The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
Genres: Puzzle, Horror, Mystery, Point & Click, Story Rich, Atmospheric, Adventure
Release Date: 28-9-2022
Developer: Cloak and Dagger Games
Our verdict
8.5/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 6–9 h
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a pixel-art point-and-click adventure steeped in English folk horror. You play antiquarian Thomasina Bateman, summoned to a remote Victorian village to dig up a burial mound, only to find her contact missing, her assistant delayed and the locals hostile. It is a story-first game for solo players who enjoy slow-burn horror and classic Sierra or LucasArts adventures.
About 92% of 2,600 Steam reviews are positive. Players single out the voice acting, especially the lead, the moody moors and the haunting soundtrack, and many say the late twists and ending lift everything before them. Puzzles are described as logical and rarely moon-logic. Most finish in six to nine hours.
The gameplay is the weaker half. Several reviewers found long stretches of errands for villagers tedious, had to click every dialogue option or backtrack to trigger the next event, and missed having choices that change the story. If you play adventures for atmosphere and writing, buy it; if you want challenging puzzles, it may feel thin.
Pros
- Folk horror on Victorian moors with a slow-building dread
- Strong voice cast led by the antiquarian heroine
- Logical point-and-click puzzles without moon logic
Cons
- Long stretches of errands and backtracking to trigger events
- Linear story with no choices or alternate endings
About
Antiquarian Thomasina Bateman is writing a book on the barrows of England, documenting the treasures she finds buried within. When an intriguing letter summons her to the small village of Bewlay, tucked away in the remote countryside, she sets off by train with her assistant a day behind.Upon her arrival, however, the mysterious man who summoned her is nowhere to be found. Her assistant never arrives. A stubborn landowner refuses access to the barrow, and the locals are wary of this woman who is traveling alone and (gasp!) wears trousers.
The excavation of Hob’s Barrow is off to a rocky start. And then Thomasina starts having strange dreams…
A dark, complex and evolving storyline featuring interwoven elements from real English folklore.
Traditional point and click adventure game puzzles and interactions, with an easy modern interface.
A cast of intriguing characters, from suspicious villagers to sickly vicars to lordly landowners, all with their own unique stories and motives.
A distinct folk horror tone and grounding.
Evocative pixel-art graphics, featuring cut-scenes and engaging animations.
A suitably atmospheric original soundtrack from The Machine. The Demon. - one half of the duo behind the award-winning "Football Game" soundtrack.
Fiends in the furrows, the smell of damp soil, and a cat or two.
