Nie no Hakoniwa: Dollhouse of Offerings

About

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

Nie no Hakoniwa: Dollhouse of Offerings screenshot

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews

story30 positive mentions

character development1 negative mentions

The artwork and character design are stunning, contributing to an immersive visual experience.
The voice acting is high quality, enhancing the overall storytelling and character interactions.
The game explores dark themes and complex character dynamics, providing a unique narrative experience for those who appreciate horror and psychological elements.

The story devolves into gratuitous violence and sexual content, which may alienate players looking for a coherent plot.
Character development is often overshadowed by extreme and disturbing themes, leading to a lack of emotional engagement.
The pacing suffers significantly in the latter half, with many players feeling that the narrative loses its initial intrigue and becomes tedious.

story
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The story of "Nie no Hakoniwa" is characterized by a dark and complex narrative that initially captivates players with its intriguing setup involving political intrigue and character development. However, many reviews highlight a significant decline in quality as the plot devolves into graphic violence and gratuitous content, overshadowing its earlier promise and leaving players feeling disillusioned. While some appreciate the storytelling's twists and emotional depth, others criticize its treatment of women and the excessive focus on gore, leading to a polarized reception.
- “The story is dark, but I really enjoyed it (outside 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.”
- “It was a waste of time; I think the story is unnecessarily long and could be better. There are too many useless things that I don't need to know, but they still decided to include them anyway.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
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 overall experience, although the game's gore elements may surprise those drawn in solely by the beautiful artwork. Additionally, the immersive sound design complements the visual aesthetics effectively.
- “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 Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is heavily influenced by traditional Japanese themes, 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 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 soundtrack and opening are amazing.”
- “The OST is very atmospheric, and the art is gorgeous, making the story engaging.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
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. The stunning art style complements the atmospheric music, while the engaging story further immerses players in the experience.
- “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.”
- “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.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while initial world-building fosters attachment to characters, this connection diminishes significantly as the narrative takes a chaotic turn, leading to a loss of emotional investment. The only consistent source of wholesome content is the protagonist's wife, Kyouko, who stands out as a beloved character amidst the turmoil.
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is characterized by its grotesque elements typical of guro games, but players who are aware of this theme beforehand are unlikely to find it traumatizing.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide any information regarding the game's optimization; instead, they focus on praising the quality of the voice acting, particularly highlighting the performance of the protagonist's seiyuu, Yotsuba You.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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 Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has limited replayability, as it primarily appeals to players interested in discovering missed hints or analyzing subtle details, but may not provide strong incentives for multiple playthroughs otherwise.
- “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.”