Secret Neighbor

Secret Neighbor is, in theory, a meaningful and intriguing spin-off from Hello Neighbor, introducing multiplayer elements that really should work quite well. In practice, however, the game suffers from poor controls, unremarkable environmental design, and quite frankly, its own player base. Matches turn into insufferable spectacles of chaos, and even when players commit to the game’s rules, it’s still completely unbalanced, favouring the incredibly powerful Neighbor each and every time. Even if you’re a fan of asymmetric multiplayer games, you're better off skipping this one.

73%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

stability, story

83% User Score Based on 6,314 reviews

Critic Score 47%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Secret Neighbor is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Eerie Guest Studios and was released on October 24, 2019. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Secret Neighbor is a Multiplayer Social Horror game set in the Hello Neighbor universe. A group of kids tries to sneak into their creepy Neighbor's basement to rescue their missing friend. The only problem is one of the players is a traitor in disguise. Yes, you can play as the Neighbor.

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,314 reviews

gameplay82 positive mentions

stability71 negative mentions

gameplay
251 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The gameplay of "Secret Neighbor" is characterized by its blend of social deduction, stealth mechanics, and cooperative multiplayer elements, creating a tense and engaging experience. While many players appreciate the unique premise and strategic interactions, some criticize the repetitive nature of gameplay and the steep learning curve for newcomers. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit sometimes flawed, experience that can be enhanced when played with friends, despite occasional balance issues and bugs.
- “Secret Neighbor is a tense and cleverly designed multiplayer horror game that blends social deduction mechanics with cooperative stealth gameplay, offering a fresh take on the haunted house genre.”
- “The balance between cooperation and mistrust is finely tuned, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging across multiple rounds.”
- “Its accessible gameplay, coupled with the potential for thrilling betrayals and unexpected alliances, makes it a standout choice for players seeking a unique and enjoyable multiplayer experience.”
- “The gameplay loop gets old fast.”
- “However, it does have its flaws, including repetitive gameplay and clunky controls.”
- “The gameplay isn't that deep and gets stale after a few hours, but the first few hours are fantastic.”
graphics
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a stylized, cartoonish art style that effectively complements its dark themes, creating a unique and unsettling atmosphere. While some players appreciate the vibrant visuals and detail, others criticize recent updates for altering the art style and introducing bugs, leading to mixed opinions on the overall quality. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, especially for multiplayer gameplay, but performance issues and aesthetic changes have sparked debate among the community.
- “Visually, Secret Neighbor adopts a stylized, cartoonish art style that contrasts with its dark themes.”
- “While the graphics may not push technical boundaries, the artistic direction effectively supports the game’s mood and mechanics.”
- “The game’s visual style carries over the distinct, cartoonish art style from Hello Neighbor, creating a world that’s colorful yet subtly unsettling.”
- “The game is graphically dated and the controls are clunky.”
- “The art-style was updated, which I didn't like, and they drastically changed many gameplay mechanics.”
- “New update is extremely low-quality, unbalanced and makes the artstyle even more of a mess than it already had been.”
humor
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly when played with friends, as it fosters hilarious moments and unexpected betrayals. Players enjoy the combination of funny interactions, proximity chat, and the tension of not knowing who the neighbor is, which enhances the comedic experience. While some mention that the game can feel less funny when played solo or with a less engaged community, the overall consensus is that it offers a fun and entertaining multiplayer experience.
- “It's so funny when you play with your friends :)”
- “The potential for hilarious moments and unexpected betrayals adds a layer of humor that complements the tension-filled gameplay.”
- “Hilariously enough me and my friends have made countless jokes of a neighbor chasing kids.”
- “It's not funny.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it just didn't deliver.”
stability
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users acknowledge that the developers are working on fixes, many express frustration over the frequency and severity of these issues, which can lead to crashes and frustrating experiences. Overall, while the game is considered fun, its stability remains a significant concern for many players.
- “The game runs awesomely on my RTX 1050, with an 8-core processor and 8 GB of RAM, maintaining great performance on medium settings. Anything above that can run at 200 FPS effortlessly.”
- “No glitches or bugs, and the graphics are good. It's fun to play with friends.”
- “After fixing the issue with my new computer, the game runs great.”
- “The game was very buggy, to the point I couldn't finish the tutorial because key cards would either not spawn or spawn in locations I couldn't access.”
- “Updates are scarce and nearly nonexistent, the game is repetitive, there is very little content, glitches are everywhere, hackers galore, and you can do nothing against toxic players.”
- “This game is horrifically buggy, oh my god.”
story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
76%
13%
The game's story revolves around a unique blend of teamwork and betrayal, where players must collaborate to rescue a friend trapped in a basement while one player secretly acts as the antagonist, the neighbor. While some players find the plot engaging and fun, others note that the story lacks depth compared to the single-player experience, often feeling minimal or overshadowed by gameplay mechanics. Overall, the narrative serves as a backdrop for the multiplayer experience, with varying levels of investment from players.
- “What makes Secret Neighbor particularly engaging is its unique mix of teamwork and betrayal, where players must work together to rescue a friend trapped in a creepy basement, all while one player secretly plays as the neighbor—an antagonist disguised as a teammate aiming to sabotage the mission from within.”
- “It keeps me invested in the story of the characters and lets me emotionally connect with them. The show also created an incentive to play this, but now that it's about to finish, I think I'll stop being so invested in the Hello Neighbor storyline.”
- “This game is the most fun game I've played so far. The graphics and animations are amazing, and the gameplay is really fun, which leads to the very smart storyline of this game. This means this game should be recommended to other Steam users.”
- “☑ no story”
- “Game has no story on it.”
- “Its not co-op story for playing with friends; it's a PvP game. If you think to buy it to play the story with friends, think again.”
optimization
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
57%
32%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, even on lower settings. While some updates have improved performance for certain users, overall, the game is criticized for its poor optimization, leading to stuttering, inconsistent network performance, and a lack of responsiveness on various hardware configurations. Developers are reportedly aware of these issues and are working on improvements, but many players still find the optimization lacking.
- “I bought this game because of the YouTube group ItsFunneh and the Krew because it looked really fun. At first, my computer couldn't handle the game even on the lowest graphics settings, but since they've done a performance update, my computer can handle it now and it's a lot of fun.”
- “The graphics overall are clean and well optimized on my computer.”
- “The game also has some optimization and connection issues, which are being addressed (as per the dev's Twitter).”
- “Unfortunately, this game hasn’t been well-optimized.”
- “Poor optimization drives players away, no matter how good the game might be.”
- “Great game and concept which only gets exponentially better with friends, however it's currently poorly optimized and on my lower-end computer I have troubles running on the lowest settings.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The atmosphere in "Secret Neighbor" is characterized by a tense and immersive blend of suspicion, paranoia, and strategic gameplay, enhanced by effective sound design that contributes to its horror elements. Players experience a dynamic environment where trust and betrayal play crucial roles, creating a compelling social atmosphere that is both thrilling and engaging. While the game has made strides in developing its eerie ambiance, some users feel that the horror aspect is still evolving and could benefit from further refinement.
- “The neighbor’s goal is to blend in, gain trust, and subtly sabotage the efforts of the other players, creating a dynamic atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia.”
- “The sound design, from eerie creaks to sudden noises, enhances the suspense and adds to the immersive horror atmosphere.”
- “The horror aspect is being worked on with every new update and the atmosphere is being tinkered with as a chase for an actually scary atmosphere, but we're not there quite yet.”
- “The game's genius lies in its simplicity, creating an atmosphere of constant tension and mistrust as players navigate through the neighbor's house, solving puzzles, and attempting to reveal the secret identity.”
- “The sound design is pretty good, with eerie music and sounds that add to the creepy atmosphere.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
57%
17%
The game's replayability is bolstered by a diverse cast of characters with unique abilities, making it particularly enjoyable in multiplayer settings. However, the limited map variety and minimal progression elements can hinder long-term replay value, despite updates and community events that help maintain player interest. Overall, while many players find the game infinitely replayable, others note that repetitive gameplay mechanics may diminish its appeal over time.
- “The game features a variety of characters, each with unique abilities and personalities that add depth and replayability.”
- “Whether you’re strategizing with friends or plotting as the devious neighbor, this game delivers endless excitement and replayability.”
- “This variety is a testament to the game's replayability, providing an incentive for players to return for more rounds of deception and strategy.”
- “Additionally, the limited map variety can impact long-term replayability, although updates and community events have helped mitigate this.”
- “However, there's not a lot of replayability since every round only changes the placement of the keys, and that's pretty much it...”
- “Game crashes 70% of the time loading a game, bugs galore, OP neighbor, no balanced gameplay, muting doesn't work 80% of the time, horrible lag, & no replay value.”
monetization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
54%
32%
The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a cash grab due to its initial purchase price combined with numerous microtransactions for in-game items and skins. Users express frustration over the high costs and the perception that the game would have benefited from a free-to-play model, which could have attracted a larger player base. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as exploitative, detracting from the game's enjoyment and value.
- “It is different than Hello Neighbor in such ways as the neighbor is a player and not AI, it's multiplayer with 6 players: 5 kids and 1 neighbor who can hide as a kid. It features matches instead of acts, and different kids and neighbor classes, with in-game purchases and purchasable skins.”
- “There are also very few cosmetics worth buying, which seem to be on an infinite loop, and microtransactions for a few existing items, although not for any kind of extortionate price.”
- “I like the idea of the item shop but not the microtransactions.”
- “Trash game with extremely high prices for everything and is filled with cancerous microtransactions.”
- “$20 game with microtransactions.”
- “The worst part is that this game is $20 on Steam, and it has more in-app purchases to come.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The music in "Secret Neighbor" is noted for its eerie and suspenseful qualities, enhancing the game's creepy atmosphere and appeal to fans of multiplayer horror. However, players have expressed disappointment over the repetitive nature of the current soundtrack and the absence of the more chilling music from earlier versions, which they believe would improve the gameplay experience. Overall, while the sound design contributes positively to the game's ambiance, there are calls for improvements and a return to the original creepy tracks.
- “Secret Neighbor's unique art style, combined with an eerie soundtrack and suspenseful gameplay, makes it perfect for fans of multiplayer games that require both skill and psychological wit.”
- “The sound design is pretty good, with eerie music and sounds that add to the creepy atmosphere.”
- “If you like multiplayer and horror games (not so horror but the music gives you chills), this game is perfect!”
- “This game still needs a lot of work; the soundtrack keeps repeating itself and it quickly gets annoying. The controls are horrible; my hands can't reach the number row, so I usually use the mouse wheel to switch between items, but in this game you can't!?”
- “Now when I play the newest version, there is no creepy music. I want developers to get back this music because I think gameplay would be scarier and more interesting.”
- “There is a bug that happens every now and then where I'll hear the neighbor chase music even when I'm not near him, and then I'll fall through the map.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
72%
21%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as excessively time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires a significant investment of time, akin to needing a "second life" to complete. While some find it manageable and not overly tedious, particularly if they are not focused on achieving 100%, the general consensus leans towards it being a grind-heavy experience.
- “Shockingly not that tedious, even though it is a Hello Neighbor spin-off.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A little grindy, but only if you care about 100% completion.”
- “Being able to directly invite people would make matchmaking so much less tedious and quicker.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of feelings, ranging from wholesome enjoyment to frustration due to technical issues. While some players find it heartwarming and fun, others express a disconnect, suggesting that the game's emotional impact may vary significantly among individuals. Overall, it appears to evoke both positive and negative emotions, depending on the player's experience.
- “Well made and wholesome.”
- “But if you would ask me is this game well made and wholesome I would say 'yes'.”
- “It's still a heartwarming game for you that are raging in CS:GO, have fun!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is highlighted by charming designs and engaging environments that balance playful elements with ominous undertones. The character design is structured around a point system, adding a unique layer to the development process.
- “The character designs are charming, and the environments, though filled with ominous undertones, retain a playful and engaging quality.”
- “This entire game's character design is based on a point system.”