The Hand of Glory

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 81 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • humor
The Hand of Glory Game Cover
Starting at €16.99Buy now
Get on Steam

"The Hand of Glory" is a narrative-driven horror adventure game where players uncover the dark secrets of an ancient Scottish castle. As a guest at a mysterious dinner party, you'll explore the castle's haunted halls, interact with strange characters, and solve intricate puzzles to uncover the truth. With its immersive atmosphere and chilling supernatural elements, "The Hand of Glory" offers a unique and thrilling gaming experience.

Play Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 81 reviews
story31 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating story that effectively blends comedy, detective elements, and supernatural themes, reminiscent of classics like Broken Sword and Gabriel Knight.
  • The graphics and animations are vibrant and well-executed, contributing to an engaging atmosphere, while the voice acting is generally strong and adds depth to the characters.
  • Puzzles are mostly intuitive and well-designed, providing a satisfying challenge without falling into the trap of illogical solutions, making it enjoyable for both casual and seasoned players.
  • The writing and dialogue can be inconsistent, with some characters lacking development and moments of excessive exposition that detract from the overall experience.
  • Certain gameplay mechanics, such as mandatory slow walking and timed puzzles, can be frustrating and disrupt the flow of the game, making it less accessible for some players.
  • The story can feel disjointed at times, especially in the second part, leading to confusion and leaving some plot points unresolved, which may disappoint players looking for a cohesive narrative.
  • story66 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging blend of comedy, detective work, and supernatural elements, while others criticize it for being convoluted and overly reliant on expository dialogue. Many found the narrative captivating and well-developed, though some noted that it can feel disjointed or confusing at times, particularly as it shifts from serious to comedic tones. Overall, while the story has its flaws, it offers intriguing themes and character development that resonate with fans of the genre.

    • “It is a heartwarming story that is very interesting.”
    • “The story is captivating; it starts as a simple investigation case but then evolves into a sect conspiracy situation, reminiscent of the strong vibes from Broken Sword.”
    • “A remarkable game with special characters and a good story - an exciting hunt for a mystery with a surprising ending.”
    • “Perhaps something was lost in translation, but I found the story to be disjointed, over-complicated, and confusing - I had no idea what was going on for most of the game.”
    • “It's not just that the story is so bad; it's that the game's developer apparently wrongly thinks it's so good that he needs to force-feed it to the player with way too much expository dialogue and cutscenes that just drag on and on and get stupider and stupider.”
    • “The story very abruptly shifts from a comedic moment to a very serious one, and it doesn't pull it off.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant artwork and charming art style, while others criticize the animations and inconsistency in character detail. Many players appreciate the hand-drawn visuals and overall aesthetic, though some find certain aspects, like close-up cutscenes and character designs, lacking. Overall, the graphics are considered good enough to complement the engaging story and gameplay, despite some noted flaws.

    • “The best graphic adventure in the last 20 years.”
    • “The graphics are really well done; I always enjoy a 2D cartoon style adventure.”
    • “The artwork is magnificent, the dialogue humorous, and not overbearing.”
    • “The graphics are not very nice, especially the animations, which are really bad.”
    • “The only minor gripe I have is with the visuals, which I found crude and occasionally not up to par with the otherwise excellent production values.”
    • “There are only two things I found jarring: 1) the ending feels rushed and consequently confusing 2) the art style of the characters varies--Alice and the librarian are very well detailed, but Lazarus himself seems blurry and kind of bland.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The game's humor is a standout feature, blending absurdity and wit, often eliciting genuine laughter even in serious moments. While some players found the humor inconsistent, many appreciated the likable characters and clever dialogue that provided comedic relief amidst darker themes. Overall, the game successfully combines adventure, humor, and engaging storytelling, making it a memorable experience.

    • “Perhaps the single most ridiculous moment was a 'shocking' revelation at the end of chapter 1 about the main character that was so out of nowhere and so silly that I actually laughed out loud (the only time the game made me laugh despite lots of failed attempts at humor) at what was supposed to be some kind of tragic, serious moment.”
    • “The characters are great, and there are some genuinely very funny moments and lines.”
    • “It's the perfect blend of adventure, humor, and drama.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise, with many players highlighting the main theme as particularly memorable and evocative. The soundtrack is noted for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, often described as one of the standout features alongside the engaging story and beautiful artwork. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, leaving a lasting impression on players.

    • “The soundtrack was one of the best points for me.”
    • “I especially like the main theme; it sounds like something I've been humming since I was three, but I've never known what song it is.”
    • “The music was one of the best in a game, and the story was in line with Gabriel Knight and Broken Sword!”
    • “The music is fine, the voices are well recorded (in terms of audio quality), there is nothing wrong with the artwork, albeit nothing to write home about.”
    • “The story, the puzzles, the music...”
    • “Oke I've done it till the end of part 1 without a walkthrough, only 1 hint for the music sheet puzzle.”
  • gameplay7 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by engaging puzzle design typical of point-and-click adventures, featuring a mix of inventory and conversation-based puzzles, along with some unique mechanics like a body language mini-game. Players appreciate the smooth and bug-free experience, noting that while some puzzles may feel illogical or involve pixel-hunting, the game offers satisfying segments that allow for easy breaks. Overall, it provides a solid amount of gameplay hours, appealing to both seasoned fans and newcomers to the genre.

    • “Engaging puzzle design, pretty much what you would expect from a point-and-click; inventory puzzles for the most part, a few conversation-based puzzles, and some puzzles where you would use clues to figure out the right sequence. There were also some other interesting mechanics such as a body language mini-game that wasn't used enough.”
    • “Gameplay is smooth and easy, and the game is solid in that I had no crashes or bugs to deal with.”
    • “I was originally going to give this game a somewhat hesitant recommendation due to the illogical puzzles and what I thought were pixel-hunting mechanics.”
    • “Gameplay is point & click with a small bit of action in part 2.”
    • “The game has clear 'chunks' of gameplay, after which you can stop satisfied to continue another time.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging intrigue, clever puzzles, and charming cartoon-style visuals, creating a welcoming environment for players. While some reviewers noted a lack of depth in character backstories and a somewhat confusing narrative, the overall ambiance, likable characters, and enjoyable challenges contribute to a positive experience, particularly for fans of point-and-click adventures.

    • “You'll feel right at home with the atmosphere, the intrigue, and the clever puzzles!”
    • “Definitely a good game overall, with nice characters (not that much background story as there could be) and puzzles, nice atmosphere, a bit confusing story - but I'd recommend it to any point & click adventure fans.”
    • “Nice atmosphere, likeable characters, good story - even the deaths (which I normally hate!) were fun challenges.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game features a heartwarming narrative that balances fun and lightheartedness with tender, emotional moments, creating a compelling and engaging experience for players.

    • “It is a heartwarming story that is very interesting.”
    • “It would be easy to expect this game to be all fun and hijinks, and there is a lot of that, but there are also some very tender and heartfelt moments.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players find the game offers good replayability through achievements and hidden easter eggs, which provide additional challenges and extend gameplay. Many users feel that after completing their initial playthrough, there are still compelling reasons to revisit the game.

    • “Accomplishing achievements and finding easter eggs present extra challenges that extend the hours of enjoyment you can get from this game and give it more replay value.”
    • “I've finished my first playthrough, and it definitely feels like there's some replayability to the game.”
    • “Accomplishing achievements and finding easter eggs present extra challenges that extend the hours of enjoyment you can get from this and give this more replay value.”
    • “I've finished my first playthrough and it definitely feels like there's some replayability to the game.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been criticized for lacking 3D support and proper controller functionality, leading to a stunted and awkward performance from the voice actors.

    • “The game is not optimized for 3D and controller use.”
    • “As a result, the voice actors don't have much to work with, and their performance sounds stunted and awkward.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is praised for its realism, particularly in the progression of both main characters following the events of the first part, indicating a strong and believable evolution in their arcs.

    • “The character development is quite impressive, especially considering the realistic progression after the events of part 1.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game; their growth feels authentic and relatable.”
    • “The depth of character development really enhances the story, making each character's journey feel meaningful.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find that certain sections of the game, particularly the lengthy segment in the big house with the garden, can become tedious and overly drawn out, contributing to a sense of grinding.

    • “Another drawback is the section in the big house with the garden going on too long and becoming too tedious.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy The Hand of Glory

Play time

28hMedian play time
28hAverage play time
28-28hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games