Haunt the House: Terrortown

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In "Haunt the House: Terrortown" , you play as a ghost tasked with haunting various locations, including a museum, hospital, theater, and cruise ship, using different objects' unique scare powers. The game features vibrant locations, a diverse cast of townsfolk, and a secret second goal beyond scaring everyone. With its clever mix of emotional depth, mischief, and creepy fun, it's an engaging side-scrolling action puzzle game best suited for Halloween.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,009 reviews

graphics73 positive mentions

stability24 negative mentions

Charming art style and cute animations that enhance the overall experience.
Fun and lighthearted gameplay that allows players to creatively scare away characters.
Nostalgic value for fans of the original flash game, with additional content and levels.

Extremely short gameplay, often completed in under an hour, leading to limited replay value.
Frequent bugs and crashes, particularly with the AI getting stuck or the game freezing.
Repetitive mechanics that can become tedious, especially when trying to scare the last few characters.

graphics
141 mentions
52 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and unique art style, often described as cute, colorful, and reminiscent of a whimsical cartoon. Players appreciate the delightful animations and overall aesthetic, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive despite the appealing visuals. Overall, the game's graphics stand out as a major highlight, enhancing the fun and nostalgic experience.
- “The art style is absolutely charming and the different scares are creative and fun to execute.”
- “The hand-drawn visuals exude a playful and whimsical quality, with each character and location exquisitely designed.”
- “The graphics are cute and creepy in a way that's distinctly different from nearly every other cute and creepy game.”
- “Maybe the visuals could've carried it for the hour or two it takes to beat, but the repeated crashes are the final nail in the coffin.”
- “Nothing game breaking or that required restarting the scenario from scratch, but it took away from the otherwise polished feel of the game (mostly from the graphics).”
- “I found some glitches with the graphics, but they're just minor problems.”
gameplay
135 mentions
31 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Haunt the House: Terrortown" is characterized by its simplicity and repetitiveness, with players controlling a ghost to scare away humans using basic mechanics. While the charming visuals and lighthearted atmosphere enhance the experience, many reviewers noted that the lack of depth and variety in gameplay can lead to frustration and boredom over time. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit short, experience that may appeal more to younger audiences or those seeking a casual, nostalgic game.
- “With its charming art style, clever gameplay mechanics, and lighthearted atmosphere, Haunt the House: Terrortown is a perfect choice for those seeking a spooky but fun experience.”
- “The intuitive controls make it easy to navigate the environments and unleash your spectral powers, adding to the enjoyment of the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simple and it's remarkably fulfilling when you really scare a room and all the little people run out screaming.”
- “I respect the flash game nostalgia of many of the positive comments here, but the gameplay is too repetitive and frustrating for me to recommend it to anyone.”
- “The gameplay is non-existent and what's there is extremely frustrating.”
- “Unfortunately, simplistic mechanics and the brevity of this game make it hard to recommend.”
music
101 mentions
53 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of whimsy and eeriness. Many players find the soundtrack nostalgic and enjoyable, contributing significantly to the game's charm, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of delightful music and vibrant art style makes the game a worthwhile experience for many players.
- “Amazing music (totally worth getting the soundtrack!!), very pretty to look at (cute and vibrant colors!), and has a nostalgic feeling... overall, worth the money!”
- “The game's soundtrack and sound effects contribute to the whimsical ambiance, creating an immersive and enjoyable experience.”
- “The music ties in extremely well and makes the game even more enjoyable.”
- “And the music is sure to give you nightmares... or at least a headache.”
- “It's like listening to a horror movie soundtrack on repeat while being haunted by your own thoughts... and a particularly annoying neighbor.”
- “The soundtrack didn't really fit either - I know the game is presented with cutesy aesthetics, but I was hoping that there would be some dark undertones present.”
humor
56 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is widely praised for its quirky interactions, amusing animations, and the hilarious reactions of characters as players scare them. Many reviewers highlight the nostalgic charm and lighthearted fun, noting that the comedic elements, while sometimes repetitive, provide a delightful experience that keeps players laughing throughout. Overall, it is described as a cute and funny game that effectively combines spooky themes with a playful sense of humor.
- “The game's humor shines through the quirky interactions and amusing reactions of the townsfolk.”
- “Very funny game, I love the adorable ghosts and scaring the crap out of the humans.”
- “It's cute, it's fun, and it's got a morbid sense of humor.”
story
49 mentions
18 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The story in "Haunt the House: Terrortown" is largely considered minimal and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels almost non-existent or irrelevant to the gameplay. While some players appreciate the cute and whimsical elements, they express a desire for a more developed narrative to enhance the experience. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on gameplay mechanics and charm rather than a compelling storyline.
- “This is a true story about a unique experience.”
- “Being able to play as the pigtailed ghost and the unique noises and faces each ghost has is enjoyable and the story is cute too!”
- “The story is also interesting (and short xd)”
- “In this game, the story is pretty much irrelevant.”
- “Although it might seem temporarily that it has story to it, there really isn't that much depth.”
- “There's not much story or development, but the game definitely makes you giggle.”
replayability
39 mentions
36 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Replayability in the game varies significantly among players, with some praising the ability to experiment with different scare combinations and tactics, while others criticize the lack of substantial content after completion. Many reviews highlight that while the game is short, it offers some replay value through achievements and unlockable ghosts, though opinions on its overall replayability range from low to moderate. Overall, the game provides a fun experience with potential for replay, particularly for achievement hunters, but may not satisfy those seeking deeper content.
- “However, the game's replayability lies in discovering new scare combinations, experimenting with different tactics, and striving for high scores, providing some longevity to the experience.”
- “In spite of how fast it goes, all the different item combinations -- as well as being able to play different ghosts you can unlock throughout the game -- allows for lots of replayability.”
- “The graphics are terrific, the sound effects are top-notch, and there is lots of replayability to get all the achievements and use the new ghosts to scare people away.”
- “Beside achievements, there is no replay value.”
- “Short game with little replayability outside of achievements.”
- “If you played the flash demo, this game is a pretty good expansion, but the biggest flaw is that after completing the game, there's really no replay value.”
atmosphere
35 mentions
23 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a blend of spooky and lighthearted elements, enhanced by charming art styles, clever gameplay mechanics, and engaging soundtracks. Players appreciate the balance between genuine scares and playful moments, with an atmosphere meter that adds depth to the experience. Overall, the game's delightful ambiance, characterized by whimsical visuals and effective sound design, contributes significantly to its charm and enjoyment.
- “With its charming art style, clever gameplay mechanics, and lighthearted atmosphere, Haunt the House: Terrortown is a perfect choice for those seeking a spooky but fun experience.”
- “The combination of haunting melodies, atmospheric sounds, and comedic moments enhances the overall charm of the game.”
- “They nailed the atmosphere with the art and music direction.”
- “On top of that, certain systems like the atmosphere meter don't seem to serve much purpose or to mesh well with anything else in the game.”
- “The music and atmosphere can also keep you invested, but sadly the original 'Quiet Slumber' is not here.”
- “Thus trying to chase them one by one from the location with objects you've already used a lot turns the game into a chore, however charming the atmosphere.”
stability
25 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game is frequently criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of freezing, crashing, and various glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some players find it still enjoyable despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game is quite buggy, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the developers' commitment to addressing these problems.
- “Freezes constantly, don't waste your money.”
- “As other reviewers have said, it freezes often and the developers don't seem to have any intention of doing anything about it.”
- “Cons: the game freezes and crashes at random, typically during the redesigned flash-version level.”
grinding
19 mentions
5 % positive mentions
11 % neutral mentions
84 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when trying to complete achievements or deal with lingering NPCs. While the game offers enjoyable moments and a nostalgic atmosphere, the grinding can detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a time-consuming chore than a fun challenge. Despite these drawbacks, some players still appreciate the game's charm and art style.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I love the art style and the different animations, but I simply find the game too tedious to play.”
- “Couldn't get past the first level because it was boring, tedious, and repetitive, as the last 10 NPCs just would not leave no matter how scared they were, and there seemed to be no pattern or logic for how they behaved, whether they ran away from scares or towards them.”
- “Only downside I can give is that some of the achievements (possess every object in level, use every spook in level; both in one playthrough) can be rather tedious while a few are challenging (10 jumpers, no jumpers) and require multiple replay attempts (which is what the game was meant for).”
emotional
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a unique blend of haunting yet heartwarming experiences, evoking feelings of nostalgia and connection. However, some players noted a boring storyline and raised concerns about potential themes of emotional abuse and suicide, which may affect the overall emotional impact for certain audiences.
- “It's the game that made haunting feel oddly heartwarming.”
- “I just like the way it made me feel.”
- “[b]Content warning(s)[/b]: (potential) emotional abuse and (potential) suicide”
- “The storyline felt incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
- “I found the emotional depth lacking; it just didn't resonate with me.”
- “The characters were one-dimensional, making it hard to connect on any emotional level.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of "haunt the house" is viewed as somewhat steep at $4.99 for its short gameplay, but players generally agree that it does not feel like a cash grab, indicating a fair value for the experience provided.
- “$4.99 is a bit much for this short of a game, but this isn't a cash grab by any means.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted through distinctive designs that enhance the overall experience, contributing to a unique and immersive environment.