The three spots everyone gets stuck in Hollow Tide

Hollow Tide is a quiet, lovely adventure, but a few of its environmental puzzles stop people cold. We compared notes across the team and the same three spots came up every time, so here are spoiler-light hints to get you moving again.

The flooded cellar. Everyone tries to find a key here and there isn't one — the answer is the water level. Look for a valve you've probably walked past and think about what lowering the water reveals.

The clock tower. This one rewards reading. One of the old notes you can pick up earlier tells you the sequence; if you skimmed it, go back and read it properly before touching the mechanism.

The harbor crane. People get stuck because they assume it's broken. It isn't — it just needs power rerouted from somewhere nearby, and the clue is in a photo tucked in the harbormaster's office.

If you're still stuck anywhere, slow down and listen. The sound design often hints where to look next, which is a lovely touch and genuinely useful once you notice it.