Nie no Hakoniwa: Dollhouse of Offerings

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In "Nie no Hakoniwa: Dollhouse of Offerings," Kurou, a product of House Yasaka, is adopted by House Shiki, the first among the Seven Noble Houses, to be their heir. He interacts with Shiki Kyouko, the eldest daughter, building emotions within him, until a nightmare is born on their wedding day. This narrative-driven game features dark fantasy themes and multiple endings determined by the player's choices.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

story29 positive mentions

character development1 negative mentions

The artwork and character design are stunning, showcasing high-quality visuals that enhance the overall experience.
The story is engaging and filled with unexpected twists, keeping players intrigued as they navigate through its dark themes.
Voice acting and sound design are exceptional, adding depth to the characters and immersing players in the atmosphere of the game.

The game contains extreme content, including graphic violence and sexual themes, which may be disturbing for many players.
The narrative can feel disjointed, especially in the latter half, where it shifts from an intriguing plot to excessive gore and torture, losing emotional engagement.
There are significant bugs, such as a gallery wipe after finishing the game, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
108 mentions
27 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story of "Nie no Hakoniwa" starts with an intriguing setup involving political intrigue and character development, but it quickly devolves into graphic violence and sexual content that many reviewers found gratuitous and off-putting. While some appreciated the initial pacing and mystery, the narrative's shift towards torture and revenge left a significant portion of players feeling disillusioned, as it undermined earlier character depth and thematic exploration. Overall, the game presents a controversial and polarizing narrative that may captivate some but alienate others due to its extreme content and perceived moral failings.
- “I must say the overall is a good read. I love how chill it is at first getting to know every character, and then after the prologue, it started to get really interesting. The game did a great job with the storytelling, as I read more and more, it built up more mystery, just like our normality has been—a sudden bend in reality. There is no more normal; it builds up until the end (love the twist and the ending).”
- “You'll go through a roller coaster of emotions as you progress deeper into the story.”
- “The story beats are incredibly satisfying, with twists and turns you won’t see coming.”
- “The first few hours set up a promising story but it just devolves into gore porn interspersed with actual porn every so often, with one-dimensional characters and a twist seemingly thrown in just to say there is one.”
- “The ending seems to present the protagonist and main heroine in a sympathetic light—the tone of the writing wants you to feel bad for what happens to them—but they were so irredeemably disgusting for the majority of the story that this presentation seems completely unjustified.”
- “At the very least, nie no hakoniwa does have some themes about how, under a patriarchy, the only value women are thought to have is as childrearers, but those themes are so infrequently explored and so painfully unrealized that it in no way is worth trudging through the slop that is the remaining 99.9% of the story to get to them.”
graphics
12 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and exquisite character art, which initially attract players. The high production values enhance the immersive experience, although the game's gore elements may surprise those drawn in solely by the beautiful artwork. Overall, the combination of gorgeous visuals and effective sound design contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Despite all that, the artwork is gorgeous and was what drew my attention in the first place.”
- “The character and art style is exquisite and the sound design is immersive.”
- “I was initially interested in this visual novel because of the gorgeous artwork, seemingly high production values, and the promise of a historical horror story based on a Japanese urban legend.”
music
12 mentions
67 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is heavily influenced by traditional Japanese styles, creating a tranquil atmosphere during calm moments and a sense of foreboding in tense situations. Reviewers praise the soundtrack as atmospheric and captivating, complementing the overall beautiful presentation and polished audio-visual experience, though it may not be suitable for those easily unsettled.
- “The music, the voice acting, and the art are beautiful, and while the story isn't anything new, it is interesting.”
- “The original soundtrack is very atmospheric, and the art is gorgeous, making the story engaging.”
- “The background music is based on traditional Japanese music, which evokes a sense of tranquility in peaceful moments and an atmosphere of foreboding during tense moments.”
- “Art, sound, music, interface, and everything feel polished, as does the translation.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack rooted in traditional Japanese music, creating a tranquil ambiance during calm scenes and a sense of foreboding in tense moments. Coupled with stunning visuals and an engaging story, the overall atmosphere effectively captivates players.
- “The background music is based on traditional Japanese music, which evokes a sense of tranquility in peaceful moments and an atmosphere of foreboding during tense moments.”
- “The art, as you can tell from the screenshots, is gorgeous, the original soundtrack is very atmospheric, and the story does a good job of grabbing your attention.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game starts strong with engaging world-building and character attachment, particularly to the protagonist's wife, Kyouko. However, as the narrative progresses, the tone shifts dramatically, leading to a loss of emotional connection with the characters as their behaviors become increasingly erratic. Overall, the emotional depth is undermined by the chaotic turn of events.
gameplay
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as grotesque, typical of a guro game, but players who are aware of the genre's themes are unlikely to be traumatized by the experience.
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide relevant information regarding the game's optimization, focusing instead on the quality of voice acting, particularly praising the protagonist's seiyuu.
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development is perceived as minimal, featuring linear growth; however, the established personalities and engaging conversations among characters effectively drive the story forward.
- “Character development may seem minimal, with characters exhibiting linear growth, but their established personalities and conversations are really what make them bounce off each other to propel the story forward.”
replayability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, primarily appealing to players interested in discovering missed hints or analyzing subtle details, as it does not provide significant incentives for multiple playthroughs.
- “Regarding replay value, unless you're keen on uncovering missed hints or analyzing subtle details, the game may not offer much incentive for multiple playthroughs.”