HELLDIVERS™ 2
HELLDIVERS™ 2
Game
Game2017
Hob
Developer Runic Games
Hob is an action-adventure game developed and published by Runic Games. It was originally released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 on September 26, 2017. An enhanced port developed by Panic Button was released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch. It is the last game developed by Runic Games before their dissolution. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
239 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky) · newest Nov 4, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
85
LovedLoved
156 positive · 27 negative
95% range 79–90%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 156 | 27 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 10 | 1 | 45 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
2,159 of 2,440 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
85% recommend · 155 yes, 28 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 183 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (4,963 of 5,631 positive).
Players praise Hob's beautiful world and satisfying exploration. [1][2][3] Some note the game has technical issues like crashes and camera problems. [4][5][6] Reviewers appreciate the visual storytelling and environmental puzzles. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [16]
I really wanted to like Hob. The presentation is excellent, the animations are smooth, movement feels great, and the world itself is visually appealing. Unfortunately, the level design completely undermined the experience for me. My main issue is that the game does a poor job of teaching and reinforcing its progression mechanics. Instead of establishing a rule and then building on it, Hob repeatedly introduces …
- [2]
Runic Games’s incredible swan song, Hob, is nothing short of a masterpiece. You can feel the love and craft poured into every detail of this passion project. Hob has some of the absolute best world design I’ve ever seen in any game.. impressive and awe-inspiring at every turn. It’s the kind of experience that has to be played to be believed. I’ve truly never seen anything quite like it. The world is breathtaking, …
- [3]
I stumbled across Hob while scrolling through Steam and thought, “Alright, this looks interesting.” Picked it up on sale, booted it up… and honestly? At first I was confused. Then it crashed due to outdated graphics drivers. I almost wrote it off. I’m glad I didn’t. After fixing the driver issue and giving it another real shot, wow. I was hooked. The exploration is incredibly satisfying. You press a button, activate …
- [18]
No spoiler review: This game is good, some might even call it a hidden gem. But it has many flaws and bugs. It is still enjoyable, well-made experience, that is neither amazing or bad. It is clear this game was made with a lot of love and passion, but also that this game is not finished. Or better said, they planned this game to be so much bigger, but time or money runed out. Yet this game is one of my favorite …
- [1]
One of the most beautiful and memorable games you've never heard of. The original creators of Diablo made an isometric Zelda-like and it's every bit as good as that sounds.
Summarised from 34 of the 228 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Hob sits at 85% positive across 183 opinionated reactions from 2 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Hob received "generally favorable" reviews from critics according to review aggregator Metacritic. Game Informer previewed it positively, stating, "From the archaic machines dotting the landscape, to the bizarre creatures and even the mysteries surrounding the main character, Hob's narrative strength lies in showing rather than telling...I walked away from this demo impressed". PC Gamer gave it a score of 77/100, saying in their verdict, it was "a gorgeous world eager to be explored with satisfying puzzles and fun, if occasionally clumsy, action". IGN said overall the game is a "beautiful Zelda-like puzzler with fun combat elements that takes place on an enchanting world where nature and…
From the “Reception and reviews” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 239 · most liked firstI really wanted to like Hob. The presentation is excellent, the animations are smooth, movement feels great, and the world itself is visually appealing. Unfortunately, the level design completely undermined the experience for me. My main issue is that the game does a poor job of teaching and reinforcing its progression mechanics. Instead of establishing a rule and then building on it, Hob repeatedly introduces one-off solutions that aren't clearly telegraphed. Within my first 80–90 minutes, I…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →ESSOMENIC is our weird dream surgeon game !! Welcome to operation BAS1, Doctor. Dreamcatcher equipment is cleared for your usage. The HOB has appointed you to treat patient memories. Meet its expectations. #EssomenicGame #indiedev #indiegame #godot #horrorgame #retro
neutral · AI labelView post →You can't win the numbers game Hob #GoodOmens #dreamling
neutral · AI labelView post →People who gave this game negative reviews require more "yellow paint" in their games. This is an incredible game that makes you use your head and the level design is next level.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game 336: Hob Hob is a neat game. You explore and find your way through a relatively open-ended map, while solving a bunch of environmental puzzles and engaging in a little bit of combat. It's a simple game, but also a very fun, chill and charming experience.
positive · AI labelView post →One of the most beautiful and memorable games you've never heard of. The original creators of Diablo made an isometric Zelda-like and it's every bit as good as that sounds.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really wanted to like it, but with the constant crashes/glitches, frequently unclear objectives, & annoying camera issues, it just felt very unfinished. I also found the layout of the world to be very confusing. It was far too easy to get very lost, with no map feature to help you find your way around. Lovely idea. Wish it executed better.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →You could genuinely make an immersive sim style game out of HoB, this movie operates just as much on video game logic as it does slapstick
neutral · AI labelView post →Buddy just getting under Okada's skin by using his own game against him. Perfection. I was a huge fan of HoB, but Hounds of Hell is already clearing it. #AEW 🤼
neutral · AI labelView post →Runic Games’s incredible swan song, Hob, is nothing short of a masterpiece. You can feel the love and craft poured into every detail of this passion project. Hob has some of the absolute best world design I’ve ever seen in any game.. impressive and awe-inspiring at every turn. It’s the kind of experience that has to be played to be believed. I’ve truly never seen anything quite like it. The world is breathtaking, with its clockwork moving pieces constantly shifting and revealing new paths. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In the end, yes I liked it, though I did bother not to 100% it. Combat is very simplistic, so don't bother playing on higher difficulties, it's just not worth it and does not add anything, since you just respawn and carry on where you left off. The camera _always_ shows you what you need to know to proceed. If you don't find a path _you_ did no pay attention. Though there is some backtracking, esp. until you get the only ability that matters - the grappling hook. The game marvels with visual…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game has a really interesting premise and the artwork is quite nice, for the style. It sometimes crashes, but if you can put up with having to relaunch the game periodically or under certain circumstances, it is an interesting game and seems worth exploring. That said, the combat and movement controls are also done poorly enough to the point that I would not actually recommend the game to anyone. It's less a game that is fun to play and more one that might be fun to watch someone else…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So I kinda finished Hob, the sixth game of the year, and it is time to play my favorite PS1 game. I hope my whims are in the mood for this. They ought to be. 🤞
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a pretty game but dont mistake this to be like a zelda game. Yes, people call it zelda-LIKE and it kinda is but if zelda was more about the puzzles and less about the fighting. there's also a bit of backtracking but the game does marks things on the map so you have an idea where to find stuff later. During gameplay you can find sword bits, life parts, mp parts, and currency (for abilities and outfits you find). The story is told without intelligible dialog (some things make noises) so…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →“Death is a mug’s game!” In the fourteenth century Hob Gadling boasted he had too much to live for and wasn’t going to die. It’s the twenty-first century and even though there have been some changes, she still has too much to live for.
neutral · AI labelView post →I stumbled across Hob while scrolling through Steam and thought, “Alright, this looks interesting.” Picked it up on sale, booted it up… and honestly? At first I was confused. Then it crashed due to outdated graphics drivers. I almost wrote it off. I’m glad I didn’t. After fixing the driver issue and giving it another real shot, wow. I was hooked. The exploration is incredibly satisfying. You press a button, activate a mechanism, and suddenly the world shifts. Entire sections rise,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Some adventures speak best through the way the world opens in front of me Hob is a wordless action adventure built around exploration, environmental puzzles, light combat, and a world that physically changes as I repair it. What stood out most to me was that constant sense of transformation, because unlocking new paths and seeing areas reconnect made exploration feel genuinely rewarding. I also liked its art direction and quiet atmosphere, which give the whole journey a calm but mysterious…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely love this game! I wanted to replay it on Steam Deck, but unfortunately, it lags even on the lowest graphics settings (especially sad that the studio has closed, so I don’t think we’ll ever see a patch for Steam Deck support) I ended up playing HOB on Switch. They released the Definitive Edition there, which includes collectible concept art, that I adore! The game is still beautiful and fun to play! For everyone who likes search on the every corner for all the secrets - it's a great…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Technically very poor. Stutters incessantly and crashes after a while
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is one of those "I really want to like this game" cases. And I do, as the review states, though there are things to consider. Pros: - Fantastic visuals and a nice soundtrack to go with it. The animations of characters are done very well. - The game revolves around activating and cleansing the world which presents itself as one giant mechanism: you pull a lever, and the world around you shifts, unearthing platforms, passages and even entire biomes from the abyss, which is something that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I cannot recommend this game in 2026. I would classify this game as a Zelda-like. However, currently there are so many better Zelda-likes that Hob is not worth your time. I would highly recommend something else like Death's Door. There are no bosses, the enemies are pretty repetitive and very dumb, so the combat is not good. It is strange the combat is so bland from the team that made Torchlight. The overall world is pretty interesting because it is built like a giant puzzle box. You will push…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Legend of Hob: Underappreciated Treasure There’s dozens and dozens of Action/Adventure games that claim to be like The Legend of Zelda, but they aren’t even in the same galaxy. This is one of the few that comes close to that series’ prestige in this genre. Zelda didn’t invent the Action/Adventure genre, but it’s the most well known and one of the pinnacles of the genre. Its similarities are difficult to avoid comparison. So what is Hob? What if you made a top-down action/adventure game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's just not fun. Vague, empty, pointless other than going forward for an unannounced end or goal, the camera is atrocious. Repeatedly covers where you need to go, climb up, or jump to. The climbing UPwards doesn't register, pushing up will just run off a platform. Jumps lead to your darkness because mid-jump the camera changes and angle, and suddenly you aren't following the pipe, but falling to your death. You have zero control of the camera, yet the developers failed to make the camera…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Underrated game. A relic that actually reminds you of what a game is supposed to be like. Sort of lacks a modern game's polish tho.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →No spoiler review: This game is good, some might even call it a hidden gem. But it has many flaws and bugs. It is still enjoyable, well-made experience, that is neither amazing or bad. It is clear this game was made with a lot of love and passion, but also that this game is not finished. Or better said, they planned this game to be so much bigger, but time or money runed out. Yet this game is one of my favorite games I played this year. It is well-crafted experience, that is overall good. I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The design on the left is Hob, a wizard-hobo-conman, one of the characters in my new #dnd home game that is based on the Oregon Trail emigration. He was last seen filling skeins of clean drinking water to sell as “holy water” to unsuspecting rubes along the trail.
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a fun game with some mostly easy combat, decent puzzles, and secrets to find. Saves were generous. Fast travel was easy to use. Upgrades were fun to track down. A couple of times there was some frustration around what to do next, but with some patience I got there on my own.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →DON'T BUY ON 2026 ----------------------- The game crashes after the introduction credits. The support website from Runic Games is down. Most comments are from 2017. Unplayable.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hob is one of my favourite games of all time. It is a cute and beautiful world with a purely visually told story. The combat is simple as the focus is on solving puzzles. There is a linear path you can follow, or you can explore and find secrets along the way. There is very little handholding as to where to go most times, and you need to pay attention to the subtle hvisual hints on what to do and where to go next.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My 60th completed ✔️ game of 2025. #Hob Definitive edition was an interesting romp between layers of puzzles and secrets. I enjoyed my time with this game. Check it out.
positive · AI labelView post →I'm happy to say that I am addicted to both Hob and Drova - Forsaken Kin. 🤓 Here's a Short of Hob—please excuse the lack of definition. It's an easy game (even in Very Hard Difficulty) and focuses more on exploration than on combat but it has a very relaxing vibe to it. youtube.com/shorts/BADw2...
positive · AI labelView post →🕹️ This was the game from last night and since today has downloaded the last patch for Drova - Forsaken Kin, then I will play Hob soon after I finish Drova or after I finish Final Fantasy IX. But this game just felt so right for me. I need to play it soon. 😁 If you do try it, I hope you enjoy it. 🎮
positive · AI labelView post →Almost done with Hob (two collectibles and the final bossfight left). At its best it's a decent adventure game that visually plays to Runic Games' biggest strengths, but I can also see why it didn't rock the world.
neutral · AI labelView post →The game is wonderful. Nice SFX, fun movement and nice combat. The focus is clearly on the worldbuilding and it shines in that aspect. The only critique I would have is that at times the objective is slightly unclear. A wonderful short & sweet gem.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TMNT fighting game based on the IDW comic would go hard and all the furries would be into it thanks to Alopex, Old Hob, etc but Nickelodeon are cowards and would force it to be based on a cartoon
neutral · AI labelView post →One of the best games I have played It's very relaxing great story Just a generally fun
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Yeah I didn't like it. It was so boring doing the same sections again. It lacked biomes and variety. The enemys seem overpowered even though you improve your sword. The backtracking it's terrible since rarely adds anything. Also the rooms that have lore and the story, just don't explain anything. The story was told so badly, I couldn't understand anything. But I gotta say that "Runic Games" really put effort in it, especially in the desing and aesthetics of the world and the hero.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a HoB horror game……a scooby doo esque Best Friends video game….matter of fact can we just make like a full horror series that i can enjoy watching let’s plays of :)
neutral · AI labelView post →I knew UHH was made for me as I read the words “The Boondoggle Hob” in the original partly-redacted Patreon draft and the game has only gotten richer and wilder with age. All the magic of fairy and performance in one lyrical, poetic, welcoming package. So good I made a 22-ep actual play about it!
neutral · AI labelView post →#thesandman, #dreamling, #fanfic | 5.4k words (Ft. The Oldest Game | 5 rounds of Dream persuading Hob to stay in bed + 1 round of Hob conceding at the oldest trick that he could play) archiveofourown.org/works/436500...
neutral · AI labelView post →It's #ThrowbackThursday and we've got an updated version of an old monster: The Hob. The old version was made when the game was in its infancy and in a different style. The new one is next to Adanna & Ruby's sprites for comparison. What do you think? #game #pixelart #RPG 発 #ドット絵
neutral · AI labelView post →Ah, amazing, thank you! Now I have to download the game. Brothers in Hob!
positive · AI labelView post →This game is enjoyable for the first four hours, but after that, it becomes boring. While the map design is impressive, other aspects like combat, puzzles, and controls are just average. Additionally, the game is quite buggy towards the end; I found myself stuck in certain areas of the map and had to respawn.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Round 2 of Oatcake Bowl verses Pete and his OWA! Lovely game with lots of chat and laughing 🙂 Broke the drive and then ran in a couple of extra TD’s with Super Hob! #bloodbowl
neutral · AI labelView post →The art direction is stunning, but the gameplay is pretty simplistic, and it never does anything with it to go beyond being "pretty simplistic", so the more you play it the more it just gets...dull and uninteresting.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's nice, not complicated in "battles". A bit a lot of running around finding solutions. But good.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In short, this game is very beautiful, deep, and has a philosophical dimension, especially in explaining the two mysterious endings... I loved the game very much in terms of the gameplay, colors, and the global theme of the game... What I have wrong with it is the poor music/soundtrack, which if it was at the required level, would have taken the game to a completely different level. In addition to the lack of constant guidance on what I should do or where I should go, and this causes loss in…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A charming little game, well worth your time, if you ignore the camera issues sometimes
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very intriguing game. Exploration, platformer, metroidvania, puzzle, beautiful art so basically everything that I like. The only off putting thing for me was how gore it was. It didn't fit for me to this type of graphic. Thankfully you can turn it off in the menu. I love finding hidden paths to get all the items and upgrades! There are 2 endings depending on your final choice in the game ~~[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44342408-Sanctuary-for-Strange-People/]Check my curator's…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Amazing world created by Runic Games with a soundtrack of iconic Matt Uelmen known from Diablo I and II music, so sad that developers like this are disappearing from the market...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →@everyone Got a new game to do today, Hob. Join me for some cozy gaming and chill for a while. www.twitch.tv/rafalenal
neutral · AI labelView post →Lagspikes and low fps on steam deck makes this game barely playable at times. (Lowest settings)
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This has really been one of the nicest games I ever played and I'd say nice really is the best word for it. It absolutely excells at beauty and other than that, it's just been gentle. yes, there's cozy but it's on zelda level. The exploration is the real focus and it's so good at that. Essentially it's the perfect game to relax with. The game I'd really compare this too would be ocarina of time, but with more exploration and cooler. Requiers controler. Don't play with Keyboard and Mouse.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have a huge soft spot for Torchlight 1, and some of its magic definitely carried over to Hob - Runic loved environmental details and knew how to create a convincing illusion of scale. Shame the game is kinda janky on gameplay/technical level and feels like it abruptly ends a few hours too early.
neutral · AI labelView post →🔴 LIVE NOW! It's time for a new game! Let's explore the world of HOB ▶️ www.twitch.tv/timeclockervt
neutral · AI labelView post →Above the Veil Reposting one of the first stories Mod Hob Matt wrote inside the PlotWeaver Alpha demo: 📡 dystopian signal loops 🎭 trickster engineers 🌬️ rooftop rebellion Happy Sunday #IndieAuthor #ShortStory #SciFi #Substack #CreativeProcess #WritingCommunity open.substack.com/pub/plotweav...
neutral · AI labelView post →I have played all the way through Hob many times. The art is beautiful and the characters and creatures are cute. There's good progression and gameplay, with memorable views throughout the map. It's one of my favourite games and I recommend it to everyone. If you like metroidvanias, you may find this also scratches that itch.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →cool adventure game! Played on Steam Deck, it stutters heavily even with Proton Experimental, I do recommend you play it on pc.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Yes, this! Eternal strands is *huge* fun, and draws on a lot of good action/adventure game touchstones (darksiders, god of war, the sadly neglected Hob) without being totally derivative. *70% off* at the moment; do give it a try if the trailer at all strikes your fancy.
neutral · AI labelView post →I don't think the game is bad, just painfully mediocre. The entire gimmick of the game is that the world clicks into place. But it's not satisfying because you can't tell how things will click and what they were and what the pieces are. It's not interesting like watching a real mechanism run or be dismantled/build, because all the mechanisms are fake. This game doesn't require thinking, you can play it while being brain dead. I don't personally recommend it, but I know people who look…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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