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The Excavation of Hob's Barrow

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch, Mac, Linux • 2022

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Quick resume

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow is a folk horror narrative-driven adventure. Explore the isolated moors of rural Victorian England as you uncover the mysteries of Hob's Barrow. The answers lie in the soil...

Global score

92/100

Genres

Adventure, Puzzle, Point-and-click

Similar games

    Pros

    • Strong narrative and atmosphere
    • Excellent voice acting
    • Logical and fair puzzles
    • Immersive folk horror setting
    • Quality pixel art and sound design

    Cons

    • Linear story with fixed ending
    • Some puzzles are easy or slightly convoluted
    • Limited player agency and customization
    • Short game length
    • Lack of replayability beyond commentary

    Analysis

    Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Survival, Violence, Fellowship, Expression. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Expression.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players explore a village, choose dialogue options, and solve puzzles with some freedom, though the story is mostly linear and the ending is fixed."

    • Competence
      2

      "Puzzles are logical and fair, providing moderate challenge without frustration, supporting a feeling of effectiveness."

    • Competition
      -5

      "No competitive elements; gameplay focuses on personal exploration and story progression."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report engaging story and atmosphere that encourage long sessions and replay with commentary."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative gameplay."

    • Creativity
      2

      "Players engage in puzzle solving and narrative choices, but within predefined story and environment."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are narrative-driven."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Strong atmospheric horror and immersive storytelling provide escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story, genre, and atmosphere rather than obligation."

    • Experimenting
      1

      "Some exploration and puzzle experimentation, but mostly within a structured narrative and environment."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Players explore a detailed village and surrounding areas, uncovering secrets and story elements."

    • Expression
      -4

      "Limited customization; players follow a fixed protagonist and preset visual style."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Game features folk horror, supernatural elements, and Lovecraftian themes, providing imaginative fiction."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "Single-player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players develop problem-solving skills and narrative understanding through puzzles and story."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay typical of point-and-click adventures."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention on puzzles and story; not designed for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some emotional engagement with characters and story, but limited to narrative context."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or management roles; player follows a fixed story path."

    • Progression
      2

      "Progression through story advancement and puzzle completion, but no item collection or upgrades."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Atmospheric and slow-paced gameplay promotes immersion and flow rather than tension."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable pixel art, sound design, and voice acting provide sensory stimulation without intense excitement."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social status or recognition systems present."

    • Story
      5

      "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling, character development, and atmospheric plot."

    • Strategy
      1

      "Puzzles require some problem solving but are generally straightforward and logical."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Slow-building suspense and dread create mild thrill without jump scares or high tension."

    • Value
      4

      "Players report good value for time and money given story length, quality, and production."

    • Violence
      -3

      "Minimal violence; focus on exploration and puzzle solving rather than combat or destruction."

    • Survival
      -4

      "No survival mechanics or threat avoidance; stable narrative environment."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026