House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets

About

In "House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets," help washed-up writer Kate Reed navigate the House of 1000 Doors, a portal for spirits. Solve four mystifying mysteries with the aid of the Lancaster family and explore 90 locations, 15 hidden object scenes, and 25 mini-games. The game features 13 CGI cutscenes, bonus content, and a built-in walkthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 84 reviews

story22 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with engaging ghostly themes and well-designed puzzles that are enjoyable without being overly difficult.
The graphics, while a bit dated, are still solid and contribute to the atmospheric experience, complemented by excellent sound effects and music.
It offers a good amount of gameplay time with a variety of hidden object scenes and mini-games, making it a great value for fans of the genre.

The game lacks a map for fast travel, leading to tedious backtracking between locations, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
Some hidden object scenes can be vague, and there are instances of pixel-hunting that may frustrate players.
There are minor performance issues and bugs, such as unresponsive mini-games and lingering clickable items that can detract from the overall experience.

story
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
49%
6%
The game's story is generally regarded as enjoyable and engaging, featuring a dark, paranormal narrative centered around Kate and her deceased grandmother, Margaret Fox, who guides her on a quest in the mysterious Lancaster mansion. While the plot is not groundbreaking, it effectively holds players' attention with its intriguing elements and well-integrated puzzles, making it a standout in the hidden object genre. Overall, the story is complemented by beautiful visuals and a captivating atmosphere, though some players noted its predictability and desire for more depth in certain areas.
- “Kate's deceased grandmother, Margaret Fox, appears from beyond the grave to send her granddaughter on a life-altering quest to the Lancaster mansion.”
- “I loved that the plot continued where it left off and filled in the who, what, and where mystery of Margaret Fox and how she ties in with Kate, and the story from the main game.”
- “The story is fairly predictable, but it was very interesting and the locations were fun to explore.”
- “The story is fairly predictable.”
- “There is a very loose storyline but I suppose back then it wasn't in the forefront.”
- “The plot line is a bit dark/horrorish so if you're looking at having a kid play, I'd just be careful about their maturity (and if they get nightmares easily).”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
24%
18%
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, showcasing excellent detail and a captivating art style that enhances the storytelling. While some users note that certain elements, particularly cutscenes, feel dated, others appreciate the overall visual quality, especially when settings are adjusted. The combination of graphics, sound, and music effectively immerses players in the gameplay experience.
- “The graphics and the sounds and the music and the visuals all combine together to engross you in the story and to enjoy the gameplay!”
- “I like the creepy vibe and graphics, and the puzzles are fun.”
- “The graphics are a little dated now, but still solid (it's mostly the cutscenes; CG just does not age well...). I enjoy this one and the second game (The Palm of Zororaster), but after that, the third one is okay.”
- “The graphics are incredibly detailed, albeit somewhat gritty and dimly lit in some scenes, to capture the nuance of a dilapidated, aging mansion.”
- “Fun game and pretty chill; it looked a bit dated at first, but I turned up the graphics settings and it fixed.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the haunting and supernatural elements of the soundtrack, which, along with the sound effects, effectively draws them into the game's narrative. Additionally, the train sounds and intermittent music contribute to a relaxing atmosphere that complements the visuals.
- “The music is wonderful, and it makes the whole game so relaxed.”
- “I loved its supernatural feel and the haunting music.”
- “The music offers a calm playing feel, but be surprised to encounter a few ghosts.”
- “The graphics, sounds, music, and visuals all combine to engross you in the story and enhance the gameplay!”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The gameplay is characterized by straightforward puzzles and engaging ghost stories that maintain player interest without becoming frustrating or tedious. The overall experience is enhanced by a smooth, casual presentation that complements the intriguing paranormal narrative.
- “The ghost stories were all compelling, and I found the gameplay and puzzles to be straightforward and not so cryptic as to become frustrating.”
- “However, the storyline and gameplay held my attention and never felt drawn out or boring.”
- “The overall presentation is decent with an interesting paranormal story and smooth casual gameplay.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding in the game to be excessively tedious, primarily due to the lack of a map for quick navigation between areas. The requirement to repeatedly backtrack across a sprawling map filled with scattered items contributes to a frustrating experience that feels more like a monotonous click-through simulator than engaging gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game often makes you go back and forth between various rooms and areas, and while this is typical of every hidden object game, this one got especially tedious because there was no map to allow you to just move instantly between areas.”
- “Too many items spread out too much into a map that is too big, making this a tedious click-through-screens simulator.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its diverse and engaging locations, contributing to a rich immersive experience, while also offering solid replayable content that enhances player engagement.
- “As with Zoroaster, there are many great atmospheric locations and some solid replayable content.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
Reviewers highlight that the game features numerous atmospheric locations and offers solid replayable content, enhancing its overall replayability.
- “As with Zoroaster, there are lots of great atmospheric locations and some solid replayable content.”
- “The game has some great atmospheric locations, but the replayable content feels limited.”
- “While there are interesting environments, the lack of variety in gameplay makes replaying less appealing.”
- “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, though some players have noted minor performance stuttering in certain areas and a lack of clarity regarding a few items in the hidden object scenes.
- “The only negatives I have against this game are the vagueness of a few items in the hidden object scenes and minor performance stuttering in some areas.”