Moving Houses
- October 1, 2024
- Gordon Little
"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.
- The sound design and visuals are well-executed, contributing to a chilling experience that effectively builds tension as the game progresses.
- Many players found the gameplay loop of packing and moving items to be satisfying and enjoyable, with some even creating personal challenges within the mechanics.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, with many players feeling that the packing mechanics overstayed their welcome before the horror elements kicked in.
- Several bugs and glitches were reported, including issues with object interactions that could disrupt the experience and lead to frustration.
- The game is considered too short for its price, with many reviewers suggesting it lacks sufficient content and depth to justify the cost.
- story31 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as minimalistic and often feels like an afterthought, with players expressing a desire for more depth and context. While some appreciate the subtlety and atmospheric hints of a narrative, others find the main story lacking in engagement and coherence, leading to a mix of intrigue and disappointment. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a blend of quirky elements and horror, but many feel it could benefit from a more developed narrative structure.
“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.”
“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.”
“Very minimalistic approach to storytelling.”
“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.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % 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 ultimately feels underwhelming, with missed opportunities for deeper integration of its mechanics and narrative.
“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.”
“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 a sense of unease throughout the experience. Players appreciate the creative design that enhances the horror elements, with 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!”
“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.”
“There are a couple of decent jump-scares accompanied by audio stings, and a few moments of fair creepy atmosphere, but the pacing really suffers from the tedious packing mechanic.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and monotonous, with players expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of moving items and packing without sufficient variation or rewards. While some find the initial gameplay relaxing, it quickly becomes a chore, detracting from the overall experience and making side content unappealing. Despite a few redeeming moments, the gameplay loop is often described as overly simplistic and lacking in engaging elements.
“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.”
“It starts off relaxing enough but doesn't offer enough variation and quickly becomes tedious.”
“The packing elements started off as fun but quickly got tedious as nothing new was introduced... just more tedious tasking.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % 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 users noted inconsistencies, such as clashing stock footage and cheap visual elements that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's ambiance, though some players feel the quality does not justify the price.
“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.”
“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. The lighting and mood are generally quite good, especially as time passes and it gets to be later in the evening.”
- 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, contributing to a cozy atmosphere that enhances the gaming experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with players frequently mentioning its ability to stick in their heads.
“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 feels repetitive and tiresome.”
“While the theme song is catchy, it quickly becomes annoying after repeated playthroughs.”
- 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
The game has limited replayability, with players noting its short duration and minimal storyline, which diminishes the incentive to play again. Additionally, the lack of hidden content or easter eggs further contributes to the perception of low replay value.
“I believe this game has significant replayability due to its diverse choices and outcomes.”
“The variety of character builds and story paths makes it incredibly replayable.”
“Each playthrough offers new experiences, ensuring that I want to come 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.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game experiences several glitches that negatively impact its overall stability, making it difficult for players to enjoy the experience fully.
“There are a few glitches that make the game hard to play.”
“The game crashes frequently, which disrupts the overall experience.”
“I encountered several bugs that affected my progress and enjoyment.”