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.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of cozy packing simulation and psychological horror, creating an engaging atmosphere that keeps players intrigued.
- Many players found the sound design and music to be excellent, with the ending theme being particularly memorable.
- The horror elements, while not overly intense, provide effective scares that enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, especially during the packing segments, leading to a lack of engagement over time.
- Several players felt that the game was too short for its price, with many aspects of the story and horror not fully developed.
- There are technical issues and bugs that can disrupt the experience, such as items disappearing or getting stuck, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- story29 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as quirky and intriguing, with effective scares and a minimalistic approach that encourages players to piece together the narrative themselves. However, many reviewers felt that the story lacked depth and urgency, often becoming overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and fetch quests. While some appreciated the unique twists and atmospheric hints, others were left wanting more substantial storytelling and engagement throughout the experience.
“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.”
“Very minimalistic approach to storytelling.”
“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.”
“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, I just can't recommend it.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple and repetitive packing mechanic that some players find enjoyable, while others criticize it for being tedious and lacking variety. Although the game introduces psychological horror elements, they are mostly back-loaded, with most interesting mechanics appearing late in the experience. Overall, the gameplay offers a short and straightforward loop that may appeal to those who appreciate mundane tasks, but it leaves many feeling that it doesn't justify its price or fully explore its potential.
“I found the packing gameplay super fun, as I love simple routine things like that!”
“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.”
“The combination of mechanics often led me to making little mini challenges for myself - like only packing a room into boxes by throwing objects.”
“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.”
“The core gameplay loop is intentionally mundane.”
“Did not enjoy the primary gameplay loop at all, and the entire experience is extremely back-loaded, with most of the 'interesting' things happening in the last 15 minutes.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively building tension and unease throughout the experience. Players appreciate the creative design that enhances the horror elements, with many noting the impactful scares and chilling moments that keep them engaged. However, some critiques mention that certain visual elements and pacing issues can detract from the overall atmospheric experience.
“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!”
“This is a game you play when you can 100% lock in and focus on the atmosphere and mood.”
“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.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style and cozy aesthetic, while others criticize certain visual elements as scuffed or clashing with the overall tone. Some users noted that the visuals effectively create an eerie atmosphere, but feel that the inclusion of lower-quality visuals detracts from the experience. Overall, the game's visuals are appreciated for their charm, but inconsistencies prevent them from fully realizing their potential.
“Visuals were super nice too, very big Skinamarink vibes!”
“But on positive notes, I do enjoy the art style and visuals.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Visuals are quite okay.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game quickly becomes tedious, with repetitive tasks and a lack of variation leading to a monotonous experience. While the initial gameplay may feel relaxing, it fails to evolve, resulting in players feeling unmotivated to engage with side content. Overall, the gameplay loop is simple but struggles to maintain interest due to its repetitive nature.
“It starts off relaxing enough but doesn't offer enough variation and quickly becomes tedious.”
“It took me a little over an hour to complete the main story, but the road to get there felt too tedious for me to want to try any of the side content.”
“The packing elements started off as fun but quickly got tedious as nothing new was introduced... just more tedious tasking.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise, particularly for its catchy theme song, which many players find memorable and enjoyable. The sound design complements the overall aesthetic, enhancing the cozy atmosphere of the game. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that adds 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 sound design, art style, and music are very well put together and synergize well, but the overall music experience feels lacking.”
“The music is stuck in my head, but not in a good way; it becomes repetitive and tiresome.”
“While the theme song is catchy, it quickly loses its charm and becomes annoying after a few plays.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively blends emotional depth with a touch of spookiness, appealing to fans of indie titles. Reviewers appreciate the heartfelt storytelling and express a desire for more immersive narrative elements, indicating a strong emotional connection to the game's themes.
“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.”
