the character Mole's evolution. Reviewers praise the intricate plot and strong writing that enhance the overall experience.
“The story behind this and the character development that Mole went through is both disturbing and relieving.”
“Incredible plot, character design, writing, gameplay—just everything.”
“The character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character development made the experience feel shallow and unengaging.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unexpected moments that elicit genuine laughter, even in inappropriate contexts, alongside elements that may disturb some players. The combination of the story and music choices contributes to this comedic effect, resulting in a unique and sometimes jarring experience.
“Parts disturbed viewers, and parts that probably shouldn't have made me laugh so hard there were tears.”
“I like the story, but the music choice just made me laugh when I shouldn't have.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews on replayability are mixed; some users feel the game lacks replay value, while others appreciate the opportunity to discover missed elements in subsequent playthroughs.
“It's replayable, since there are things you might have missed on the first playthrough.”
“The game offers multiple endings and choices that encourage you to play again and explore different outcomes.”
“With various character builds and strategies, each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“This also means there is no replayability at all.”
“It's replayable, since there's going to be some things that you missed on the first playthrough.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While the game offers an enjoyable experience overall, users have reported significant audio stability issues, including looping glitches that can be quite distracting.
“I experience several looping audio glitches that made me want to tear my ears off about three times, but all in all, I enjoy this hour-long experience and so might you.”