Why Hollow Lantern is best played slowly

Hollow Lantern is short, and my instinct with short games is to power through them. That was the wrong move here. When I finally replayed it at a slower pace, it became a completely different, much better experience.

The game hides most of its charm in small details — a note on a wall, a change in the music, an object that only makes sense once you've seen three other things. Blow past those and you're left with a thin story. Sit with them and it becomes quietly moving.

I'd suggest playing it in one or two calm sessions with sound on. It's the kind of game that deserves your attention rather than half of it while you watch something else.

There aren't many tricky puzzles to warn you about. Just resist the urge to rush. This one is about atmosphere, and atmosphere doesn't survive being sprinted through.