Hollow Lantern

Hollow Lantern is the game I've recommended most to non-gamer friends. You wander abandoned ruins carrying a lantern, solving gentle environmental puzzles and slowly piecing together what happened here. There's almost no text, and it trusts you to figure things out.

The atmosphere carries it. Ambient sound, soft lighting and a sense of quiet melancholy make each new room feel like a small discovery. Puzzles are logical and never resort to obscure moon logic. It's a short game, maybe four hours, but every minute is deliberate.

If you want action or challenge, look elsewhere. This is a mood piece, best played with headphones late at night. On those terms it's close to perfect.

What we liked

• Wordless, atmospheric storytelling
• Fair, logical puzzles
• Beautiful with headphones on