Info about The Excavation of Hob's Barrow:

Official game description:
  
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…**  
*   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.**_

Release date: Sep 28, 2022

Categories: Point-and-click, Puzzle Solving, Atmospheric Horror, Narrative Adventure, Pixel Art Style, Dialogue-based Gameplay, Multiple Endings, Folk Horror

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The game presents significant challenges with its complex puzzle mechanics, often requiring users to rely on walkthroughs. Additionally, there are notable technical issues, such as the game engine resetting the display connection when alt-tabbing, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game demonstrates excellent compatibility and performance on Linux and Steam Deck. Users report no issues with launch reliability, stability, or performance. The game runs well on different setups, providing a positive user experience overall.
- Steam Deck: score 20; verdict: Great with minor issues; summary: The overall experience of playing the game on the Steam Deck is highly positive, with users praising its performance, battery life, and controls. However, there are some minor UI/UX issues that need attention, such as text readability and item interaction.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $12.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth purchasing at a discounted price, typically around $8 to $10. These reviews indicate that the game provides good value for money at these price points, suggesting a fair base-game price range slightly higher than these sale prices.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 6.5h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect mentions of playtime. The first quote mentions a total playtime of around 6 hours to complete the game and achieve all achievements. The second quote indicates that a specific task took about an hour, suggesting session length. The third quote mentions finishing the game in one sitting, taking around 5-6 hours, which aligns with the game completion time. The fourth quote reiterates the total playtime of around 6-8 hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts with tedious fetch quests and repetitive puzzles but improves significantly towards the end with a gripping narrative and improved pacing. The atmosphere, voice acting, and storytelling are consistently engaging.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: The narrative and pacing improve significantly towards the end.
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: Tedious fetch quests; Repetitive puzzles; Linear progression; Backtracking and searching
  - Unlock drivers: Improved narrative pacing; Engaging storyline; Atmosphere and voice acting
  - Conditions: Patience for slow initial pacing; Appreciation for horror and mystery themes; Enjoyment of point-and-click gameplay
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Point-and-Click Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and appreciation for classic gameplay mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys exploring and solving puzzles in a traditional point-and-click format, appreciating the narrative and atmosphere.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old-school player; fan of classic adventure games
    - Reference games: Maniac Mansion; Hugo's House of Horrors; Leisure Suit Larry; Gabriel Knight
  - Horror and Puzzle Aficionado (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of horror themes and puzzle-solving.
    - Playstyle: Engages with the game for its atmospheric horror and challenging puzzles, often playing in short sessions.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: horror fan; puzzle solver
    - Reference games: Alan Wake; Twin Peaks; Maniac Mansion; Hugo's House of Horrors; Leisure Suit Larry
  - Achievement Hunter (sale)
    - Motivation: Unlocking achievements and overcoming challenging puzzles.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on completing all possible achievements and solving difficult puzzles, often replaying sections to ensure nothing is missed.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: achievement hunter; completionist
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Exceptional voice acting and audio (weight 0.89): The game features consistently praised voice acting, with players highlighting the quality and depth of the performances, especially for the protagonist. The soundtrack and sound design are also noted for their excellence, contributing to an immersive atmosphere.
- Intuitive and enjoyable puzzles (weight 0.56): The puzzles in the game are described as logical, fun, and well-balanced. They are challenging yet fair, and they serve to push the narrative forward without being overly complicated or frustrating.
- Beautiful pixel art graphics (weight 0.51): The game's pixel art style is highly praised for its creativity, detail, and ability to capture the essence of the English countryside. Players appreciate the retro aesthetic and the atmospheric visuals.
- Engaging and intriguing story (weight 0.46): The story is described as interesting, engaging, and well-written, with authentic characters and a compelling narrative that keeps players hooked.
- Creepy and atmospheric setting (weight 0.44): The game excels in creating a creepy and unsettling atmosphere, with an eerie vibe that enhances the overall experience. The setting is immersive and feels quintessentially British countryside.
- Lovecraftian and folk horror elements (weight 0.22): The game incorporates elements of Lovecraftian mystique and folk horror, creating a deep and intriguing story with a moody blend of horror and mystery.

Common complaints:
- Puzzles lack depth and variety (weight 0.64): Many players found the puzzles to be either too easy or too difficult, with some being convoluted and frustrating. The puzzles were often described as unintuitive, obscure, and not particularly clever, leading to a lack of challenge and satisfaction.
- Unsatisfying and disappointing ending (weight 0.55): The ending of the game was widely criticized for being unsatisfying, disappointing, and rushed. Players felt that the conclusion was anticlimactic, nonsensical, and did not live up to their expectations.
- Dialogue choices lack impact (weight 0.27): Players were disappointed that their conversational choices did not significantly impact the story or its outcome. This lack of meaningful choices made the dialogue feel pointless and misleading.
- Game is too short (weight 0.21): Several players noted that the game was shorter than expected, with a relatively short gameplay time. This left many wishing the game was longer and more substantial.
- Main character's poor decisions (weight 0.18): The protagonist's decisions were often criticized as illogical, foolish, and poorly written. These decisions negatively impacted the story, especially in the final act.
- Linear progression (weight 0.11): The game features a very linear progression with no significant choices affecting the story or ending, making it feel somewhat linear and restrictive.
- Game difficulty is too easy (weight 0.11): The overall difficulty level of the game was noted to be rather easy, which may not challenge players as much as they would like.
- Lack of player agency (weight 0.09): Players felt a lack of agency over the story and its ending, which diminished their engagement and investment in the game's outcome.
- Excessive fetch quests (weight 0.09): The game includes too many fetch quests, which players found to be pointless and filler-like. These quests dragged down the plot and felt tedious.
- Limited localization options (weight 0.09): The game lacks localization for non-English speakers, with notable absences including German and Russian translations. This limits accessibility for a global audience.
- Tedious backtracking (weight 0.09): The game features occasional to lengthy backtracking, which can become tedious due to the large map and repetitive searching.
- Uneven pacing (weight 0.07): The game's pacing felt off and rushed in some parts, leading to an uneven experience for players.
- Dialogue can be boring (weight 0.06): The dialogue in some parts of the game was found to be dragging and boring, which could have been reduced or improved.

Gameplay feedback:
- Logical and intuitive puzzles (weight 0.5): Puzzles in the game are designed to be logical and intuitive, avoiding moon logic. They range from simple to challenging and are well-integrated into the narrative and world.
- Dialogue and character interactions (weight 0.26): Players engage in multiple-choice dialogues and interactions with characters, including villagers. These interactions, while not significantly impacting the story, add depth to the gameplay.
- Folk and Lovecraftian horror elements (weight 0.24): The game blends folk horror and Lovecraftian horror elements, creating an unsettling atmosphere. This combination enhances the overall horror-themed point-and-click adventure experience.
- Linear and narrative-driven story (weight 0.16): The game features a linear and narrative-driven story with a strong focus on storytelling. The narrative is the main driver of the interactive experience.
- Pixel art graphics (weight 0.11): The game uses 2D pixel art graphics, which contribute to its retro and charming visual style. This artistic choice complements the classic point-and-click adventure gameplay.
- Fast travel and exploration (weight 0.1): The game includes a fast travel function, which aids in exploration and puzzle-solving. This feature makes navigating the game world more convenient.
- Interactive elements and item collection (weight 0.09): Players can interact with various elements in the game world, collecting and using objects to solve puzzles. This mechanic is central to the gameplay experience.
- Multiple endings based on choices (weight 0.05): The game offers multiple endings depending on the choices made by the player. This adds replayability and depth to the narrative-driven adventure.
- Appropriate difficulty level (weight 0.05): The game's difficulty is considered appropriate, with puzzles that are challenging but not overly difficult. This ensures a balanced and enjoyable experience for players.
- Fetch quests and inventory management (weight 0.04): The game includes fetch quests and inventory management as part of its puzzle-solving mechanics. Players need to collect and use items to progress through the game.

Performance notes:
- Excellent Steam Deck Performance (weight 0.21): The game runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, with smooth performance and great controls, making it a highly recommended experience for handheld gaming.
- Stable and Technical Issues Free (weight 0.08): The game is noted for its stability and lack of notable technical issues, providing a smooth gaming experience without crashes or major bugs.
- Long Battery Life (weight 0.06): Players report that the game has a long battery life on the Steam Deck, lasting for hours on a single charge.
- Buggy Save States (weight 0.03): Some players have experienced issues with save states, indicating that there may be occasional problems with saving game progress.
- AGS Game Engine Issues (weight 0.03): There are reports of issues related to the AGS game engine, which may affect the overall gaming experience.
- Steam Link Playthrough Issues (weight 0.03): Playing the game on Steam Link can be slightly problematic, indicating potential connectivity or performance issues.
- Item Trigger Issues on Console (weight 0.03): On consoles like the Steam Deck, it can be tricky to get items to trigger on specific areas, which may affect gameplay.
- Low Demanding Pixel Art (weight 0.03): The game features low demanding pixel art, making it accessible to a wide range of hardware specifications.
- Good Performance on 4K Monitor (weight 0.03): The game plays and looks good at windowed 1080p on a 4K monitor, indicating good scalability and visual performance.
- Cloud Saves (weight 0.03): The game supports cloud saves, allowing players to save their progress online and continue from any device.
- Double Click to Speed Up (weight 0.02): Players can double click on an exit to speed up leaving the location, adding a convenient feature for navigation.
- No Progression Traps (weight 0.02): The game design ensures there are no progression traps, allowing for a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience.
- Inventory Management (weight 0.02): Unnecessary items are automatically removed from the inventory, helping to keep the inventory clean and manageable.
- Parallax Scrolling Issues (weight 0.02): There are some issues with parallax scrolling, which may affect the visual experience during gameplay.
- No Issues on CachyOS Linux (weight 0.02): The game runs without problems on CachyOS Linux, indicating good compatibility with this operating system.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for point-and-click fans (weight 0.38): This game is highly recommended for fans of point-and-click adventure games, especially those who enjoy retro interfaces, atmospheric dread, and logical puzzles. It is often compared to classic games like Maniac Mansion and modern titles like The Last Door.
- Folk horror appeal (weight 0.09): Fans of folk and cosmic horror would enjoy this title. It is recommended for those who appreciate folk horror and compelling stories.
- Recommended with caveats (weight 0.09): The game is recommended despite some flaws, particularly in the final act. It is still strongly recommended overall.
- Worth the time (weight 0.07): The game is considered well worth the time it takes to play, especially for fans of the genre.
- Must-play for Lovecraft fans (weight 0.05): The game is a must-play for fans of Lovecraftian stories and horror. It is highly recommended for those who enjoy Lovecraft-style narratives.
- Interesting experience (weight 0.03): The game is noted for being very interesting, providing a unique and engaging experience.
- Accessible puzzles (weight 0.03): The game features accessible and fair puzzles, making it enjoyable for a wide range of players.
- Exciting story (weight 0.03): The game is praised for its exciting and engaging story, which keeps players interested throughout.
- Cheap, short, and accessible (weight 0.03): The game is described as being cheap, short, and accessible, making it an easy entry point for new players.
- Avoid watching the trailer (weight 0.02): It is recommended not to watch the trailer to avoid spoilers and enhance the gaming experience.
- Play in the dark (weight 0.02): The game is highly recommended to be played in the dark to fully experience its atmospheric horror.
- For fans of Alan Wake and Twin Peaks (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for fans of Alan Wake and Twin Peaks, suggesting a similar atmospheric and narrative style.
- British mystery masterpiece (weight 0.02): The game is described as a British mystery masterpiece, indicating a high-quality narrative and setting.
- Good value for money (weight 0.02): The game is considered a decent game and good value for money, making it a worthwhile purchase.
- Pixel graphics and chilling tales (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for fans of pixel graphics and chilling tales, suggesting a retro aesthetic and horror elements.

Other player notes:
- Special Edition Items Missing (weight 0.03): Players reported issues with missing special edition items for the Switch version of 'Lost in Cult,' causing disappointment.
- Atmospheric Themes Appreciated (weight 0.03): Players enjoyed the thematic elements reminiscent of 'The Wicker Man,' which added a unique atmosphere to the game.
- Gift Receipt Mentioned (weight 0.03): Some players mentioned receiving the game as a gift, indicating it might be a popular choice for gifting.
- DEI-Free Game (weight 0.02): The game was noted to be free from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) elements, which some players appreciated.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.22): Players appreciate the game's atmosphere, story, and characters, often highlighting the voice acting, pixel art style, and engaging narrative. The combination of Lovecraftian horror elements, compelling mysteries, and well-crafted puzzles contributes to a highly enjoyable experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.12): The primary cause of disappointment is the game's ending, which many players found unsatisfying, abrupt, or illogical. Additionally, some players were frustrated by the lack of meaningful choices, narrative issues, and the protagonist's behavior, which detracted from the overall experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players are satisfied with the game's overall experience, including its atmosphere, story, voice acting, and puzzles. The game's length, difficulty level, and value for money also contribute to a satisfying experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): The game's engaging story, atmospheric storytelling, and compelling pixel art style generate excitement among players. The thrilling narrative, logical puzzles, and the overall positive experience contribute to this emotion.
- Frustration (weight 0.08): Frustration stems from the lack of player agency, particularly in the ending, and issues with puzzle design and game mechanics. Players also express frustration with the protagonist's decisions and the linear, railroaded gameplay.
- Joy (weight 0.05): The game brings joy through its story, puzzles, atmosphere, and overall presentation. Players appreciate the charming characters, strong visuals, and excellent voice acting, which enhance the enjoyable experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the game's atmosphere, art, voice acting, and logical puzzles. The unique setting, solid premise, and focus on storytelling are also highly valued.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): The game evokes nostalgia through its classic point-and-click adventure style, reminiscent of 90s classics and old-school graphics. The setting and gameplay mechanics bring back memories of earlier adventure games.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Players are surprised by the game's quality and the impactful ending. The effective delivery of horror elements and unexpected events in the story contribute to this emotion.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's outstanding atmosphere, story, and characters. The fantastic art, top-notch voice acting, and craftsmanship are also highly praised.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game's story, voice acting, and atmosphere. The Lovecraft-style horror and the overall game experience are deeply appreciated.
- Fear (weight 0.01): The game's horror elements, including a slow-burning sense of dread and disturbing scenes, evoke fear among players. The atmospheric storytelling and creepy setting contribute to this emotion.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's engaging story and atmosphere. The positive aspects of the game, including its visuals, characters, and plot, generate high recommendations.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): The game's engaging plot, well-developed characters, and challenging puzzles keep players hooked. The atmospheric story and emotional narrative drive players to complete the game.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): The game's atmosphere and setting make players curious about the village's secrets and the protagonist's situation. The interesting mysteries in the story drive this curiosity.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for more games like this from the developers. The potential for sequels or extended editions generates this hopeful emotion.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited by the game's suspenseful journey and the engaging story. The positive experience with the game's atmosphere, voice acting, and story contributes to this excitement.}