How to Enjoy Hollow Lantern the Way It's Meant To Be Played

Hollow Lantern is a game you can rush through in an afternoon, but doing that misses the point entirely. It's built around mood and small discoveries, and the best way to play is to slow right down.

Play it with headphones in a quiet room if you can. The sound design does a lot of heavy lifting, and the silences are as important as the music. I noticed details on my second sitting that I'd walked straight past the first time.

The puzzles are gentle, so don't stress if one stumps you — the answer is usually right in front of you, tied to the lantern's light. Move the light around and watch how the environment reacts.

It's a short game and that's okay. I finished it in two sessions and it stuck with me longer than titles ten times its length. Treat it like a short film rather than a big adventure and you'll get the most out of it.