Hob

Hob is definitely larger than the sum of its parts, which come together almost perfectly to create a truly singular adventure. Hob may not have the AAA budget and polish of the franchises it draws inspiration from, but it has lots of heart and something to say, which is impressive for a game without a single spoken word.

Hob offers a beautiful world where the exposition and the hand-holding take a step back to let an efficient mix of exploration, platforming and environmental puzzles flow at good pace. The combat could be a bit more meaningful, and some technical issues are prevalent, but for the adventure fans it's a trip well worth taking.

Does Hob serve itself by obfuscating its path and story as much as it does? I don’t think the experience is better for these choices. Forcing the player to bang their head repeatedly against the walls of the world undercuts, rather than strengthens, the game’s considerable charm. The inability to clearly communicate also interferes with the intended emotion of the finale, giving a supposedly solemn choice a silly prelude that doesn’t lay out the stakes in any intelligible way.

Hob is a fascinating mix of minimalistic and complex ideas that blend so seamlessly and organically that a coherent overall image emerges, not the least reminiscent of games such as The Legend of Zelda and Ico. The great focus on exploring without any explanation is great - although it is a bit unfortunate that Hob does not tell an interesting story.

Hob is an obscurist's dream, and while it can flummox, Runic's game offers a connected world that demands to be explored, and pulled apart, and remade. It's brilliant. [Dec 2017, p.92]

Once you do start putting it together, it's actually a relatively simple tale, but the revelations along the way are a fun reward for those determined enough to find them. [Nov 2017, p.81]

It’s a shame that less than tight platforming controls and major framerate issues hinder Hob overall. There is a fantastic game here that will just have to settle for being a really good one.

Runic fans waiting on Torchlight III may be feeling sore, but the developer’s decision to take a gamble on something new has certainly paid off. Hob demonstrates just how well this team can create a world and stitch it together with intuitive level design. Although some parts are clearly stronger than others, as a whole Hob is easily one of the best indie games of 2017.

Despite its technical hiccups and frustrating early hours, Hob is a worthwhile experience that rewards ardent explorers and delivers an exciting mystery to unravel. Each conquered dungeon feels like a mini triumph as you watch the desolate and dying world come back to life, and I loved the sense of wonder and each "a-ha" moment of discovery. Even after I finished the main story of Hob, I was excited to jump back in and search for more secrets hidden within the world.

With great level design and a satisfying mixture of puzzles and combat, Hob is one of the most beautiful adventures in a while. From humble beginnings, its scope will often take your breath away.

Hob is a dreamy and dynamic adventure, fun and visually fabulous. The variety of situations it offers makes its platform sessions and puzzle-solving some of the best of the moment.

Hob is a good experience, thanks to its very interesting world. It's easy to get lost, which can be frustrating, but overall it's a game that, without doing anything new, gets everything right.

Hob is a good game, even if a bit flawed. The platforming is not as good as the combat and the puzzles, and you can sometimes get lost in the world. But even with those problems the beautiful world and good soundtrack does make up for it’s shortcomings. Hob is a good game that PS4 owners with some time on their hand and an itch for a Zelda-like adventure should pick up.

With a below average combat system, a lot of technical issues and almost no story to speak of, Hob is a hard sell for lovers of the previous Runic games. Still, it is graced by a very good art design and clever puzzles.

Hob is an enjoyable experience, providing hours of great puzzling and platforming fun – despite the game’s face-value story and technical issues.

Hob is a game that feels like it could be much more than it is. It's a game that draws inspiration from the best in the business. It's a game that looks and sounds great. And it's a game that offers something unique for players. Yet it falls short of the heights that it could have reached due to a few key failings.