Moving Houses
- October 1, 2024
- Gordon Little
Get on Steam"Moving Houses" is a physics-based game where players pack up a house for moving, with the option to be neat or cause chaos. The game offers casual, task-based gameplay with a runtime of approximately 3 hours for the main story and an additional 3 hours for completionists. Players can interact with household objects, pack them neatly, or throw them around, all while experiencing the satisfaction of checking items off a list.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging concept that blends cozy packing mechanics with psychological horror elements, creating an interesting atmosphere.
- The ending is spectacular and provides a satisfying conclusion to the experience, with many players recommending to watch the credits.
- The game works well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, and offers a fun, albeit short, gameplay experience that can be enjoyable for fans of simulation and horror genres.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, particularly during the packing segments, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.
- Many players feel the game lacks sufficient content and depth to justify its price, with some suggesting it should be offered at a lower cost.
- The horror elements are often seen as heavy-handed or poorly executed, with some jump scares failing to deliver genuine fear, leading to a less impactful experience.
- story35 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players feeling that it fails to provide a compelling narrative or emotional connection to the objects being packed. While some appreciate the atmospheric hints and twists that emerge later in the game, others find the overall experience tedious and unsatisfying, leading to a sense that the story is an afterthought rather than a central element. Despite some effective scares, the storytelling approach leaves many players wanting more substance and context to engage with.
“If you're a fan of simulation games, you'll enjoy this quirky little story and seeing how deep the rabbit hole goes, with a scare or two along the way.”
“The story is completely unique, and the game is a rich experience even if you haven't read the book-- though I do find that there are some references (intentional or not) in the design of the game.”
“The bits where it finally got spooky were well made too, and the overall story was surprisingly intriguing.”
“There were little scares here and there, but after realizing there's no real story going on aside from 'Oh no, I can't leave this house; I just come right back when I do,' it all falls apart.”
“I tried really hard to like the game, and I even 100%ed it, but there's not enough story to carry it.”
“The environments were cool, but I feel like more love and care was put into crafting little gags to find, and then the main story felt more like an afterthought.”
- gameplay23 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a repetitive and mundane packing mechanic that lacks variety and depth, leading to a tedious experience for many players. While some appreciate the simplicity and find enjoyment in the routine tasks, others feel that the game fails to deliver meaningful progression or engaging horror elements until the very end. Overall, the gameplay loop is easy to grasp but often feels monotonous, with missed opportunities for deeper integration of its horror and interactive mechanics.
“I found the packing gameplay super fun, as I love simple routine things like that!”
“The combination of mechanics often led me to making little mini challenges for myself - like only packing a room into boxes by throwing objects.”
“The gameplay loop is simple and easy to grasp but doesn't overstay its welcome - it's a short and sweet experience that approaches (but does not cross) the line between pleasant and tedious.”
“Still, the gameplay is essentially walk around and find the shiny thing to progress, without providing much added story or context as to why you were doing so.”
“Interesting enough concept for a fakeout horror game but neither the mundane gameplay nor the walking sim spooky segment really warrant the $13 price tag, especially when the game is an hour long.”
“I was wondering if anything would change as a reward for the monotonous gameplay for sticking with it, but no, it's really just the same game again but more tedious.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively building tension and a sense of unease throughout the experience. Players appreciate the creative world design and the gradual escalation of horror elements, which contribute to a chilling ambiance that keeps them engaged. However, some critiques mention that certain cheap visual elements and pacing issues can detract from the overall atmospheric impact.
“Fantastically eerie atmosphere and well executed scares.”
“The atmosphere is great and the developer did a lot of creative things within the world!”
“The best part of the game was the atmosphere that really changed as you kept playing - I felt chills at certain parts, not knowing what to expect next!”
“Less random jump scares and cheesy cuts to still images, more eldritch horror and atmosphere.”
“The game starts off strong by building up a creepy atmosphere and keeping you on your toes for when the horror is going to kick in.”
“Moving houses is begging to be allowed to breathe with creeping dread and eerie atmosphere, but this desire is often let down by the inclusion of haunted house style cheap visuals and events.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being overly tedious and repetitive, with players expressing frustration over the lack of variation in the packing mechanics. While the initial gameplay may start off as enjoyable, it quickly devolves into a monotonous cycle of moving items without any meaningful progression or rewards, leading to a diminished overall experience. Despite some moments of atmosphere and tension, the tedious nature of the tasks significantly hampers the pacing and enjoyment of the game.
“It was too tedious to go back and forth with the boxes and bigger items, and I found myself just throwing everything into a pile and kicking it to the truck just to speed things up.”
“From here I was expected either more interesting gameplay or a steady ramp-up in the weirdness, but basically you do the same tedious moving-things-into-boxes a dozen or so times for different rooms of the house.”
“The packing elements started off as fun but quickly got tedious as nothing new was introduced... just more tedious tasking.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a minimalistic style that effectively sets the mood, particularly with impressive lighting that enhances the atmosphere as the game progresses. While the art style and visuals are generally appreciated for their cozy aesthetic, some elements, such as stock footage and certain cheap visual effects, detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's ambiance, though opinions vary on their value relative to the game's price.
“Visuals were super nice too, very big Skinamarink vibes!”
“But on positive notes, I do enjoy the art style and visuals.”
“It's scuffed in some areas, not to mention the weird stock footage in flashbacks that completely clashed with the tone and art style of the game itself, and I didn't really feel like the $12 tag is worth it.”
“Moving houses is begging to be allowed to breathe with creeping dread and eerie atmosphere, but this desire is often let down by the inclusion of haunted house style cheap visuals and events.”
“The graphics are very minimal but they do a fine job of setting the stage, and the lighting and mood is generally quite good, especially as time passes and it gets to be later in the evening.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise, particularly for its catchy theme and end credits song, which many players find memorable and enjoyable. The sound design complements the overall aesthetic, enhancing the cozy atmosphere of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the gaming experience.
“The credits song is an absolute banger; I can't get it out of my head.”
“Best theme song for a game this year, easy peasy!”
“The sound design, art style, and music are very well put together and synergize well, and the game nails that surface level 'cozy game' aesthetic.”
“The music is stuck in my head.”
“Moving houses simulator very accurate + my budgie loves the main theme song, so it's always a bonus when playing a game.”
“The sound design, art style, and music are very well put together and synergize well, but the game nails that surface level 'cozy game' aesthetic.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, blending indie charm with spooky elements, and evokes a genuine sense of nostalgia and heartache. Reviewers express a desire for a more developed narrative through environmental storytelling, indicating that the emotional impact is a standout feature that leaves players wanting more from the developers.
“Altogether, the game is fairly good and I recommend it for anyone that likes an indie game with some emotional overtones and a little spooky vibe.”
“Whether it's to make it more faux-arcadey with even more ironic sweetness slathered over the pain of leaving or to have a genuinely heartfelt background story far more thoroughly hinted at through documents, more realistic pictures, environmental clues, etc., that's the absolute best kind of gripe you could get, because I genuinely want to see more of this team's work!”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users express mixed feelings about the game's replayability, with some noting a lack of content and minimal storyline that diminishes its value for repeated playthroughs. The absence of hidden elements or easter eggs further contributes to the perception that the game offers limited incentive to replay.
“I think it will have some replayability.”
“The game offers multiple paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique.”
“With various character builds and strategies, I find myself coming back for more.”
“I wanted to like this game, but both for the price (for an hour-long game with no replay value) and the minimal storyline, with almost no easter eggs to find at all (like no way to get into the treehouse at the back or on your roof), I just can't recommend it.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its use of stock footage and comedic sound effects, which some players find amusing rather than frightening. However, the lack of engaging storytelling in the items collected detracts from the overall comedic experience.
“None of the things we pick up to move out tell a story; there's 'oh no, a thing fell and there's a scary sound to accompany it' and little stock footage videos, which I found more funny than scary.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game experiences several glitches that negatively impact stability, making gameplay challenging for users.
“There are a few glitches that make the game hard to play.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
“I experienced several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
