Hollowreach

Hollowreach drops you into a sprawling underground ruin with a lantern and almost no instructions, and figuring out where to go is half the fun. There's no minimap handed to you — you sketch your own route by remembering landmarks, which made the world feel genuinely mine.

The puzzles are woven into the environment rather than bolted on, so unlocking a shortcut feels like a discovery instead of a chore. Progress is slow and deliberate, and the atmosphere carries it. I played most of it with headphones on and the sound design does a lot of quiet heavy lifting.

It won't be for everyone — if you get frustrated without waypoints, this will test you. But if you like getting lost on purpose, few mobile games do it this well.

What we liked

• Genuine sense of exploration
• Environmental puzzles that feel earned
• Atmosphere that pulls you in