Why You Should Play Hohokum

Hohokum is a video game that came out in 2014 on the PlayStation Store. Developed by HoneySlug, players are transported to an abstract universe filled with different stories and art pieces to discover. It is an incredibly free form experience that is an absolute joy to interact with. It works especially well for people uninitiated with gaming. Recently the game has been re-released on Steam for $10, so I thought it was time to talk about why I think everyone should at least try this game.

Hohokum released as an ‘art first’ game. Meaning most indie games at the time were trying to appease the gamer audience through being a game neatly tied to a specific genre, like Platformer, Puzzle, or Adventure. Hohokum at its core is an exploration game. You go from portal to portal looking for more of your kind, and seeing what new toys and things do in the different worlds you visit. In one world you might be trying to rescue a captive monkey in a colorful forest, in another you could be helping the people plant trees, or even just be there as a transportation vehicle for an individual.