Hoa

 Switch
Hoa Image
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

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  • Summary: Hoa is a beautiful puzzle-platforming game that features breathtaking hand-painted art, lovely music, and a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. Experience the magic of nature and imagination as you play the main character, Hoa, on her journey through breathtaking environments back to where it allHoa is a beautiful puzzle-platforming game that features breathtaking hand-painted art, lovely music, and a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. Experience the magic of nature and imagination as you play the main character, Hoa, on her journey through breathtaking environments back to where it all began.

    - Breathtaking hand-painted art

    - Originally composed & live-recorded soundtracks

    - Peaceful & relaxing atmosphere

    - Lovely & well-designed creatures

    - Light-hearted but appealing story
    … Expand
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. KeenGamer
    Aug 23, 2021
    90
    It's safe to say that I think Hoa is an absolutely outstanding game. My childhood self would be shrieking with glee at this game as it is everything you could possibly wish for out of a nature based puzzle platformer. With adorable creatures to befriend and a story to learn, Hoa definitely has it all. Therefore I cannot recommend this game enough.
  2. Nintendo Life
    Aug 24, 2021
    80
    Young players still green to the simple story ideas and to platforming fundamentals will find absolute magic in Hoa. The orchestral score and hand-painted backdrops have the power to whisk imaginations away like nothing else. The tried-and-true design of a modern platform game, while unsurprising to seasoned players, will delight budding gamers getting to know the genre. Apart from its closing stage, Hoa is a paint-by-numbers platformer – and the painting is exceptional, even if everything stays carefully inside the lines.
  3. Pure Nintendo
    Oct 5, 2021
    80
    Hoa is a spirited adventure with a relaxing atmosphere. While I wish it were longer for its launch price (with optional challenges), I’m confident I’ll replay it. The desirable aesthetics combined with goal-driven gameplay are too enjoyable a combination. Did this puzzle platformer go unnoticed by you this summer? It’s never too late to give it the attention it deserves.
  4. IGN
    Aug 23, 2021
    70
    Hoa is a beautiful but brief puzzle-platform adventure that made for a relaxing evening’s worth of entertainment. It features no major physical threats nor any puzzles that are particularly obtuse, so cruising through its hand-painted slices of nature gave me a pleasantly zen-like experience. It’s a shame that the substantially more inventive final sequence wasn’t fleshed out even further, and I wish there were some additional reasons to explore its small selection of environments. But otherwise Hoa is a breezy little jaunt that’s all chilling and no killing.
  5. Gamezebo
    Sep 3, 2021
    70
    Hoa looks to offer up a relaxing experience first and foremost though, and because of its amazing aesthetics it largely succeeds in this aim – but it’s still hard to overlook its lack of ambition in the gameplay department.
  6. Switch Player
    Apr 7, 2022
    60
    Hoa is short and, at times, you’ll be forgiven for forgetting you’re even playing a game. That’s not all bad, though: Hoa gives you room to breathe, to escape into its spectacularly-painted world for relaxation rather than challenge.
  7. Easy Allies
    Aug 23, 2021
    55
    Even in retrospect, it’s easy to look at Hoa and imagine possibilities that it just doesn’t fulfill. The way it contextualizes its mechanics is wonderful, but there’s not enough depth, risk, or complexity to complement those ideas. As a result, the brief experience becomes rather flat and routine.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. gustavecoste
    Dec 6, 2021
    10
    A short but beautiful game that make you feel like you are playing a Ghibli Studio movie.
  2. Gerdo
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    An extremely beautiful game with a very heartwarming story. Graphics and music are so beautiful. This is a game to enjoy and not to rush through.
  4. IronsMine
    Sep 30, 2021
    10
    Hoa make me happy because of the melody and resonance that I can't take my eyes off, as well as the elegant melodious sound of the piano
  5. Happyspelling
    Sep 2, 2021
    9
    Hoa is a gorgeous game with an amazing soundtrack and simple, relaxing level design. It's not for everyone, and it's a bit too short for aHoa is a gorgeous game with an amazing soundtrack and simple, relaxing level design. It's not for everyone, and it's a bit too short for a game, even at $15, but it is a game I will happily play again.… Expand
  6. Weight4Jake
    Mar 5, 2022
    9
    Great simple puzzle platformer! Kind of like Ori & the Blind Forrest but not as deep and polished.
  7. thryce3
    Dec 3, 2022
    8
    It's a beautiful mostly casual level puzzle-platformer that focuses on the emotional effect. Kind of like a 2D Journey. It's a lovelyIt's a beautiful mostly casual level puzzle-platformer that focuses on the emotional effect. Kind of like a 2D Journey. It's a lovely experience that lasts around 3 hours. Again, kind of like a 2D Journey.
    Only real gripe is the change of gameplay towards the end. It's actually really cool and could be used more fully in another game, but it makes it quite difficult all of a sudden    … Expand
  8. Lokichick
    Jan 15, 2022
    1
    Very pretty but I was bored after about 5 screens of basic platforming. Didn't bother playing any more.

See all 11 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

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