BUGHOUSE
- July 1, 2022
- Disrate Studios
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Bughouse" is a horror action game where you play as Christopher, a boy trying to survive a night alone in his home while being stalked by a terrifying intruder. The game features tense stealth mechanics, multiple endings, and experimental horror elements, with PS1-inspired visuals and a haunting soundtrack. Explore the fully interactive world, discover hidden secrets, and try to evade the Night Stalker to reach one of the game's many endings.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game has a very atmospheric and creepy vibe, especially as it progresses.
- It's a short and straightforward experience that effectively satisfies the scary game itch.
- The sound design and music are excellent, contributing to the overall tension and immersion.
- The gameplay can feel sparse and is more focused on narrative than interactive mechanics.
- The story is predictable and lacks significant twists, which may disappoint some players.
- The game is very short, taking around 30-45 minutes to complete, which may not justify the experience for some.
- story68 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of dark themes and simple horror elements, told through diaries and notes, which some players found engaging and unique, while others considered it basic and predictable. The pacing and atmosphere received praise, with a few noting that the narrative takes an interesting turn in the second half. Overall, opinions vary, with some enjoying the spooky undertones and character development, while others felt the story lacked depth and originality.
“Another thing I like is how the story is told, through diaries and news articles.”
“The story went in a vastly different direction than I would have assumed, especially when you consider it in the context of the larger plot.”
“The story itself is very obvious and told through notes without any sort of twist; the graphics are what you see on the screenshots, very ugly and simple and without much personality.”
“Average basic horror story that has been done too many times.”
“The story actually is pretty dark, so it could be hit or miss for people.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a low-resolution, pixel art style reminiscent of PS1 aesthetics, which some players appreciate for its nostalgic and atmospheric qualities. While opinions vary, many reviewers find the visuals to effectively complement the horror elements and overall experience, despite being described as simple or lacking in personality. Overall, the graphics align well with the intended "puppet combo-esque" vibe, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of this genre.
“Bughouse is a great game for the first run through if you like the PS1 graphic style.”
“The atmosphere is good and the graphics do complement it pretty well.”
“If you've ever played any Puppet Combo, this game is in the similar vein of PSX graphics, and a creepy build-up to the payoff.”
“The story itself is very obvious and told through notes without any sort of twist; the graphics are what you see on the screenshots, very ugly and simple and without much personality.”
“Visuals are weird, but the gameplay is really light.”
“It's a pixel graphics art style, so it's not the best graphics, but that's the style they were going for.”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive atmosphere, which effectively heightens the creepy factor as the experience progresses. Players appreciate the strong sound design and visual style that complement the narrative, creating a chilling environment filled with unexpected twists and occasional jump scares. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both engaging and unsettling, contributing significantly to the game's horror experience.
“This game was really atmospheric and I actually got a little spooked while playing it.”
“The sound design was great, and while the visual style isn't what I expected, it certainly fits the narrative and atmosphere.”
“It’s pretty oppressive in its atmosphere, often drowning your thoughts, numbing you, with huge sound effects and sudden, bombastic shifts in score.”
“There isn't much to this game in terms of gameplay, however, for the price it offers a few good scares and a chilling and frightening atmosphere.”
“Some jumpscares, some backstory on Christopher that unfolds, you find out who Eric is, couple endings, home invader vibes of a possible deadly hide and seek, creepy dark atmosphere as you battle the awful wiring of the house.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is largely criticized for being simplistic and lacking depth, often described as a walking simulator with minimal mechanics and scripted chase scenes that undermine the stealth elements. While some players appreciate the ease of gameplay and the nostalgic aesthetic, many feel that the game prioritizes its narrative over engaging gameplay, leading to a disappointing experience overall.
“Gameplay is easy to get to grips with and it doesn’t outstay its welcome.”
“The gameplay is pretty good for a $2 game.”
“Problem for me is the false advertising; there is not terrifying AI, there are only two mostly scripted chase scenes where there is absolutely no point to the stealth. It's largely a walking simulator, no puzzles and no other mechanics really. The game talks about how if you turn on too many lights you should be worried about blackouts, except the blackouts happen at intervals, and it's so badly programmed that these intervals will happen even if the lights are already out. You'll just hear the noise of the generator being turned off when it's already off.”
“Actually, all mechanics in this game seem to do nothing.”
“Visuals are weird, but the gameplay is really light.”
- music20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to create a tense and unsettling atmosphere, enhancing the overall horror experience. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack, composed by Alexander Bruyns, effectively complements the game's visuals and sound design, contributing to moments of genuine fear and discomfort. Many found the early introduction of unnerving music particularly impactful, setting the tone for the gameplay.
“The story was good, and the music created a nice and tense atmosphere.”
“The sound design and music were phenomenal.”
“But one thing that I found strange is that unnerving music started playing not even 5 minutes into the game.”
“The first time the lights went out and that music started playing, I hid in a corner for 5 minutes straight just waiting for something to come.”
“The background sounds and music fit very well, giving you a weird and uncomfortable feeling passing through the passages in the house.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with multiple users reporting that the performance is perfect across various systems.
“Performance is perfect.”
“Performance is perfect.”
“Performance is perfect.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of tasks like repeatedly going to the basement. Many feel that the amount of grinding required is excessive, suggesting it could take a significant time investment to progress.
“It's a little tedious going to the basement over and over.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability due to the presence of two different endings, encouraging players to experience the story from multiple perspectives.
“There are two endings, I believe, so you do have a little bit of replayability.”
