How to Enjoy Hollow Harbor the Right Way

Hollow Harbor is only a few hours long, and I think the way you play it matters more than with most games. This is my spoiler-free pitch for how to get the most out of it.

Play it with sound. The audio design does half the storytelling, and I'd have missed so much atmosphere if I'd muted it on the train. Headphones at night is the ideal, honestly.

Resist looking up solutions. The puzzles are fair and the satisfaction comes from noticing the detail you missed. If you're stuck, step away and come back; the answer is usually something the game already showed you.

Finally, don't rush to the end. The town rewards wandering, and some of the best small moments are optional. I finished it feeling like I'd actually been somewhere, which is high praise for a phone game.