Rental

About

Rental is a single player action game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Lonely House and was released on March 7, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Join Our Discord About the GameGreat Deal! Perfect cabin for a family of four. Close to the beach with great vibes! For more information about this rental, contact the caretaker! For summer vacation, Umi's family rents a cabin near the beach. However, Umi soon realizes that the offer was not as grand as promised...Features Explore the summer cabin in this short game reminiscent of classic surv…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%Audience ScoreBased on 3,348 reviews

graphics179 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Charming and cute retro animal crossing inspired art style with well-crafted atmospheric horror vibes.
Short and easy to complete, free with simple gameplay and humorous, sassy character interactions.
Effective use of PS1 style fixed camera angles and minimal jump scares to create unsettling yet approachable experience.

Labyrinth/mirror maze section is confusing, frustrating, and induces motion sickness for many players.
Very short gameplay with limited story depth and minimal progression or threat, leading to disappointment.
Camera angles can be awkward or cause nausea; lacks pause menu, save system, and better UI to track progress.

graphics
406 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cute, and nostalgic retro style reminiscent of PS1 and early Animal Crossing aesthetics, which effectively combine a cozy look with an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the deliberately low-poly visuals, fixed camera angles, and vintage vibe that strengthen the game's unique blend of light horror and whimsy. However, some note minor issues like camera glitches and visuals contributing to maze-related discomfort, but overall the art style is considered one of the strongest and most distinctive aspects of the game.
- “The artstyle is fantastic, creating a beautifully creepy atmosphere that really draws you in.”
- “Using a deliberately retro 3D art style reminiscent of early PlayStation games, Rental evokes a sense of unease without relying on gore or jump scares.”
- “Rental not only delivers with a graphics art style that I dearly miss, but it also delivers on being a cute-horror game.”
- “The graphics resemble the average DS game, probably Tomodachi Life.”
- “The games 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.”
- “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 & freezing you in place (which I think has a lot of potential especially the first few times it happens).”
atmosphere
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie, tense, and nostalgic PS1-style vibe, skillfully blending cute, charming visuals with unsettling, spooky elements to create a unique and memorable experience. Players appreciate its subtle horror without reliance on jump scares, emphasizing mood, exploration, and ambient storytelling that lingers beyond its short runtime. While some find the gameplay and story light or repetitive, the strong, immersive atmosphere is consistently highlighted as the game's standout strength.
- “The atmosphere is quiet but persistent, and it sticks with you long after you finish - short, unsettling, and surprisingly effective for a quick scare.”
- “Rental is a brief yet captivating indie horror-adventure game that blends eerie atmosphere, nostalgic visuals, and clever design into a compact and memorable experience.”
- “The pixelated artstyle and old PS1 style camera control really add to the atmosphere a lot.”
- “For me, the irritation outweighed the atmosphere, and after restarting twice and not being able to pick up the required items in the maze for some unknown reason, I uninstalled the game.”
- “The atmosphere... it's almost there, but something's missing, needed more creepy messed up stuff instead of just mild unease (my opinion).”
- “No pay-off for the atmosphere it builds, with half the game taking place in a frustrating labyrinth with zero stakes.”
story
191 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
60%
7%
The game's story is generally described as short, simple, and somewhat vague, with a basic horror premise involving a family vacation and supernatural events in a rental cabin. While some players appreciate its cute characters, unique art style, and eerie atmosphere, many find the narrative underdeveloped, confusing, or lacking depth and meaningful progression. Overall, the story is considered charming but minimal, leaving players wishing for more substance and exploration.
- “Set during a seemingly innocent family vacation, the story quickly shifts into something more unsettling, as strange events begin to unfold within the rented beach house.”
- “Love the atmosphere tho, and the designs are beautiful, and I really like the kind of backstory between the brother and Umi, it really gives some interesting depth.”
- “For such a short story it really manages to draw you in.”
- “I still don't understand why this game's rating is very positive... this is just indie developer slop; the story is lazy (basically non-existent), with a cool art style to attract indie game enthusiasts and 10/10 ratings because popular YouTubers convinced them it's good.”
- “The rental man's story felt rushed and didn't make any sense whatsoever.”
- “The plot feels like it was written by a three year old; it has no lasting power.”
humor
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The game features a charming, lighthearted humor that balances its spooky, horror-adjacent atmosphere with cute, funny dialogue and quirky character interactions. Players appreciate its playful, deadpan tone and humorous commentary, which often undercuts traditional horror expectations to create a unique, amusing experience. While short and sometimes repetitive, the humor is consistently noted as a strong, endearing element that enhances the game's quirky appeal.
- “A very short but incredibly cute and funny horror game.”
- “It's a hilariously adorable little game with all the markers of retro horror but none of the actual horror.”
- “Rental's main strength lies in the writing which is pretty funny and keeps the tone light.”
- “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
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
65%
10%
The gameplay is simple and primarily involves exploring and item searching within a short, atmospheric experience, often described as more of a walking simulator with minimal puzzles or mechanics. While some players appreciate the nostalgic style and eerie ambiance, others find elements like the mirror maze frustrating, confusing, or tedious, impacting overall enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay is seen as basic and brief but suitably complements the game’s vibe, with many hoping for a more expanded and polished version in the future.
- “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.”
- “The gameplay and story are simple but fun nonetheless.”
- “I love how the gameplay changes from the top down perspective to the first person perspective!”
- “The creepy vibes were on point, but the gameplay itself is opaque and annoying.”
- “Requiring six crosses but throwing three of them in the dizziest maze I've ever played through felt like padding the gameplay time, and I ended up looking up a guide just so I could get over the splitting headache that part was giving me.”
- “The games 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 in gameplay then you have yourself bad game design.”
music
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The music is widely praised for its eerie, relaxing, and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's spooky yet charming atmosphere. While some players find the soundtrack minimal or nearly absent at times, most appreciate its alignment with the art style and overall vibe, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic and emotional impact.
- “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.”
- “A simple experience with music that traps you and a story that captivates you from the start, the cartoony visuals are mixed so well that even though it's short, a very good game for the value.”
- “Because there is no music, only weird and random sounds, it increases the discomfort of the player.”
- “It's a shame I can't say the same about the music; the soundtrack is practically non-existent.”
- “There's no music but for some reason the floating desk makes a noise.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The game delivers a mix of wholesome charm and unsettling horror, creating a strong emotional rollercoaster of dread, unease, and occasional humor. However, many players found the first-person labyrinth section physically disorienting and nauseating, which impacted their overall enjoyment. Despite this, the game's nostalgic style and emotional moments, including emotional depth and quirky character interactions, resonate well with fans.
- “Incredible emotional roller coaster, as I felt utter dread at the tense and unnerving atmosphere, only to feel enough confusion to make me want to box the shadowy figure due to not figuring out where to go.”
- “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').”
- “Perfect blend of comedy and horror, genuinely made me feel a little uneasy at some parts, made me laugh super hard at others.”
- “Looks great but has a boring story.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The character development is primarily praised for its cute, charming, and nostalgic designs that blend adorably with the game's eerie atmosphere. Players appreciate the unique mix of sweet character visuals and the intriguing, mysterious setting, creating a memorable and endearing experience.
- “The mix between the eerie atmosphere and the adorable character design is interesting.”
- “Cute character designs, some slightly quirky dialogue, and a lot of mystery looming around your newly rented house... plus, this game has no jumpscares!”
- “Love the art direction, feels very nostalgic and the character designs are adorable!”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The grinding, particularly in the labyrinth sections, is widely described as tedious and overly lengthy, leading to frustration and even motion sickness for some players. While the game’s atmosphere and concept are praised, the repetitive maze navigation can detract from the overall experience.
- “The labyrinthine part became so tedious that I had to just alt + f4.”
- “The maze is too long and you can easily get lost, which maybe was meant to be part of the fear, but after a while it does feel a bit tedious.”
- “The labyrinth area was tedious and made me very motion sick.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game offers a charming and concise experience with a moderate level of replayability, enhanced by optional secrets and achievements. Its gameplay evolves slightly with each playthrough, adding some variety, though overall replay value remains limited. It's especially appreciated for a free title, balancing short duration with surprising depth.
- “There’s also optional content to explore for those who enjoy finding every secret or unlocking achievements, giving it some added replay value.”
- “There's a bit of replay value not just to get all the achievements/speed-running the game, but the game seems to change the more you replay it.”
- “Lovely little game, short but neat amount of replayability, very nice :3”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game exhibits several stability issues, including frequent camera glitches, visible out-of-bounds areas, invisible walls, and inconsistent visual elements like Umi's changing smile. While gameplay is generally smooth and bug-free, some minor bugs and design oversights detract from immersion. Despite these, the experience remains engaging, though the horror elements feel underdeveloped and sometimes rely on glitches.
- “No glitches or bugs, smooth gameplay, and getting the achievements took less than an hour but held my attention.”
- “Umi's head glitches when walking past certain objects.”
- “The camera sometimes takes a second or two to transition to the next room.”
- “There are invisible walls in the horizontal hallway without explanation.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization shows mixed results, running well with keyboard and mouse but experiencing poor performance on some platforms, likely due to rendering issues. Deck performance is notably better, as highlighted in user reviews.
- “It works well with keyboard and mouse; see fantasmagorica's review on Steam for deck performance.”
- “Cool concept, but the game performance is horrible for some reason (rendering I guess).”