
Playtest report preview
HillthornWhat streamers ran into on Twitch
Card-based adventure investigating a mountain mystery through logic and intuition.
We listened to 8 Twitch streams of Hillthorn (6h 33m in total). The problem that came up most: unclear which actions work on which targets and when to explore or investigate, in 4 of 8 streams.
8 Twitch streams · 6h 33m analysed · English, Portuguese, French · analysed in the week of 26 Oct 2026 · Steam page
- Problems
- 28
- Ideas
- 1
- Highlights
- 9
Each problem, idea and highlight counts once, however often it came up. The timeline counts every moment: 115 in all.
Read what they actually saidFull report with quotes and VOD links · $49Events and lists
Featured in
Where the moments happened
Grey bars show when the streamer was talking. Each mark is one reported moment; select a type below to hide or show it.
- Stream 1, 45 min analysed: 21 problems, 4 highlights.
- Stream 2, 1h analysed: 3 problems, 1 suggestion or comparison.
- Stream 3, 49 min analysed: 6 problems, 1 highlight.
- Stream 4, 1h analysed: 16 problems, 4 highlights.
- Stream 5, 1h analysed: 8 problems, 7 highlights.
- Stream 6, 42 min analysed: 13 problems, 3 highlights.
- Stream 7, 37 min analysed: 4 problems, 2 suggestions or comparisons, 9 highlights.
- Stream 8, 40 min analysed: 9 problems, 1 suggestion or comparison, 3 highlights.
Problems (28)
Bugs, confusion, frustration and the moments players gave up. The ones most streams ran into come first.
- #1Confusion
unclear which actions work on which targets and when to explore or investigate
4 of 8 streams · 13 moments
13 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #2Confusion
unclear what carries over when the day resets
2 of 8 streams · 7 moments
7 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #3Confusion
trail direction panels are confusing to use and leave
2 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #4Confusion
current time of night is hard to read from the clock
2 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #5Confusion
radio toggle only mutes music and its behaviour is unclear
2 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #19Frustration
time advances unintentionally through the pocket watch
2 of 8 streams · 4 moments
4 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #20Frustration
inn patron card moves around by itself and annoys players
2 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #6Confusion
unclear which cards can be combined or used in conversation
1 of 8 streams · 5 moments
5 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #7Confusion
answer tags like doubts and suspicious are not explained
1 of 8 streams · 4 moments
4 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #8Confusion
unclear what the bed, time and midnight do
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #9Confusion
next steps and required items in the village are unclear
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #10Confusion
no clear hint on what to do next in a case
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #11Confusion
demo ends abruptly without explanation
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #21Frustration
audio swings between near silence and sudden loud music
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #22Frustration
trail maze route is hard to decode and loops back
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #23Frustration
sudden ambush death with no way to react
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #24Frustration
buying a beer for the patron backfires
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #12Confusion
unclear what investigating and exploring actually do on cards
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #13Confusion
investigation controls and coin use need figuring out
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #14Confusion
time controls and clock display are unclear
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #15Confusion
entrance panel looks like a computer at first
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #16Confusion
restart after death asks to wipe the save
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #17Confusion
sensitive content screen looks like a choice but is only a warning
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #18Confusion
unclear whether a new contract needs any action
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #25Frustration
card table gets crowded and easy to scramble
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #26Frustration
demo ends too soon and leaves players wanting more
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #27Frustration
innkeeper gives no useful answers to questions
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #28Frustration
money is tight when trading for a key
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report
Suggestions and comparisons (1)
What players asked for, and which games they compared yours to.
- #29Suggestion
no place to record clues learned from characters
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report
What landed (9)
Moments players clearly enjoyed.
- #30Highlight
card-based investigation core loop is liked
6 of 8 streams · 15 moments
15 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #31Highlight
music and visual style are praised
2 of 8 streams · 4 moments
4 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #32Highlight
card size option helps readability and card handling is appreciated
2 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #33Highlight
wordless card clues and feedback on tried cards are easy to read
1 of 8 streams · 3 moments
3 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #34Highlight
investigation cards, clue reminders and eerie audio land well
1 of 8 streams · 4 moments
4 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #35Highlight
animated drunk patron card is charming
1 of 8 streams · 2 moments
2 quotes + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #36Highlight
dark humorous location writing
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #37Highlight
direction panels for the trail maze impress
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report - #38Highlight
scenery and location presentation changes are charming
1 of 8 streams · 1 moment
1 quote + ▶ timestamps in the full report
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