Hole Games

How it works

A hole game puts you in charge of a hole in the ground. Slide it under an object that is smaller than the opening and the object tips over the edge and drops in. Every swallowed item makes the hole a little wider, so things that were too big a minute ago now fit. Most rounds run against a clock, and the score is how much you ate before it ran out.

The pleasure is the growth curve. You start by nibbling crumbs and finish by gulping down benches, cars and houses. A good round is a route: sweep up clusters of small things to grow fast, then move on to the next size of object as soon as it fits.

What makes a good one

• Clear feedback when something is too big, so you are never left wondering why it will not fall.
• Smooth, satisfying swallowing: objects should tip and drop, not just vanish.
• A camera that pulls back as you grow, so you can always see what is coming.
• Short rounds and an instant retry.
• Honest competition. If the rivals on the map are computer players, the game should say so.

Strategies that help

Clear clusters first. Groups of small items give the fastest early growth and build a streak.

Aim just below your size. Items that only just fit grow you the most per bite.

Plan a loop. Sweep the map in one big circuit instead of zigzagging back for scraps.

Leave the giants. Do not chase the biggest object until you are sure it fits; circling it wastes the clock.

Our take

Our hole game is Snack Hole. You start on a picnic blanket, and each time you grow enough the camera pulls out and the place you just ate becomes a small prop in a bigger world: a park, then a town, then a bay. Cravings give you a route to plan, and a Daily Feast is the same map for everyone.