The Council - Episode 2: Hide and Seek DLC

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 233: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (8/10) Episode 2 picks up right after the cliffhanger of Episode 1, and wastes no time raising the stakes. It’s a bit slower in pace, but the intrigue ramps up with more political maneuvering, weirder lore hints, and the welcome feeling that your choices are truly starting to matter. [i]The Council’s [/i]unique blend of RPG mechanics and social deduction continues to evolve here, even if some awkward writing and pacing issues persist. Episode 2 of [i]The Council[/i] isn’t as flashy as the first, but it’s a solid deepening of the mystery. It invests more in character dynamics, lore building, and puzzle complexity, which will pay off if you're hooked on the story. The pacing can drag, and the writing still wobbles, but there’s something compelling about how personal and political everything is becoming. If you’re in for the long haul, [i]Hide and Seek[/i] proves the game’s willing to go places—and it’s getting seriously weird. 👁️‍🗨️[b] Pros: [/b] [list] [*] Dialogue-heavy gameplay with genuine consequences. The conversations are still the main course, and they remain surprisingly tense and strategic. Every skill you’ve leveled influences what you can say or do, and failure often locks you out of major revelations. You feel like you're playing a political RPG, not just watching one. [*] More lore, more questions. Episode 2 starts to lean into the strange, mythological underpinnings of the narrative. You’re no longer just dealing with missing people and secret meetings; there’s something bigger going on, and it’s exciting watching the layers slowly peel back. [*] Your choices start bearing fruit. Episode 1 was setup; this one starts to show payoff. Different characters react to you based on past decisions. Entire scenes can play out differently. It gives real weight to your roleplaying, and multiple playthroughs are clearly encouraged. [*] The atmosphere continues to impress. The manor is still beautiful and eerie, and the lighting and music continue to support the creeping unease. The setting hasn’t changed much, but it doesn’t have to—the tension is in the people, not the place. [/list] 🗝️[b] Cons:[/b] [list] [*] Pacing issues in the first half. There’s a lot of walking, talking, and… not much else for the first hour or so. The story needs that buildup, but it can feel a little stagnant if you’re expecting action or drama early on. It’s a slow burn—and occasionally too slow. [*] The dialogue can be clunky. The writing is a little rough in places, and some lines feel either awkward or too on-the-nose. Combine that with inconsistent voice acting, and there are moments where conversations feel stiff instead of charged. [*] Still not a lot of room to breathe. Because the game tracks almost everything you do, there’s pressure to get it right on the first go. Some players may feel punished for not having the “correct” skill or for failing a check they didn’t expect to matter. [*] A few characters are still underdeveloped. While some (like Mortimer or Emily) remain interesting, others still feel like they haven’t had their moment to shine yet. You’re surrounded by historical titans, but only a few are getting meaningful arcs—for now. [/list]