Hollow Tide

Hollow Tide is a quiet adventure game built around exploring a storm-battered coastline. There is no combat to speak of; the challenge is reading the environment, solving small mechanical puzzles, and piecing together what happened to the people who lived here.

The atmosphere is the point. Rain, fog, and a sparse soundtrack do a lot of heavy lifting, and the touch controls for examining objects feel natural. I finished it in two sittings and thought about it for days.

If you want constant action this is not your game. But as a slow evening on the couch, it lands beautifully, and it never overstays its welcome.

What we liked

• Strong, consistent atmosphere
• Natural touch exploration
• Tight, satisfying length