“Where is Olivia?” it’s a question Hillthorn, a card game that combines horror and mystery all in one, asks. Through cards as the player goes on the journey to find Olivia.
In the deck of cards, there are cards encompassing items, people, places, actions and more. Through the cards, the main setting of the game is a village, as a village card is open and prominent, however, there are unsettling things at play, as a set of animal headed characters sit around two wine cards, and the occult power symbolism is too hard to miss. This simple village has something sinister under its wing. A book shows all the headed creatures with bloody hands, before a knock signals the very start of the game.
A lady comes in with a missing poster for Olivia, the player starts compiling the cards together to start working things out. The first few unveil Olivia’s love life with this “Jeremiah” who is also nowhere to be found. Hillthorn is then revealed to be the mountain, where the player heads to. There are multiple places to check and the place cards reflect it, from an “Inn,” “Manor,” “School” and more. There’s a hint glass, for those who need help. Enter buildings and a “Locked Door,” which a clothed figure with a cross necklace walks in from. There are some neat aspects of the game like “Mother’s Gaze” which gives a viewpoint previously unseen.
The player seems to find a “figure” and he tries to find its location. There are mini games inside, such as finding the numbers to pick a lock. The game has a time limit as it’s stated “Solve it before Midnight.” As the explorations continue, it seems to lead to a somewhat dead end as there’s an “Axe” and a “Hanged Body.” After that a clock reverses and the search continues, however, the cards show that the player knows something is up and even a time reversal may be at play. A question is posed, “Can You save Olivia?” as an in depth search into the people in animal heads ensue. Leading to the discovery of cult leader like card options, and cards to either “Escape” “Panic” or “Scratch” before a bear card comes on the deck. In the end, a crowd is set on fire. The Fool Moon, Finnegan Motors game, is on Mobile, Steam and Nintendo Switch, via Raw Fury.