The Excavation of Hob's Barrow

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is an outstanding horror game, a spine-tingling story brought to life by well-executed graphics, music, interface, and voice acting.

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is an adventure of a rare "harvest", which, if it had been released in the golden age of adventures, would now be remembered as a top example of the genre. With its brilliantly written plot and a thrilling finale, Cloak & Dagger's creation has already carved out a lofty place among the best indie games of the year.

A beautiful point and click adventure that dives into the English folklore with a lovecraftian vibe. Great writing, strong emotions, smart puzzles... it works on every level.

I had a great time playing The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow, so I’m compelled to recommend this to anyone who loves point & click adventure games. The outstanding voice-acting, stellar soundtrack and well-written story are easily among the best things this game has to offer. Hail, Abraxas Rex!

Without comparing it to other big adventure games of the year, I'll say this directly: The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is one of the best adventure games released this year. Folk horror fans will feel right at home anyway, but I think this game is also a great opportunity for everyone to meet Dave Gilbert, Shaun Aitcheson and the Wadjet Eye adventure games.

The game features excellent voice acting, which will have you shaking your head in bliss at the English village accent. Apart from the voice acting, the other audio components don't disappoint either, with the music and ambient environmental sounds wonderfully adding to the oppressive atmosphere, and more than once you'll be scared stiff. [Issue#322]

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow was a pleasant surprise for me — a fantastic game in its own right, but one whose story doesn’t deserve to end here. I absolutely need a book, film, or TV adaptation of this story, and the great thing is you wouldn’t have to change much for it to be ready for consumption in other media. Although I did find myself struggling to make sense of the ending, I suspect a second playthrough is all I’d need to clear up any questions I still have. The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is truly a pixel art masterpiece — one that definitely deserves a deep dig.

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is charged with the aura of moors and local folklore. I really enjoyed taking part in the experience of the heroine stranded in a strange place were the real and supernatural worlds intertwine, but I also have to applaud logical puzzles and a really engaging story.

It’s not the only horror game set in the UK, but its Englishness and its historical setting is a constant boon. And while the ending is a sliver too familiar to be perfect, the journey to that point is so wonderfully chilling that, unlike its protagonist, you won’t regret digging into The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow.

Despite this inevitable deflation, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is a very strong and cohesive experience that deftly executes an absorbing folk horror atmosphere in virtually every moving part. No element of the traditional adventure game format is wasted, with every facet contributing to make it a focused and memorable journey, with a very strong identity. It’s the kind of game that immediately makes you want to play more adventure games.

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a classic point-and-click adventure that is simple and not particularly long. It would have benefited from a few additional sections, but overall the atmosphere, intriguing plot and excellent voice acting make it a good choice for fans of the genre.

With its skilled application of a foreboding atmosphere instead of cheap jumpscares, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is the perfect game to lead us into the spooky season. It’s a well-crafted mystery that is creepy in all the right places, taking us back to a not-too-distant past of superstition. If you’re in the mood for a suspenseful tale of oft-overlooked folklore and themes of grief and loss, the Excavation of Hob’s Barrow gets my firm recommendation.

Hob's Barrow is an excellent modern point and click adventure game. It takes inspiration from British folklore to deliver an interesting plot, with solid characters and inspired dialogues. The puzzles are interesting and can be solved using logic. A must have for fans of the genre in a year full of great adventures.

A splendid adventure that’s well paced, excellently voiced, and doesn't outstay its welcome.

"It’s yet another game with huge pixels and a mouthful of a name,” I had thought upon hearing the announcement a few years ago, and I am so glad that I was proven wrong. If not for Wadjet Eye Games, I would have missed this excellent adventure with delightfully crafted suspense and brilliant dialogue.