Heart of the House

About

Heart of the House is a 360,000-word, text-based interactive Gothic novel by Nissa Campbell. As an orphan with the ability to commune with spirits, you investigate the haunted Darnecroy Manor to find your missing uncle. There, you'll meet various characters and make decisions that will determine the fate of the ghosts and your own. Play as male, female, or non-binary, and explore themes of love and survival in this chilling adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews

story18 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The writing is beautifully crafted, creating an engaging and immersive gothic atmosphere with memorable characters and impactful choices.
The game offers significant replay value, with various paths and endings that encourage exploration of different character interactions and secrets.
The romance options are well-developed and feel natural, enhancing the overall narrative without overshadowing the main story.

The pacing towards the end feels rushed, leaving some players unsatisfied with the conclusion of their chosen paths.
Some players found the plot confusing at times, with certain character developments and story threads feeling underexplored.
The lack of save points can lead to frustration, as one wrong choice may require players to restart after investing significant time in the game.

story
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The story is widely praised for its captivating narrative, rich character development, and engaging writing, often described as a beautifully crafted piece of Victorian gothic horror with Lovecraftian elements. Players appreciate the impactful choices and unexpected twists, which enhance the immersive experience, although some note minor pacing issues and confusion in the plot. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, offering both depth and replayability, making it a highly recommended experience for fans of interactive storytelling.
- “The writing is wonderful, the choices feel impactful, the story contains a lot of the unexpected and elements of tension. I'm only playing it once not because it doesn't have replay value, but because I enjoy the story as it is so much that I want to keep it as 'the story' rather than trying to gamify it to get the ending I'd have preferred.”
- “The story is a deep, immersive, and beautifully sculpted piece of Victorian gothic horror with Lovecraftian inspiration and considerable replayability, while the characters that comprise the cast are interesting and as realistic as any you could hope to find in gothic fiction.”
- “The story is well written and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.”
- “However, the plot itself was very confusing.”
- “I will say though after the climax, the story seemed to wrap itself up too quickly and didn't really go in accordance with my choice about what I'd do with my future.”
- “There are a whole bunch of choices but as I have only completed the game once at the time of writing I can't say how many of them have a major impact on the story.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability due to its immersive storytelling, impactful choices, and rich character development. While some players express a desire to experience the story as a singular narrative rather than replaying for different outcomes, many acknowledge the potential for multiple playthroughs. However, a few users suggest that improved save and reload options could enhance the exploration of alternative choices.
- “The story is a deep, immersive, and beautifully sculpted piece of Victorian gothic horror with Lovecraftian inspiration and considerable replayability, while the characters that comprise the cast are interesting and as realistic as any you could hope to find in gothic fiction.”
- “A great story with excellent replay value.”
- “Very well told story with excellent atmosphere and decent replayability.”
- “It certainly seems like it has a lot of replay value, though I wish the developers made it easier to explore other choices by allowing you to save and reload.”
- “The story is a deep, immersive, and beautifully sculpted piece of Victorian gothic horror with Lovecraftian inspiration, but the replayability is limited due to the linear nature of the choices.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unique and immersive qualities, blending elements of creepiness and gothic charm that draw players in. Reviewers note the author's skill in crafting the right mood for various scenes, whether unsettling, romantic, or action-packed, contributing to an overall engaging experience. Some suggest enhancing the atmosphere further with suitable background music to complement the already excellent ambiance.
- “Awesome atmosphere that I did not quite encounter before.”
- “The atmosphere and tone is just perfect.”
- “Very well told story with excellent atmosphere and decent replayability.”
- “The atmosphere felt flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich setting, the atmosphere was dull and failed to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
- “The game struggled to create a cohesive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the story and environment.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music aspect of the game is noted as lacking, with players feeling that a suitable soundtrack could enhance the overall atmosphere, which is already impressive despite the absence of visuals or music. Many recommend adding external music, such as tracks from Silent Hill or Resident Evil, to elevate the experience.
- “I highly recommend this for you to buy and throw on some Silent Hill or Resident Evil music in the background for good measure.”
- “I would personally recommend putting on some suitable music in the background as a good soundtrack is what's missing the most from the otherwise excellent atmosphere.”
- “The lack of music makes the experience feel empty and uninspired.”
- “The sound design is underwhelming, leaving the game feeling lifeless.”
- “Without a compelling soundtrack, the game fails to engage players emotionally.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Overall, the character development is well-received, with players appreciating the depth and backstory of the characters, particularly Loren. While there are some minor criticisms regarding the development of certain characters, the emphasis on choices and narrative over statistics is generally favored.
- “I really enjoyed the characters; though few, they all had a lot of backstory and character development, and it was a delight getting to know them (especially Loren!).”
- “Some minor complaints about certain characters and lack of character development, but overall I liked the focus more on choices and story and less on your 'stats'.”
- “Some minor complaints about certain characters and lack of character development, but overall I liked the focus more on choices and story and less so on your 'stats'.”
- “The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the limited character arcs; they didn't evolve in a way that felt satisfying or impactful.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game compelling, with well-developed characters that foster strong investment. However, some express frustration with the game's length and lack of save functionality, which can lead to emotional fatigue but ultimately reinforces their determination to complete the experience.
- “They're relatively few, but all of them are well-established, interesting, and easy to get emotionally invested in.”
- “I got a bit frustrated after the second time this happened towards the end (this game is long, and like all cogs there's no save function, so I had a lot of emotional investment going) and had to stop to take a break, but I came back later twice as determined and eager to see it to the bitter end.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The gameplay is noted for its strong thematic elements and interactivity, allowing for diverse storytelling beyond typical video game mechanics. While the mechanics are solid, the game's true strength is in its writing, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The gameplay feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
- “While the game has a strong narrative, the gameplay mechanics are repetitive and uninspired.”
- “The controls are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the book is noted for its clever and surprising moments that elicit a strong reaction, contributing positively to the overall flow of the narrative.
- “The book's flow is praiseworthy, but I've got to admit, it's got a handful of pretty funny choices that make you do a double take.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics are minimal, relying solely on text, yet they effectively create a stressful and scary atmosphere, showcasing impressive emotional engagement without traditional visual or auditory elements.