Hohokum

Lore & Background

Hohokum is an art game developed by British studio Honeyslug in collaboration with artist Richard Hogg and Santa Monica Studio, beginning in 2008. The developers compared the concept to flying a kite, aiming to create a game without commands, failure, or challenges to advance. Early prototypes included a top-down game similar to Flow, a platformer with a jetpack, and a mini-golf game. The team drew inspiration from free London museums such as the National Maritime Museum, Natural History Museum, and Imperial War Museum, as well as Portmeirion in North Wales and the festival costumes of the Selkʼnam people of southern Argentina. The game's title is based on a misspelling of the Hohokam archaeological culture of the American Southwest.

Reader's Guide

Hohokum is notable for its deliberate rejection of conventional game design, offering a non-linear experience with no score, time limit, or tutorial. The player controls the Long Mover, a multicolored serpent that changes color based on direction, using only two buttons to slow or accelerate and triggers to wiggle for a boost. The game communicates through visual and audial cues, with each of the 17 worlds featuring unique characters, a primary goal, and secondary activities. The soundtrack, composed of licensed and original tracks from Ghostly International artists, is split into layers that respond to gameplay. Critics appreciated the game's presentation but found the objectives too vague and the gameplay drudgery toward the end. The game was a PlayStation Plus free title in May 2015, and Honeyslug disbanded in late 2015.

Did You Know?

• The Long Mover's name references a snake in a skit by British comedy troupe The Mighty Boosh.
• The game's 'Fun Fair' level was based on Portmeirion in North Wales.
• Honeyslug put the game on hold for a year starting in 2011 to develop Frobisher Says.
• The game was selected as an E3 2013 Editor's Choice by Polygon.