Experience a vibrant, abstract journey through the colorful and hypnotic world of Hohokum. Developed by Honeyslug, this indie gem is a 2D puzzle-platformer that prioritizes exploration and sensory experience over traditional tutorials or heavy narratives. Instead of being guided by hand, players are dropped into a series of beautifully stylized environments and encouraged to interact with the world through pure experimentation.

A Non-Linear Odyssey of Discovery

In Hohokum, you control the "Long Mover," a single-eyed, snake-like creature that glides through various psychedelic landscapes. The game features 17 distinct worlds, each offering a unique aesthetic and set of environmental challenges. These levels are entirely non-linear; they are unlocked from the outset, allowing you to navigate the cosmos in any order you desire.

The gameplay revolves around interaction and momentum. While your primary control is managing the speed of the Long Mover—speeding it up or slowing it down—the real depth lies in how you collide with the world. By bumping into colorful objects, hitting switches, or navigating through the petals of towering flowers, you trigger environmental changes that drive progression. As you complete tasks, you free other serpentine creatures, eventually building a swarm that can impact the environments in new ways.

Gameplay Mechanics and Features

  • Experimental Interaction: There are no explicit instructions or tutorials; players learn how to manipulate the world through trial and error and physical interaction.
  • Back-Riding Mechanics: Engage with NPCs by allowing them to ride on your back, which is often essential for delivering characters or objects to specific locations to solve puzzles.
  • Varied Objectives: While the primary goal is to free trapped serpents to progress toward the credits, each world contains multiple secondary tasks and hidden secrets.
  • Audiovisual Brilliance: The game features a stunning, minimalist art style paired with tasteful electronic music from the Ghostly International label.
    • Dynamic Environments: From crashing clay pots to navigating through sea sponges, every world presents a medley of subtle environmental puzzles.

An Artistic Experience for Every Player

Hohokum is an ideal choice for fans of "art games" like Flower or Journey, as well as players who enjoy the relaxing, low-pressure atmosphere of casual puzzle games. It appeals to those who appreciate high-concept indie aesthetics and find satisfaction in discovering hidden mechanics without the pressure of timers, death mechanics, or rigid progression paths.

While some may find the lack of a cohesive narrative or structured guidance challenging, the game's true strength lies in its ability to provide moments of pure, cathartic bliss. It is a title designed for those who want to lose themselves in a rhythmic, hypnotic flow of color and sound.

Platform Availability

Players can embark on this psychedelic adventure across a variety of platforms, including:

  • PC
  • PlayStation 4
  • PlayStation 3
  • PS Vita