Hollow Meridian review: the open-world RPG that finally trusts the player
Forty hours in the salt flats of Meridian, and almost none of them spent following a waypoint. It is the most confident console RPG of the year.
9.2What it gets right
The opening hours make a promise that the rest of the game keeps. Systems are introduced one at a time, each with enough room to breathe, and the game rarely stops to explain something you could work out by playing. On a current-generation console in performance mode we measured a steady 60 frames per second outside of two crowded hub areas.
Combat rewards attention more than reflexes. Enemy tells are readable, the dodge window is generous without being free, and difficulty options adjust damage and timing separately. That last detail matters more than any marketing bullet point.
It respects your evening. Sessions end at natural stopping points, and the autosave never cost us more than a minute.
Where it stumbles
Inventory management is the weak point. Sorting options are limited, and comparing two pieces of gear takes three button presses too many. A day-one patch improved text size, but the map legend is still hard to read from a sofa.
Performance and options
- Performance mode: 60fps target, dynamic resolution
- Quality mode: 30fps with higher-detail shadows and draw distance
- Full button remapping, subtitle sizing and a high-contrast mode
Essential
Jules Norwyn
Jules Norwyn writes about all gaming topics. He covers games, news, guides, reviews, gear, and the wider world of play. He starts with the choices that readers face when picking a game. His posts compare options in a way that is easy to follow. He explains who each choice might suit and why. Jules enjoys board games, tidy shelves, and films about clever thieves. He likes a good plan but leaves room for surprises. His friendly writing helps readers sort through details without feeling rushed. He wants people to find useful answers and choose games that fit their own tastes.
