The Excavation of Hob's Barrow

 Switch
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow Image
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

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  • Summary: THE ANSWERS LIE IN THE SOIL...

    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    THE ANSWERS LIE IN THE SOIL...

    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

    FEATURES:

    * 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.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. NPR
    Mar 6, 2023
    90
    Beyond interacting with the locals, there were plenty of immersive puzzles which far outweigh the game's minor annoyances. I took my time exploring and completing The Excavation of Hob's Barrow in about 8 hours. I would strongly recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries or story-focused games.
  2. Gamereactor UK
    Feb 3, 2023
    90
    There are some minor shortcomings, such as the game only clocking in at about five hours, and the ending feeling both rushed and a tad predictable. But all in all, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is an excellent modern point-and-click thriller.
  3. TouchArcade
    Feb 7, 2023
    90
    The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow sticks to the standards of the adventure genre enough that you have to have at least some interest in the genre to enjoy it, but provided you do it is an absolute treat. The setting is the star here, and what a star it turns out to be. Add in some reasonably challenging but fair puzzles, excellent production values, and a good interface, and you’ve got another great release from Wadjet Eye Games.
  4. Nintendo Life
    Jan 25, 2023
    80
    At its best, The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow feels like the halcyon point-and-click days of LucasArts. Some of its puzzle chains are compelling, immersive, and pitched just right difficulty-wise. It gets a bit messy in the third act, but not enough to undo the excellent scene-setting and plot-thickening that precedes it. Hob's Barrow could have been hobbled by its muted setting; instead it brings a barrowload of supernatural chills.
  5. Screen Rant
    Jan 25, 2023
    80
    As time goes on and Thomasina becomes haunted by strange dreams and flashbacks of her past alongside some disturbing encounters in Bewlay, the cosmic horror elements of Hob's Barrow slowly come to the forefront, leading to the game's harrowing conclusion. With a recent resurgence of the point-and-click genre, this game is a great example of how to do the style justice. Although it's occasionally stifled by less-than-stellar quests, the overall storytelling, acting, and general ambiance of The Excavation of Hob's Barrows make it well worth a player's time.
  6. Digitally Downloaded
    Jan 25, 2023
    80
    It’s not the longest game, at about ten hours depending on how quickly you puzzle through it. However, there’s a haunting quality to Hob’s Barrow that will stay with you long after you finish playing. It’s a fine example of literary and gothic horror being brought to the video game medium, and that’s something I’ve been asking for more of in video games for quite some time now.
  7. Pure Nintendo
    Apr 13, 2023
    70
    The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is a short but sweet point-and-click horror adventure that uses the setting, style and folklore of Victorian Britain to immerse you in a distinctly creepy plot.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. papaGdawg
    Jul 6, 2023
    10
    Absolutely loved this game. I'm a fan of point and click on general and this instantly became one is my faves. It's not the most difficult andAbsolutely loved this game. I'm a fan of point and click on general and this instantly became one is my faves. It's not the most difficult and should be easy to complete in a couple of sittings without a walk through. But the atmosphere, settings and characters are all so well presented I found myself sucked in right till the end. Looking forward to the next game from Cloak and Dagger!… Expand
  2. MadAdventurer
    Jul 2, 2023
    8
    Nice little adventure. Has a very interesting story and is a good adventure. Anyone who likes adventures and/or Lovecraftian themes should play it
  4. Rohald
    Jan 27, 2023
    2
    The story is boring and quickly becomes predictable. The gameplay is literally to bring item A to place B, there is almost nothing to thinkThe story is boring and quickly becomes predictable. The gameplay is literally to bring item A to place B, there is almost nothing to think about. If you can't remember the place where you're supposed to go, simply look for it and you'll find it. There is no challenge whatsoever in this game and without a good story, no reason to keep going. Really bad.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

39
#39 Best Switch Game of 2023
59
#59 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2023

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