A House of Many Doors

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 331 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
A House of Many Doors Game Cover
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"A House of Many Doors" is a literary, turn-based RPG set in a surreal, procedurally generated universe. As a newly inducted member of the House, a massive spider-like structure containing countless rooms, you'll explore alien landscapes, encounter bizarre creatures, and uncover the mysteries of this ever-expanding reality. Negotiate, steal, and fight your way through procedurally generated text adventures to survive in this unique, immersive indie game.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 331 reviews
story75 positive mentions
stability36 negative mentions
  • The writing is exceptional, with captivating and imaginative storytelling that draws players into the bizarre world.
  • The game features a vast and diverse universe with numerous unique locations and characters, providing a rich exploration experience.
  • The combat system is more engaging than in similar games, allowing for strategic decision-making during encounters.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
  • Traveling between locations can become tedious due to the repetitive nature of the rooms and the slow pace of movement.
  • The user interface and controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and combat less enjoyable.
  • story249 mentions

    The story in "A House of Many Doors" is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and engaging world-building, often compared favorably to the narrative richness of "Sunless Sea." Players appreciate the intricate character arcs and branching quests that allow for meaningful choices, although some express frustration with gameplay mechanics that can detract from the storytelling experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy immersive, text-heavy narratives filled with unique lore and memorable characters.

    • “The writing, story, and world-building in this game are utterly fantastic.”
    • “The story is what sells this game alone and its world is the work of equal parts madness and genius.”
    • “This game is definitely not for everyone, but if you've got the time to hear one hell of a story, I can't recommend this one enough.”
    • “The travel using the train can be somewhat meh - there's a lot of repetition of the sorts of events you encounter while exploring, and there aren't too many of them, but I would still recommend it on the basis of the story if you can get past that.”
    • “The game is buggy as all hell, some storylines having progression stopping bugs, like crashing no matter what you choose at that point.”
    • “As a text-heavy, story-driven game, it's inexcusable that the game doesn't even display text properly on a high-resolution screen.”
  • gameplay130 mentions

    The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and mechanical roughness, often comparing it unfavorably to "Sunless Sea." While the core loop involves navigating a mechanical centipede through a series of rooms to complete tasks, the experience can feel tedious and bogged down by bugs and clunky mechanics. However, the game's rich storytelling, worldbuilding, and atmosphere are frequently highlighted as redeeming qualities that may appeal to those who prioritize narrative over gameplay complexity.

    • “The basic gameplay loop is pretty simple: you drive your train-on-legs through a series of rooms with randomly-generated obstacles, encounters, and/or enemies, and ferry goods between the various persistent locations (generally cities and the like).”
    • “The gameplay has a few minor glitches, but they very rarely, if at all, take away from the experience.”
    • “The mechanics follow on from what was established in Sunless Sea, but in many ways are improved: more interesting combat, a map with markers to track where you actually need to go, and a much better quest log are among a few of the new additions.”
    • “Many of the other reviews talk about buggy/poor gameplay, which was sort of true.”
    • “There's a lot of jank and unfinished content, which is to be expected of a game as expansive as this being coded and written by a single person.”
    • “The gameplay isn't amazing by any means, but it's incredibly immersive.”
  • graphics44 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered subpar, with many reviewers noting the use of basic assets and a low-budget aesthetic that detracts from the overall experience. However, the artwork, particularly in text sections, is praised for its creativity and mood, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. While some environments and visuals are appreciated, the lack of polish and coherence in graphical presentation often leads to frustration during gameplay.

    • “I could gush on for some time about the excellent artwork, the wonderful characters, and the frankly astounding writing, but I'd be here for several months.”
    • “Music and ambiance is creepy and fitting, graphics and style are complimentary as well: the perspective that you're a lone light in this vast and horrifying world is on-point.”
    • “The artwork is absolutely moody and gorgeous.”
    • “Rather than guiding a ship through an atmospheric continuous map, you're driving this kludgy tractor across individual map cells with crude graphics.”
    • “The graphics used leave much to be desired, but at least it's a spicy change of pace.”
    • “The graphics: on the other hand, are quite poor.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities, particularly its dark and gothic themes that enhance the overall experience. However, others find it repetitive and less impressive compared to other titles like "Sunless Sea." Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received for its ability to evoke emotion and complement the narrative, it may not satisfy those seeking a more varied or standout musical experience.

    • “Aided by enjoyable music and lovely scene-setting art at each location, The House of Many Doors is a place I would hate to live but sure love to visit.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are wonderful to fall into and just flirt with insanity as you explore.”
    • “The background music in particular is wonderful at blending ambient noise into the BGM, as well as evoking emotion once you get near the end of the game and have really come to understand what it all means.”
    • “Only place it lags behind notably and disappointingly is the music: it pales in comparison to Sunless Sea's wonderful OST.”
    • “The music, while I generally don't have a problem with it, is grating in some regions of the map—too loud and intrusive (up by Chimer, for instance).”
    • “Again, the composer had a formidable task: to make just a few tunes that the player will listen to non-stop, for dozens of hours (each big area has only one musical theme) without going crazy.”
  • atmosphere37 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and distinct qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional writing, art style, and sound design that enhance the overall experience. While some players note that the gameplay mechanics may not match the atmospheric depth, the rich narrative and detailed environments create a captivating world that draws players in. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to evoke a unique blend of horror and humor, making it a standout in terms of atmosphere.

    • “Every corner, every nook and cranny of this game just exudes atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are wonderful to fall into and just flirt with insanity as you explore.”
    • “A fantastic, atmospheric experience that takes all the literary excellence of its inspirations and condenses it into a world unlike any other.”
    • “Absolutely mesmerizing writing and atmosphere wrapped up in sub-par code.”
    • “Get it for the weird, creepy atmosphere, not for polish.”
    • “Worse music, worse writing, worse balance, atmosphere, and worse everything.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes affecting gameplay, particularly during combat and quest progression. While some players note that the issues can be overlooked due to strong writing and world-building, many agree that the game feels unpolished and reminiscent of an early alpha release. However, there are indications that the developer is actively addressing these problems with timely updates.

    • “The combat part is so buggy that it's like half of the time something breaks and the only way to fix it is to reload.”
    • “The game is buggy as all hell, some storylines having progression stopping bugs, like crashing no matter what you choose at that point.”
    • “I like this in concept, but six months down the line and the game is buggy as an alpha release (though still better when it was first released), crashing randomly, quests looping and terrain glitching in travel.”
  • grinding28 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding the travel and exploration tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game. However, many appreciate the rich writing and world-building, suggesting that while there are grindy elements, they are often offset by engaging content and a more streamlined experience compared to similar titles like "Sunless Sea." Overall, the game is seen as less grind-heavy than its predecessor, though some players still feel the exploration can become monotonous over time.

    • “Fuel becomes cheap, money easy to come by, and so travels just become this tedious waiting game filled with randomly placed, repetitive sprites.”
    • “However, after several hours of encountering this design choice, travel becomes less of an aesthetic pleasure and more of a grinding chore.”
    • “Eventually exploring will become tedious, as the map is quite large and the fast travel only works between certain locations.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark, clever, and silly elements, often juxtaposed with horror and bizarre scenarios. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and engaging characters, which contribute to a rich narrative filled with both comedic and poignant moments. Overall, the writing is praised for its confidence and ability to balance humor with darker themes, creating a uniquely entertaining experience.

    • “The writing is superb and the storylets themselves are full of both humor and darkness that I've not seen executed with as much confidence and flourish anywhere else.”
    • “The atmosphere is at once horrifying and humorous, the characters are delightful, and there are corgi-sized rhinoceroses!”
    • “Lots of silly or funny dialogue to keep it enjoyable and not taken too seriously.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, often experiencing profound feelings such as joy and sadness, particularly at the conclusion. While some narrative gaps weaken the emotional depth of certain NPCs, the overall content is engaging and reflects a heartfelt effort from the creators. The game successfully fosters attachment to its characters and events, leading to a memorable and impactful experience.

    • “I cried when I reached the end of the game, in a good way.”
    • “I rarely feel so attached to a game or character that I get emotionally involved in events to that degree, so I am overall pleased with that sort of connection.”
    • “For sheer gut-punch emotional impact, I'm going to put it up there with Personal 4, Fallen London, and a few other games.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers a significant amount of content and features various character backgrounds and quest outcomes, enhancing its replayability. While some reviews suggest a slight edge in replay value compared to similar titles, the potential for diverse experiences through different crew members and choices contributes to its appeal. With continued support, it could achieve a dedicated following due to its replayable nature.

    • “There is an extreme amount of content packed in, with a certain degree of replay value.”
    • “Different backgrounds on character creation and outcomes from quests, as well as being able to find different crew members gives some potential for replayability.”
    • “As far as replayability, maybe a slight advantage to Sunless Sea, but everything in the first sentence I mentioned goes to HOMD.”
    • “Different backgrounds on character creation and outcomes from quests, as well as being able to find different crew members, gives some potential for replayability.”
    • “With the right support and backing, I can see this game reaching cult status, especially due to its replayability.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for significant performance issues, including glitches, slowdowns, and crashes, particularly noted shortly after launch. Some players found that adjusting compatibility settings and power usage helped alleviate these problems, but the overall experience remains hampered by a lack of polish in combat and navigation.

    • “I don't want to spend ages crawling through dark passages to get to anything interesting, running away from NPCs because the less-than-stellar combat system relies more on luck than skill. I really don't want to be doing all that while the game mysteriously glitches and runs slowly, making the whole experience even more of a slog.”
    • “Some of the earlier reviews here, as well as other commentary I’ve seen online, seem to indicate that the game suffered from some performance issues shortly after launch, such as crashing and broken side quests.”
    • “Performance issues I found that changing compatibility to Windows 8 and switching power usage to high performance resolved the issue.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its extensive customization options and impactful narrative choices that resonate throughout the story, enhancing worldbuilding and character design. However, some players find the main gameplay mechanic of traveling to be tedious, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “You are offered a huge wealth of choice in your character design and your narrative decisions, and the consequences of those choices are constantly rippling through the house... and also occasionally your body, rip my character's entire heart, literally.”
    • “Really fun worldbuilding and story, cool character designs and art.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level.”
    • “Despite the initial promise of rich character arcs, the story ultimately falls flat, leaving characters feeling one-dimensional and unfulfilled.”
    • “The choices you make seem to have little impact on character growth, resulting in a disjointed experience that fails to engage the player emotionally.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of the game is viewed positively, especially for players who prefer a complete experience without in-app purchases, contrasting it with the more monetized model of its counterpart, "Fallen London." Players appreciate that "Sunless Sea" offers a full experience without the interruptions of microtransactions.

    • “If you've explored all of Sunless Sea, opened every possible ending, and feel like you've seen it all, this game is for you, especially if you dislike Fallen London for its in-app purchases.”
    • “The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to engage without feeling forced to make purchases.”
    • “If you've explored all of Sunless Sea, opened every possible ending, and feel like you've seen it all, but despise its cousin Fallen London for being a half mobile/half MMO game with in-app purchases, then this game might be for you.”
    • “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more to enjoy the full experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great hampered by aggressive monetization tactics.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

48hMedian play time
45hAverage play time
23-75hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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