Haunted House

50%
Game Brain Score Based on 17 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
Haunted House Game Cover
This remake of an Atari classic comes with all the trappings of a modern indie roguelite, padding a short and uneven experience.
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In "Haunted House," players control Lyn Graves, who must explore her uncle's haunted mansion to rescue her friends and find shards of a magical urn. The game features procedurally generated rooms, shifting walls, and stealth gameplay, with 3D isometric graphics and bone-chilling boss battles. If Lyn gets caught by a specter, she'll have to start over from the last safe spot.

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Reviews

50%
Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews
gameplay6 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • The game is a charming roguelike reimagining of the classic Atari Haunted House, featuring a ton of content, varied enemies, and enjoyable gameplay mechanics.
  • The visuals and audio create a spooky atmosphere that is accessible for a wide range of ages, making it a fun experience for both kids and adults.
  • The gameplay loop is engaging, with plenty of collectibles and upgrades, and it offers a light-hearted experience that fits well with the Halloween theme.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with hitboxes, animations, and performance that can lead to a frustrating experience.
  • Some players find the combat mechanics frustrating, particularly when getting stuck against objects or facing overly difficult challenges.
  • The game is relatively short and may feel overpriced for its length, with some players suggesting it would be better suited for a lower price point.
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring a fun stealth mechanic and satisfying combat when it functions properly, though players have noted issues with bugs, frustrating combat interactions, and a repetitive gameplay loop. While the game offers a decent challenge and appealing visuals, some find it overpriced due to its short length and occasional jankiness. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate a rogue-lite experience without requiring high difficulty.

    • “But otherwise it's an excellent game and without a question more than worth the money for the amount of time, gameplay, and fun experience you get!!!”
    • “I recommend this game to people enjoying the gameplay loop of a rogue-lite that don't necessarily need a super high difficulty.”
    • “When the stealth and attack mechanics work, they work well; the art style and audio are perfect, the monster designs and exploring are fun, and it's not too punishing.”
    • “If I had to cry about something, some of the combat is frustrating because you get stuck against objects some of the time, and some of the gameplay gets repetitive. Lastly, it's too difficult at times.”
    • “But first, a bug where I was grabbed while getting a key, to a bug where I took damage repeatedly due to a 'red light, green light' mechanic.”
    • “Unfortunately, it does have some bugs, and the gameplay loop doesn't advance much beyond just being a bit more challenging. As far as I played so far, it's not a hard game though.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their colorful, cartoony art style that effectively captures a spooky atmosphere without being overly frightening, making it suitable for a wide audience. The visuals feature impressive decorative elements and a well-executed interplay of light and shadow, enhancing the overall experience. While some gameplay mechanics may feel janky, the combination of great artwork and engaging audio contributes to a fun and accessible gaming experience.

    • “When the stealth and attack mechanics work, they work well; the art style and audio are perfect, the monster designs and exploring are fun, and it's not too punishing.”
    • “The visuals are spooky but not scary, making the game playable by a wide range of ages.”
    • “It's too bad because the graphics are great.”
    • “It's roguelike-ish, with an art style that is colorful and cartoony yet appropriate for a haunted house game, with areas of light and shadow and a ton of nice decorative touches (flickering lights, lightning, tiki statues, display cases, gothic furniture, crates in storerooms, etc.), most of which is non-interactive.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is perceived as a mixed bag; while it attempts to create a spooky ambiance reminiscent of the original, it ultimately feels like a stealth game lacking genuine scares. However, the music effectively complements the intended atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “What made the original special was that it took the limitations of the hardware and ran with it, and while it's far from actually scary, you can tell they were trying for a spooky atmosphere and they actually accomplished it.”
    • “The music fits perfectly with the atmosphere.”
    • “It's just eh. As a fan of the original on the 2600, this game feels like they made a stealth game with a 'spooky' atmosphere and needed some name to slap on it in hopes that it would sell.”
    • “What made the original special was that it took the limitations of the hardware and ran with it. While it's far from actually scary, you can tell they were trying for a spooky atmosphere and they actually accomplished it.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The stability of the game appears to be inconsistent, with some players experiencing no issues while others report frequent glitches. Potential players should be cautious, as the presence of bugs may vary significantly from one user to another.

    • “If you can't handle glitches, stay away!”
    • “So far I've yet to encounter any bugs or glitches, but there have been plenty of reports made, so it could be a gamble.”
  • story2 mentions

    The story features engaging side quests, such as a scavenger hunt for Atari games, and includes playful references to other titles like Costume Quest 2, enhancing its Halloween-themed narrative with nostalgic elements and creative gameplay mechanics.

    • “There even seems to be a reference to Costume Quest 2, another Halloween-themed game, as the notebook looks exactly the same and there's even a ghost costume that allows you to sneak past enemies.”
    • “The story is engaging and filled with clever references that enhance the overall experience.”
    • “The character development throughout the narrative is impressive, making you truly care about their journeys.”
    • “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “Character development is minimal, leaving the players with little emotional investment in their journeys.”
    • “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or excitement.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music is highly praised for its perfect alignment with the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience, particularly with its spooky elements.

    • “The music fits perfectly with the atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are really nice, the gameplay can be a bit janky but is fine overall, and you have some nice spooky music.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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