Why Hollowreach Deserves Headphones

I nearly reviewed Hollowreach on speaker and I'm glad I didn't. This is a game where the audio isn't decoration — it's half the storytelling.

The empty city talks to you through wind, footsteps and distant sounds you can't quite place. Some puzzle hints are literally audio cues, so playing it muted on a commute genuinely robs you of information.

Pace yourself. Hollowreach rewards slowing down and examining rooms fully before moving on. I rushed the first chapter and had to backtrack because I missed something obvious in the ambient layer.

It's short and gentle, but it's the kind of game that stays in your head for a few days afterward. Treat it like a quiet evening, not a checklist.