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"Rental" is a single-player Horror Adventure game with a compelling story, outstanding graphics, and a fabulous soundtrack. Discover the secrets of a mysterious summer cabin while interacting with quirky characters and finding items to help you progress. With plenty of humor and a dense atmosphere, "Rental" offers a wholesome story that will keep you engaged until the end.

Rental screenshot
Rental screenshot
Rental screenshot
Rental screenshot
Rental screenshot

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,138 reviews
graphics272 positive mentions
grinding14 negative mentions

  • graphics
    618 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their charming retro aesthetic, reminiscent of PS1 and early Nintendo DS visuals, which evoke a sense of nostalgia. Players appreciate the cute yet eerie art style that blends elements of horror with a whimsical vibe, often comparing it to beloved titles like Animal Crossing. While the visuals contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, some reviewers noted that the simplistic graphics may not appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking more modern graphical fidelity.

    • “The graphics are so cute and spooky, and I was not expecting such religious theming from this game, either.”
    • “I love the graphics, because it gives me an old feeling and almost reminds me of older horror games (think Silent Hill) but with a cute aspect.”
    • “Rental not only delivers with a graphics art style that I dearly miss, but it also delivers on being a cute-horror game.”
    • “This features fairly low quality low poly 3D visuals which will deter a lot of gamers, understandably.”
    • “The graphics resemble the average DS game, probably Tomodachi Life.”
    • “I feel really disappointed in this game, the graphics are divine, they really help to set an atmosphere and the labyrinth itself is genuinely a challenge and hard to pass; however, the story and characters just don't stick out as interesting enough.”
  • atmosphere
    382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of cutesy visuals and eerie undertones, reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a tense, unsettling environment without relying on jump scares, instead focusing on a nostalgic aesthetic and engaging sound design. Overall, the atmosphere is described as charming yet creepy, making it a compelling experience for fans of short, atmospheric horror games.

    • “Rental's beauty is all in the atmosphere, the suspense, the waiting, the exploring, the 32-bit nostalgia.”
    • “The game nails the retro vibes and has a genuinely creepy atmosphere that sets the stage for something truly special.”
    • “A delightfully spooky short horror game that takes a pretty intriguing pitch; what if cutesy animal crossing characters went to Silent Hill, and really delivers with a deeply unsettling atmosphere.”
    • “Finally, what little atmosphere the game tries to build up is constantly killed by what is probably supposed to be funny dialogue, but none of it really lands.”
    • “No pay-off for the atmosphere it builds, with half the game taking place in a frustrating labyrinth with zero stakes.”
    • “Instead the gamer is walked endlessly through a quiet and repetitive atmosphere.”
  • story
    246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Rental" is generally perceived as short and simplistic, often lacking depth and engagement, which leaves players wanting more. While some appreciate its cute characters and nostalgic graphics, many feel the narrative is underdeveloped and fails to deliver a compelling horror experience. Overall, the game is seen as a charming but shallow adventure that could benefit from a more fleshed-out storyline.

    • “For such a short story it really manages to draw you in.”
    • “Love the atmosphere, the awesome PS1 graphics, the short yet engaging story, and the ending is extremely simple, yet satisfying.”
    • “I was so immersed in the storyline and art style that I lost track of time, so it felt much longer than it truly was.”
    • “The plot feels like it was written by a three-year-old; it has no lasting power.”
    • “The story is so null, it feels almost non-existent in the game, and the characters have no remarkable personality traits about them.”
    • “In fact, the story does nothing with anything, and just as it seems like it is about to get started, the game ends.”
  • humor
    174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with many players noting its charming and funny dialogue that adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise creepy atmosphere. Characters, particularly the protagonist Umi, deliver amusing lines and interactions that enhance the overall experience, making it both entertaining and endearing. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, the blend of comedy and horror is generally seen as a successful and enjoyable aspect of the game.

    • “I loved playing, listening to Umi's dialogue, and seeing how hilariously unfazed she is throughout this little experience!”
    • “Perfect blend of comedy and horror, genuinely made me feel a little uneasy at some parts, made me laugh super hard at others.”
    • “The humor was great, the eeriness was unnerving and the ending was solid.”
    • “Finally, what little atmosphere the game tries to build up is constantly killed by what is probably supposed to be funny dialogue, but none of it really lands.”
  • gameplay
    148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally described as simplistic and short, primarily involving exploration and interaction with objects in a house, which some players found tedious or lacking depth. While the charming art style and atmosphere received praise, many reviewers noted issues with camera mechanics and frustrating elements like the mirror maze, suggesting that the game feels more like a brief experience or demo rather than a fully fleshed-out title. Overall, players appreciated the aesthetic and ambiance but expressed a desire for more engaging gameplay and complexity.

    • “I love how the gameplay changes from the top-down perspective to the first-person perspective!”
    • “The gameplay may be simplistic, but it's smooth and polished, allowing players to immerse themselves in the eerie atmosphere without getting bogged down by complex mechanics.”
    • “Though this game is short & simple (gameplay-wise), I enjoyed every bit of it.”
    • “The gameplay just has you wandering the house & interacting with everything that you can; it was kind of boring.”
    • “The game's gameplay isn't fun, the camera is wack (I'm pretty sure it's intentional although I could be wrong) so it makes finding items harder. Aesthetic is important, but if it gets in the way of gameplay, then you have yourself bad game design.”
    • “With no form of combat or even any kind of chase sequences, the gameplay is really nothing more than wandering around some house and spamming the enter key on every single object to see if you can interact with it.”
  • music
    94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its eerie yet charming qualities that complement the visuals. While some found the soundtrack simple, it effectively contributes to the game's spooky ambiance, evoking feelings of nostalgia reminiscent of early PS1 titles. However, a few users mentioned the lack of a substantial soundtrack, indicating that it could be more immersive. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, adding depth to the gameplay experience.

    • “The music was lovely, the atmosphere was liminal and I found it more comforting than creepy.”
    • “Charming, spooky (but not too spooky), nails the aesthetic with its ambient surreal soundtrack, sound design, and early PS1 textures and models.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, point blank.”
    • “It's a shame I can't say the same about the music; the soundtrack is practically non-existent.”
    • “It's mildly unsettling, it has minimal plot, but enough to get the player invested, and the lack of music helps to make one paranoid.”
    • “The music is a bit eerie but that's about as far as the creep factor goes.”
  • emotional
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players describe the emotional experience of the game as a mix of creepiness and cuteness, often evoking feelings of nostalgia and unease. While some moments elicit laughter and warmth, others, particularly the labyrinth and jump scares, can be disorienting and overwhelming, leading to mixed feelings of enjoyment and discomfort. Overall, the game successfully blends humor and horror, creating a unique emotional journey for players.

    • “Very wholesome and cozy game <33”
    • “It made me feel uneasy and creeped out, but also made me laugh because of the way Umi interacts with the world with both straightforward acceptance of what would seem extremely abnormal to an adult and also with an ignorance of the details around her (like referring to a painting of Jesus as an 'angry man').”
    • “Labyrinth made me want to cry though.”
    • “Looks great but has a boring story.”
  • grinding
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly due to the lengthy and confusing labyrinth sections that detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a charming atmosphere and nostalgic elements reminiscent of older survival horror titles, the lack of a sense of danger or reward during these grinding segments leads to frustration and diminished enjoyment. Overall, the repetitive nature of the gameplay can make it feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It became tedious and not fun.”
    • “The labyrinth can get tedious fast, especially on subsequent playthroughs.”
  • character development
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is highlighted by its incredibly cute and nostalgic designs, which resonate well with players. The charming character aesthetics, combined with quirky dialogue and an engaging atmosphere, create a memorable experience that encourages emotional connection, particularly with characters like Umi. Overall, the art direction and character design significantly enhance the game's appeal.

    • “Love the art direction, feels very nostalgic and the character designs are adorable!”
    • “I was talking to Umi like she could hear me the whole time, love the character design and atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Cute character designs, some slightly quirky dialogue, and a lot of mystery looming around your newly rented house... plus, this game has no jumpscares!”
    • “Also, the character design is cute!”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth gameplay with no significant glitches or bugs, some experience camera glitches and motion sickness due to the maze design. The horror elements, primarily reliant on these glitches, show potential but can detract from the overall experience. Overall, players found the game enjoyable despite some buggy aspects.

    • “No glitches or bugs, smooth gameplay, and getting the achievements took less than an hour but held my attention.”
    • “Very aesthetically pleasing... the maze made my eyes hurt and gave me motion sickness, the mirrors don't look good with the art style of the game, the camera glitches sometimes in the first segment, the horror aspect is really just camera glitches with a character appearing and freezing you in place.”
    • “Wish it had more horror and some aspects were kind of buggy but overall enjoyed it.”
    • “The camera glitches sometimes in the first segment, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, though some players find it surprisingly enjoyable for a free title. Its cute and spooky aesthetic adds to the experience, but its short length may deter repeated playthroughs.

    • “Super cute and spooky, with surprisingly high replayability.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features an intriguing concept, but users report significant performance issues, particularly related to rendering, which detracts from the overall experience. This has led some players, especially those sensitive to performance fluctuations, to find it challenging to engage with high-intensity elements. Despite these concerns, the game still offers enjoyable moments, particularly in its horror aspects.

    • “Cool concept, but the game performance is horrible for some reason (rendering, I guess).”
    • “I have anxiety, so I usually avoid most games due to lacking performance, especially in regards to anything with high intensity, action, horror, etc. You get the gist... Rental, however, was a nice game to play through; the horror elements of the game would most likely be best described as like.”

Buy Rental

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
4-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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