The Esoterica: Hollow Earth

43%
Game Brain Score Based on 26 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
The Esoterica: Hollow Earth Game Cover
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"The Esoterica: Hollow Earth" is a first-person adventure game set in an ancient, subterranean world. As the player, you'll delve into the mysterious depths of the Earth, solving puzzles and uncovering secrets to reveal the truth about a lost civilization. With its unique setting and atmospheric exploration, "The Esoterica: Hollow Earth" offers a fresh take on the classic adventure game formula.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

43%
Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
story12 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and an imaginative art style, particularly inspired by the 1920s and 1930s.
  • The puzzles and hidden object scenes are well thought out, providing a mix of challenge and enjoyment.
  • The story, while it has some flaws, is interesting and engaging, with elements of the Hollow Earth legend that add depth to the gameplay.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs, particularly in the latter half, which can hinder progress and lead to frustrating experiences.
  • Some hidden object scenes and puzzles are repetitive and poorly designed, with unclear instructions and bad translations causing confusion.
  • The ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving players with a sense of disappointment after an otherwise enjoyable experience.
  • story23 mentions

    The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it interesting and engaging, particularly in its imaginative elements and art style, while others criticize it for being dull, poorly constructed, and erratic, especially in the latter half. Many noted that the narrative had potential but suffered from abrupt endings and confusing plot developments, leaving players feeling unsatisfied. Overall, while the story has its moments, it often feels inconsistent and underdeveloped.

    • “The art style is pretty cool and I really enjoyed the story, although it felt like it cut off suddenly at the end... will there be more?”
    • “Visually it is beautiful and I like the arc of the storyline.”
    • “Excellent game - good story and easy to follow.”
    • “The main problem is with the story – it starts well, bringing elements of the 'hollow earth' theory that was popular in certain occult circles related to Nazis.”
    • “I do enjoy the art and space-like music, but I find the story all over the place.”
    • “The story is poorly constructed and often silly, and many of the mini-game puzzles are just tedious rather than clever.”
  • graphics19 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received positive feedback, with many users praising the beautiful artwork and well-rendered visuals that reflect a 1930s and art nouveau aesthetic. While some noted that the visuals enhance the overall experience, there were mixed feelings about the game's pacing and story, suggesting that the graphics, though impressive, may not fully compensate for other shortcomings. Overall, the game's art style and graphics are considered a highlight, making it appealing for fans of hidden object games.

    • “The artwork for the locations, hidden object games, and mini-games is beautiful.”
    • “First of all, the game has some great graphics and sceneries themed in the 1930s.”
    • “If you want to look at some pretty artwork and listen to fairly okay music, this is the hog for you.”
    • “The historic period looks like the belle époque and the art style of the game really reminded me of the art nouveau style.”
    • “The art style of the game goes along with it, especially the graphics.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game is generally appreciated for its quality and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the visual experience with space-like sounds. However, users have reported issues with abrupt changes or missing music, which detracts from the overall experience, especially when combined with other gameplay bugs. While the artwork and music are praised, they are not enough to elevate the game beyond its shortcomings.

    • “I do enjoy the art and space-like music, but I find the story all over the place.”
    • “They are well rendered by beautiful graphics and nice music.”
    • “Puzzle mix was good, hidden objects fine, music was terrific.”
    • “The music can abruptly change or be missing; it's not game-breaking, but it was odd.”
    • “If you want to look at some pretty artwork and listen to fairly okay music, this is the game for you.”
    • “Puzzle mix was good, hidden objects fine, music was terrific, but overall the game was ruined by bugs and a forgettable ending.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs that hinder gameplay, particularly with puzzles and hidden object scenes. Many players experienced issues requiring game restarts to progress, and some encountered problems with audio and video elements, leading to frustration and an inability to complete the game. Overall, these stability issues have detracted from the overall experience, making it difficult for players to fully enjoy the game.

    • “The second is some puzzles appear to be buggy and just did not work.”
    • “I was very disappointed not to be able to complete my 100% run through thanks to a couple of slightly buggy and/or oversensitive puzzles.”
    • “First of all, the game is so buggy that some puzzles, despite you arranging them correctly, will need you to restart the game for you to complete them (happened to me with the bird mosaic).”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly in the mini-games, which are described as requiring patience but lacking in cleverness. The use of a mouse for these tasks adds to the frustration, making the experience feel more laborious than enjoyable. Overall, the grinding elements detract from the game's appeal due to their repetitive and uninspired nature.

    • “Some of the mini-games are extremely tedious.”
    • “Maybe it's straightforward with a different input method, but with a mouse, it's tedious beyond words.”
    • “The story is poorly constructed and often silly, and many of the mini-game puzzles are just tedious rather than clever.”
  • gameplay2 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics and enjoyable experience, complemented by an intriguing lore that enhances the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “A really cool game with a captivating lore and engaging gameplay.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game has low replayability, indicating that players may not find sufficient motivation to revisit it after completing it.

    • “The replay value for the game is low.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
    • “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the game's atmosphere is impressively vast, creating a sense of scale that enhances the player's experience and immersion.

    • “The atmosphere is gigantic from a human point of view.”
    • “The atmosphere feels overwhelmingly vast from a human perspective.”
    • “The ambiance lacks any sense of immersion or engagement.”
    • “The environment is devoid of any unique character or charm.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game is characterized by a mix of high expectations and inconsistent performance, leaving players with a sense of intrigue and uncertainty regarding its efficiency.

  • humor1 mentions

    Users appreciate the humor in the game as a fun and engaging way to enhance their English vocabulary, particularly for non-native speakers. However, some find the gameplay, such as identifying objects from silhouettes, can become monotonous.

    • “I play Hog mainly to improve my English vocabulary in a funny way, since English isn't my native language. When it comes to finding objects from their silhouette, I quickly get bored.”
    • “The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, making even the most challenging puzzles enjoyable.”
    • “I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and funny scenarios that keep me laughing throughout my playtime.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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