Haunted House

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 40 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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 40 reviews
gameplay12 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • The game offers a ton of content with varied enemies, different rooms, and engaging goals, making it a fun and enjoyable experience.
  • The art style and music create a charming atmosphere that is accessible for a wide range of players, including children.
  • The stealth mechanics and item management provide a satisfying gameplay loop, reminiscent of classic roguelikes while being less punishing.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including hitbox issues, softlocks, and performance problems that can make it unplayable after extended sessions.
  • Some players find the gameplay repetitive and the difficulty spikes frustrating, particularly with the need to restart sections after dying.
  • The game is considered short for the genre, leading to concerns about its value and replayability, especially at its current price point.
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring a fun stealth mechanic and satisfying combat when it functions properly, though players report issues with bugs, frustrating combat interactions, and a repetitive gameplay loop. While the game is accessible and visually appealing, some find it overpriced due to its short length and occasional difficulty spikes. Overall, it offers a decent experience for fans of rogue-lite games, despite its shortcomings.

    • “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!”
    • “Using the stealth mechanic - which is quite fun overall including covering your light and hiding in shadows - to sneak up behind enemies and blast them is very fun and satisfying.”
    • “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.”
    • “Some of the combat is frustrating because you get stuck against objects at times, and some of the gameplay gets repetitive. Additionally, it can be too difficult at times.”
    • “I encountered a bug where I was grabbed while getting a key, and another 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. It's not a hard game, though.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their colorful, cartoony art style that effectively captures a spooky yet accessible atmosphere suitable for a wide range of ages. With impressive decorative details and a blend of light and shadow, the visuals enhance the gameplay experience, despite some minor jankiness in mechanics. Overall, the artwork and audio complement the fun, non-punishing gameplay, making it enjoyable for many players.

    • “The graphics are really nice; the gameplay can be a bit janky, but overall it's fine, and you have some nice spooky music.”
    • “It's roguelike-ish, with an art style that is colorful and cartoony yet appropriate for a haunted house game, featuring 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.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as an attempt at creating a spooky environment, which, while not genuinely scary, is somewhat effective and enhanced by fitting music. However, some fans feel that it lacks the charm and innovation of the original game, perceiving it as a stealth game that merely borrows the name for commercial appeal. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a mixed success, capturing a spooky vibe but failing to fully engage players.

    • “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.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The stability of the game appears to be inconsistent, with some players reporting no issues while others highlight frequent glitches. Overall, potential players should be cautious, as experiencing bugs seems to be a gamble.

    • “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.”
  • story4 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. The inclusion of a ghost costume that allows players to sneak past enemies adds a fun layer to the gameplay experience.

  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for its perfect alignment with the atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience, particularly with its spooky elements. While the graphics are also noted as impressive, some users mention minor gameplay issues, but the music remains a standout feature.

    • “The music fits perfectly with the atmosphere.”
    • “The music fits perfectly with the atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are really nice, the gameplay can be a bit jank 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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