Hollow Lantern

Hollow Lantern is the game on this list I keep thinking about after closing the app. It's a quiet adventure with almost no text, where you guide a small figure through a shadowy world, solving gentle environmental puzzles and lighting lanterns that push the darkness back a little further each time.

There's no combat, no timers, nothing chasing you. It's just you, some clever spatial puzzles, and an atmosphere that's genuinely beautiful in a melancholy way. The controls are dead simple, a tap here and a swipe there, so the game can put all its weight into mood and discovery.

It's not long, maybe four hours if you don't rush, and it doesn't overstay its welcome. If you want something calm and a bit haunting to play before bed, this is a rare gem.

What we liked

• Gorgeous, atmospheric art direction
• Clever, low-pressure puzzles
• A short, complete experience with no padding