ButWhyTho? recently got a chance to review The House of Hikmah, the narrative-driven 3D adventure exploring grief and legacy from the AAA veterans at newly formed indie developer Lunacy Studios. The game places focus on the Islamic Golden Age, setting it apart from others in the puzzle adventure genre and resonating positively with audiences.
Figures like Fatima al-Fihriya, the legendary founder who founded the University of al-Qarawiyyin, in 857-859 AD, in Fez, Morocco, the Syrian Mariam al-Astrulabi, the fabled Shia scholar, alchemist, and purported writer of the the Jabarian Corpus, Jabir Ibn Hayyan, Ibn Sinathe father of medicine, and others are your guides throughout the game, giving players insights into their accomplishments in chemistry, religious philosophy, academia, and more.
The House of Hikmah centers on the journey of Maya, a 14-year-old girl looking for answers in the wake of the death of her father. Throughout her story, she will meet these Islamic scholars, and they will provide not only a path forward in the game, but guidance on her path through grief. The game’s emphasis on non-combat encounters allows gamers to fully engage with the environment and the characters. The gameplay is focused on puzzle solving and platforming elements using an ancient heirloom passed down to Maya by her father.
Each of the scholars’ rooms is a puzzle you must solve. The answers to the puzzles aren’t immediately obvious, requiring you at times to try different applications of alchemy on key objects and navigate them through certain levels and platforms. Through your puzzle-solving and alchemical prowess, along with the constant interactions with famous scholars, the House of Hikmah engages your gaming mind to make you feel like a scholar yourself.
Maya’s journey will also put her at odds with The Widow. The game’s manifestation of grief. Maya will have to figure out how to overcome The Widow while she also learns more about her father and the lessons he passed down to her.
Read the full review here. The House of Hikmah is available now on Steam, for more information follow Lunacy Studios on Twitter/X.
