Hollowbrook – Apartments

Hollowbrook – Apartments is a narrative exploration game focused on a single location and a single night. The player takes the role of Jenny, a new tenant who becomes trapped in her apartment building during a storm. The environment acts as both setting and system—every room, hallway, and object contributes to the story’s progression. The player’s actions shape what unfolds, creating a sequence of events that changes slightly with each decision. The design focuses on spatial awareness and consequence within a limited space.

Gameplay Structure and Mechanics

The game unfolds entirely within the apartment complex. Movement is slow and deliberate, emphasizing inspection and reaction rather than action or combat. Doors, notes, and environmental cues reveal fragments of information that must be pieced together to continue. Hollowbrook – Apartments uses checkpoints that return the player to recent moments if Jenny fails to survive certain events. This structure supports multiple attempts while keeping the experience confined to one consistent environment, reinforcing tension through repetition.

Progression Cycle

The typical playthrough follows a clear cycle of interaction:

·         Begin the evening as Jenny settles into her new home.

·         Explore the apartment and uncover objects tied to recent activity.

·         Respond to prompts that demand decisions or risk.

·         Reach a checkpoint when the situation escalates or restarts.

·         Continue until the storm subsides or a conclusion is reached.

This loop allows the story to move forward through discovery and reaction rather than through linear progression.

Narrative Direction

The focus remains on Jenny’s relationship to the space she inhabits. The building functions as a record of previous tenants, unexplained disturbances, and hidden connections between floors. Each decision—whether to open a door, inspect an item, or ignore a sound—changes the sequence of events. The game avoids external exposition, letting the environment carry the story’s weight. The result is a system where the apartment complex itself becomes the primary storytelling device.

Development Overview

Developed by Yetiface Games, Hollowbrook – Apartments is presented as a short, self-contained entry in the broader Hollowbrook setting. It was released for PC in 2025 and designed for sessions lasting under two hours. The project focuses on condensed design principles: minimal interface, controlled pacing, and feedback through environment rather than dialogue. Its structure demonstrates how a limited physical space can sustain an entire interactive narrative without relying on traditional progression systems.