Hollow Lantern

Hollow Lantern is the game I recommend when someone says mobile can't do atmosphere. You guide a small figure carrying a lantern through crumbling ruins, solving light-based puzzles and slowly piecing together what happened to this place. There's barely any text, and it works beautifully.

Movement is a virtual stick on the left, interactions on the right, and it feels natural within minutes. The puzzles respect your intelligence without being obtuse. I got stuck twice and both times the solution felt fair once I saw it.

It's light on the battery because the pace is slow and the art is stylized rather than effect-heavy. Perfect for a long commute. The soundtrack alone is worth headphones. Easily one of my favorites this year.

What we liked

• Stunning hand-drawn art
• Fair, clever puzzles
• Easy on the battery