House of Velez

About

House of Velez is a single player action game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Dark Room Games and was released on October 24, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

In House of Velez, play as Lily Velez, searching for your missing archaeologist father while uncovering dark family secrets. This horror game focuses on stealth and puzzle-solving, with a "Focus Mode" for enhanced observation. Remember, a controller is required for play.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews

story6 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted atmosphere with impressive cinematics and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the horror experience.
The unique and graphic death scenes are a highlight, showcasing creativity and attention to detail that horror fans will appreciate.
The voice acting, particularly from the main character, adds depth to the story and helps convey the emotional weight of the narrative.

The game is extremely short, with many players feeling it ends abruptly and leaves them wanting more, especially with the episodic release model.
Frustrating mechanics, such as the heartbeat system and some difficult stealth sections, can detract from the overall experience and lead to repeated deaths.
There are usability issues, including a lack of keyboard support and confusing controls, which can make gameplay cumbersome and frustrating.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's story is praised for its emotional depth and unique themes, particularly the father's torment, complemented by a beautiful soundtrack and immersive atmosphere. While the narrative is engaging and features interesting characters, some players express frustration with gameplay mechanics and note that the story ends abruptly, leaving them eager for a sequel. Overall, the combination of surreal visuals and compelling storytelling captivates many, despite some criticisms regarding voice acting and technical issues.
- “It really gives a deep story of the torment the father has to go through.”
- “It's a very interesting story with surreal visuals, however.”
- “The story was so good.”
- “It certainly gets frustrating at times when you aren't sure whether to hide or run, as some sections seem like hiding sections but they actually require you to hide before hauling ass to the nearest exit. However, the atmosphere, story, characters, and overall immersion kept me from getting annoyed to the point of quitting.”
- “Also, the game ends right in the middle of the story and part 2 is not available as of writing this review.”
- “Also, the father's voice acting feels like it breaks the seriousness of the story in the gameplay.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, creating a suffocating and cursed environment that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the high-quality cutscenes, retro style, and attention to detail, which contribute to a memorable and engaging atmosphere, even amidst some frustrating gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players and encourages exploration.
- “The atmosphere of the game is unique and incredible.”
- “It elevates the atmosphere and leaves a lasting impression.”
- “The atmosphere is suffocating; the enemies are so brutal and the voice acting so otherworldly that the game feels cursed.”
- “The game has strong style and atmosphere despite some frustrating mechanics.”
- “It certainly gets frustrating at times when you aren't sure whether to hide or run, as some sections seem like hiding sections but they actually require you to hide before hauling ass to the nearest exit, but the atmosphere, story, characters, and overall immersion kept me from getting annoyed to the point of quitting.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the solid survival horror elements and atmospheric design, while others criticize the awkward heartbeat and stealth mechanics as tedious and frustrating. Despite attempts to innovate, certain mechanics, like heart suppression, detract from the overall experience, leading to a lack of engaging gameplay with enemies.
- “I think the difficulty and awkwardness of the heartbeat mechanic actually add to the horror.”
- “[*][b] solid survival horror gameplay [/b]”
- “The game has strong style and atmosphere despite some frustrating mechanics.”
- “This game has a lot going for it for a very reasonable price, and I'd recommend it highly if not for one of the worst game mechanics I've ever seen in a game.”
- “The mechanic that drags it down is the heart suppression; I respect the attempt to do something different, unfortunately, it doesn't stick the landing.”
- “Lacking gameplay with enemies.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's graphics are praised for their detailed and striking horror elements, particularly in the depiction of death scenes, which some find both impressive and stomach-churning. The retro aesthetic contributes to the overall mood, reminiscent of classic titles like Silent Hill, though usability issues detract from the experience. Overall, while the visuals are compelling, the game's short length and frustrating interface may hinder enjoyment.
- “This game is famous for its super graphic, detailed, over-the-top death scenes.”
- “Overall, it's a good horror game; I especially enjoyed the mood given by the retro graphics.”
- “The visuals of the game also remind me of Silent Hill.”
- “The graphics are graphic and stomach-churning, making the experience quite unpleasant.”
- “The visuals of the game remind me of Silent Hill, but not in a good way.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful soundtrack that complements the saddening story, with notable homage to "Hellraiser." While the voice acting, particularly by the actress portraying Lily Velez, is highlighted as excellent, some users feel that the music and sound effects could benefit from additional polish.
- “10/10, beautiful soundtrack, saddening story, and great homage to Hellraiser.”
- “Solid music and sounds, and the voice actress playing the main character, Lily Velez, did a great job.”
- “Good voice acting, music, and effects; though I think they could use some polish processing-wise.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often viewed as tedious, with players expressing frustration over repetitive mechanics, such as stealth and heartbeat systems, which detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the simplicity of puzzles and the absence of complex inventory management, the general sentiment leans towards grinding feeling more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
- “The sh*tty stealth mechanic has become a tedious chore.”
- “I think the heartbeat system is a good idea, but it straddles the line between tension-inducing and tedious.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The emotional impact of the game is heightened by exceptional voice acting, which immerses players in the narrative and evokes strong feelings, akin to watching a compelling film.
- “Her voice acting was so real that some cut-scenes made me feel like I was watching a film.”
- “The story's depth and character development left me in tears; I felt a genuine connection to their struggles.”
- “Every choice I made had emotional weight, making me reflect on my own life and decisions.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the main character's fashion-forward persona and her amusing crouching position, which adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “I love how the main character gives off fashion icon vibes, and her crouching position is really funny.”
- “The humor in the dialogue is spot on, making even the most serious moments light-hearted.”
- “The quirky animations and silly character interactions always make me laugh out loud.”