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House

House Game Cover
97%Game Brain Score
story, music
grinding, stability
97% User Score Based on 1,426 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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House Game Cover

About

House is a single player survival action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by barkbarkgames and was released on October 30, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"House" is a video game with an original soundtrack by Isaac Nite. The game is a narrative-driven, atmospheric horror experience that takes players on a thrilling journey through a haunted house. The game features a unique art style, puzzle-solving, and a chilling story that will keep players on the edge of their seats.

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House screenshot
House screenshot
House screenshot
House screenshot
House screenshot
House screenshot
House screenshot
House screenshot
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,426 reviews
story84 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and intriguing story with multiple endings that encourage exploration and experimentation.
  • The pixel art style and soundtrack create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
  • Gameplay is challenging yet rewarding, with a satisfying sense of progression as players learn from their mistakes.
  • The game frequently crashes, which can disrupt the gameplay experience and lead to frustration.
  • Some puzzles can be overly obtuse, requiring trial and error that may feel tedious to players.
  • The lack of keybinding options and minor bugs can hinder the overall gameplay experience.
  • story
    186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is widely praised for its unique and engaging narrative, featuring multiple endings and thought-provoking themes such as loss and regret. Players appreciate the combination of compelling storytelling with atmospheric visuals and music, which enhances the overall experience. While some find the story dark and graphic, it is generally regarded as a highlight that encourages exploration and replayability.

    • “The storytelling is a subtle dance, provoking thought and curiosity, all while delving into themes of loss, regret, and the intricacies of human existence.”
    • “The story is a real mystery you will need to discover and understand by yourself, and the hints are nothing short of curiosity-inducing.”
    • “The mystery of the house, the story of each character, and the circumstances that brought it all to be encourages endless exploration and analytical discussion.”
    • “Strangest storyline I've ever seen, has the weirdest detail. I have played 12 and a half days worth of playtime and loved every second of it, from looking around to seeing the family die to getting to read and understand Tabby's persona by the diary entries when you complete tasks.”
    • “And don't expect too deep a story either.”
    • “The story is simple, but the details branch the problems present in that story.”
  • music
    126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players describing it as soothing, haunting, and perfectly fitting for the game's narrative. The soundtrack ranges from calming melodies to intense, eerie compositions that effectively complement the game's unique art style and story. Overall, players consider the music to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to their immersive experience.

    • “The game is amazing - it has a classic pixel art look, great animations, grotesque monster design, and an amazing soundtrack that takes a lot of inspiration from Yume Nikki.”
    • “The soundtrack spans from creepy unnerving ambiance to melodic emotional relief.”
    • “The music fits so well, it has a deceptive warmth to it and gets eerie based on events and time progression.”
    • “Writing music for this style of game is not easy and often gets boring and repetitive.”
    • “The music starts calm and pleasing while towards the end it turns harsh and stressful.”
    • “The game misses what would be some obvious solutions (for instance an axe and certain music piece).”
  • graphics
    102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are characterized by a unique and charming pixel art style that blends cuteness with unsettling horror elements, appealing to fans of indie aesthetics. While some players appreciate the creativity and atmosphere, others find the minimalist design tedious or reminiscent of older gaming systems. Overall, the visuals effectively complement the game's narrative and gameplay, creating an engaging experience despite occasional graphical glitches.

    • “I love its visuals, and the story and gameplay are really well put together!”
    • “The visuals are so great and really fit with the whole mood the game is trying to set.”
    • “Love the graphics, they're adorable, and horrific at the same time.”
    • “Tedious and ugly to look at with that minimalist pixel art style that became popular in the 2010s.”
    • “I mean... it looks like an indie project with graphics somewhere between an Atari 2600 and a classic NES.”
    • “My initial reaction to the game was that it was just another indie pixel-graphics horror game essentially made for YouTubers, that relies almost entirely on shock value and gore to entertain.”
  • gameplay
    94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a blend of simplicity and depth, allowing players to engage in a trial-and-error approach with multiple endings and a compelling story. While some find the gameplay loop repetitive, the emotional and atmospheric elements enhance the experience, making it both addictive and rewarding. Overall, the game offers a unique mix of retro aesthetics, engaging mechanics, and a strong narrative that keeps players invested.

    • “I love its visuals, and the story and gameplay are really well put together!”
    • “Yet the gameplay is fun and rewarding with the story as it unravels the more progress, and the atmosphere contributes to the investment in the story.”
    • “The atmosphere is infectious and the gameplay leaves you awestruck and gives you a weird feeling of hopeful dread, 10/10”
    • “Short gameplay!”
    • “I feel like I wouldn't mind the game's repetitive gameplay loop as much if when you died you could just start over again.”
    • “Without tutorials, this game has 2-3 hours of gameplay.”
  • atmosphere
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "house" is widely praised for its captivating and oppressive qualities, effectively immersing players in a chilling and mysterious environment. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and intrigue through its soundtrack, character interactions, and visual design, creating a unique blend of horror and puzzle elements. Overall, the atmosphere significantly enhances the gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The game's madness-laden atmosphere is both captivating and mesmerizing, beckoning players to uncover the truth that lies at its heart.”
    • “Highly recommend to anyone who doesn’t mind getting lost and immersing themselves into a uniquely unsettling atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is infectious and the gameplay leaves you awestruck and gives you a weird feeling of hopeful dread, 10/10.”
    • “This game is oppressive in its atmosphere.”
    • “To be fair, the game is quite short and simple, but you should definitely check it out if you can appreciate the dark beauty and chilly atmosphere without the need for 4K graphics.”
    • “The atmosphere of madness that reigns in the house will amaze and fascinate, making anyone get to the heart of the truth and find answers to the questions that bother them.”
  • grinding
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game can be both tedious and frustrating, often exacerbated by a trial-and-error gameplay style and bugs that require restarts. While some players find the grinding process ultimately satisfying and enjoyable, others feel it becomes monotonous and overly repetitive, particularly when pursuing specific endings or achievements. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly among players, with some appreciating the challenge and others finding it a chore.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This, plus the trial-and-error nature of the game makes for a tedious playing experience.”
    • “Cool little game reminiscent of Deathclock Tower, but it comes at a steep price for something that is pretty short and becomes incredibly tedious through trial and error play, made much worse by a few bugs which will force you to restart.”
    • “I gave up when I spent 2 hours trying to resolve the special 'frog ending' because of how random some of the spawns are and how tedious it is to fight the secret boss.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its unique blend of humor and horror, featuring dark and bizarre comedic elements that enhance the gameplay experience. Players enjoy the multitude of ways to die, which adds a fun, experimental aspect, while the over-the-top graphics and character designs contribute to its hilariously twisted charm. Despite some confusion in the language, the overall humor is a standout feature that keeps players engaged.

    • “This horror game is hilarious to say the least; you can die in a bazillion ways, and it's very fun to experiment and figure out what the hell you're supposed to do. It has multiple endings and outcomes. Also, when you finish the game, don't forget to play the DLC included in the game for free.”
    • “Intriguing and hilariously dark.”
    • “In addition to that, there's a fun cast of characters, beautiful pixel graphics, lovely pixel animations, extremely over the top and grotesque (to the point that a few are somewhat funny in a very twisted manner) game overs, and a very nice (albeit small) soundtrack.”
  • replayability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability, particularly for those seeking a quick pixel-horror experience, but many players note that it diminishes once all achievements are unlocked. While some find it infinitely replayable, others feel it lacks lasting value beyond the initial playthroughs. Overall, it appeals to casual players but may not satisfy those looking for deeper, long-term engagement.

    • “I loved the art style and replayability of this game.”
    • “It's absolutely worth it if you're looking for a quick evening of pixel-horror adventure but look elsewhere if you want something with lasting replayability.”
    • “There is so much replayability value to this game.”
    • “It's absolutely worth it if you're looking for a quick evening of pixel-horror adventure, but look elsewhere if you want something with lasting replayability.”
    • “- no replay value other than achievements.”
    • “And it had a lot of replay value!... until you get all achievements.”
  • stability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting little to no glitches, while others experience frequent crashes and freezes that significantly impact gameplay. Although many find the bugs to be minor and not detrimental, the recurring freezing issues have led to frustration for several players. Overall, the stability appears to be a notable concern for a portion of the user base.

    • “The game experiences little to no glitches.”
    • “The game runs smoothly with minimal interruptions.”
    • “I appreciate the stability; there are hardly any bugs.”
    • “The game randomly freezes (has never happened before on any game similar to this for me).”
    • “A great game until it crashes and freezes, and it becomes increasingly frustrating.”
    • “It is kinda buggy though, and there are a lot of glitches.”
  • emotional
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game masterfully intertwines gruesome elements with poignant moments, creating a unique emotional depth that enhances the chilling gameplay. Its narrative delves into themes of loss, regret, and the complexities of the human experience, leaving players with unexpected emotional attachments and a heart-wrenching story. The soundtrack further amplifies this emotional journey, shifting from unsettling ambiance to soothing melodies.

    • “This emotional layer adds depth to the spine-chilling gameplay.”
    • “The narrative explores themes of loss, regret, and the complexities of the human condition, adding emotional depth to the overall gaming experience.”
    • “I was absolutely not expecting the twists, depth, and emotional attachment to the events that take place in this game.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is highlighted through an engaging story that features multiple endings, allowing players to experience different outcomes based on their choices. The well-timed gameplay complements the narrative, while the appealing character designs enhance the overall experience.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, with each choice leading to different endings that make the story feel personal and engaging.”
    • “The well-timed gameplay complements the interesting story, allowing for meaningful character growth and transformation throughout the game.”
    • “The character designs are not only visually appealing but also reflect the depth of their development, making each character feel unique and memorable.”
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5h Median play time
4h Average play time
2h Main story
5h Completionist
3-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

House is a survival action adventure game with horror theme.

House is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 2 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 5 hours to finish. On average players spend around 4 hours playing House.

House was released on October 30, 2020.

House was developed by barkbarkgames.

House has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

House is a single player game.

Similar games include Yuppie Psycho, Lily's Well, Amanda the Adventurer, Little Nightmares, The Witch's House MV and others.