Stay Out of the House

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 661 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
Stay Out of the House Game Cover
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"Stay Out of the House" is a realistic serial killer escape simulation where players are held captive in a cannibal butcher's house and must find a way to escape within three days. With multiple possibilities and an AI that dynamically reacts to player choices, players can choose to rescue other victims or prioritize their own survival. Can you outsmart the butcher and escape his gruesome home?

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 661 reviews
gameplay20 positive mentions
stability20 negative mentions
  • The game offers a genuinely terrifying atmosphere with excellent sound design and PS1-style graphics that enhance the horror experience.
  • Gameplay is engaging with a mix of stealth, puzzle-solving, and resource management, providing a rewarding challenge for players.
  • The game features multiple endings and a rich lore, encouraging replayability and exploration of different strategies.
  • The game suffers from various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with item pickups and AI behavior.
  • Some puzzles can be overly cryptic or tedious, leading to frustration and a feeling of being stuck without clear direction.
  • The initial pacing can be slow, particularly in the early chapters, which may deter players from fully engaging with the game.
  • gameplay59 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its intense stealth mechanics, engaging puzzles, and a retro PS1 aesthetic that enhances the horror experience. While some players appreciate the depth and challenge of the mechanics, including survival elements and multiple approaches to problem-solving, others find certain systems, like inventory management and obscure objectives, frustrating. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of terror and fun, appealing to fans of the genre despite some technical issues and design quirks.

    • “Beyond that, you can challenge yourself further with the hard mode that makes the killer even harder to deal with and adds survival mechanics with hunger/thirst.”
    • “The stealth mechanics are great, using light and sound effectively (although I found the sound meter to be mostly obsolete, you can usually tell how much sound you're making well).”
    • “Actually scary, immersive-sim style gameplay where there can be multiple approaches and solutions to puzzles, and a fantastic PS1 graphic style that really sells the dirty, grimy, flat-out gross world you're inhabiting.”
    • “For the last 2 hours of my gameplay, I barely got out of the vents.”
    • “Inventory is too clunky for the speed at which gameplay takes place; it's very difficult to switch to the gun while running.”
    • “There's too much inventory management while you're fighting with the UI, too much important text to read that the lo-fi filters make inscrutable, and too many bad and janky mechanics when your life literally depends on it.”
  • graphics52 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a well-executed retro aesthetic, reminiscent of PS1 and VHS styles, which effectively enhances the horror atmosphere. Many reviewers appreciate the intentional low-poly visuals and the nostalgic feel, noting that they contribute significantly to the game's tension and immersive experience. However, some players find the reliance on filters and occasional bugs detract from the overall enjoyment, though the unique art style remains a highlight for fans of old-school horror games.

    • “The graphics are actually really nice and do so well to capture the horror aesthetic of the game; same with the sound, everything is spot on.”
    • “Perfect game to show that games don't need modern graphics to have a powerful effect!”
    • “Brilliantly lo-fi visuals and an impeccable sense of level design help to bring the world to life in a way that's a cut far above your standard indie horror game.”
    • “A really interesting atmosphere, premise, art style, and killer design ruined by tedious, annoying, and player-hating features.”
    • “The sounds and music are amazing and make it feel really uncomfortable, the graphics are PS1 style which adds to the horror fuel in my opinion.”
    • “The bugs, glitchiness, and lack of ambient music can seem like problems in the moment, but overall it adds to the experience and charm of the games I played in my youth that had these graphics.”
  • atmosphere45 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and terrifying qualities, often described as reminiscent of classic PS1 horror titles. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a tense, oppressive environment with minimal reliance on jump scares, instead focusing on ambient sound and unsettling visuals. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's horror experience.

    • “Master class in stealth horror design, the game is absolutely dripping in a foreboding, tense atmosphere.”
    • “The level design, atmosphere, aesthetic and audio are top tier.”
    • “The atmosphere is unlike anything else, and it refuses to relent for the entire runtime.”
    • “The atmosphere oozes uncomfortably and uneasiness.”
    • “Yet again, no music or anything to make the atmosphere feel tense.”
  • story41 mentions

    The game's story is a well-crafted blend of horror and mystery, with players encouraged to explore and uncover dark secrets while navigating a retro environment. While some find the narrative engaging and layered, others feel it becomes unfocused and overly reliant on gore, with a lack of compelling hooks to maintain interest. Overall, the story offers depth for those willing to delve into it, but its execution may not resonate with everyone, leading to mixed feelings about its pacing and coherence.

    • “The game has a good and interesting story in which it puts us in the situation of a young woman who finds herself in an extremely large place where we can explore and discover the dark secrets that this place hides.”
    • “Had a great mysterious story behind 'the butcher' and enjoyed reading all the notes and documents hidden around the game, an overall great horror game.”
    • “The game follows a coherent story that ties most of the Puppet Combo games together in a unique and interesting way, while giving the player the choice to either escape for their own life or risk going deeper into the house to unravel the mysteries of the butcher's motives.”
    • “Not much of a story hook to make you care enough to keep trying to figure things out.”
    • “The story becomes unfocused and confusing by the end, with many unexplained elements and plot threads.”
    • “However, I feel that the recent plot directions have leaned a bit heavier into the B slasher horror genre, and are a bit excessive when it comes to the presentation of horror.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game has been reported to have numerous minor glitches and bugs, including issues with clipping, enemies phasing through walls, and problematic cinematics, which can disrupt gameplay but generally do not ruin the overall experience. While some players have noted that these bugs can be frustrating, especially at launch, others appreciate the game's concept and fun despite its rough edges. Ongoing updates from the developers show a commitment to improving stability, but players should still expect a buggy experience.

    • “There's also a few minor glitches I experienced throughout the main game, such as doors clipping into other rooms (which prevented me from picking up items until I moved the door) and some other weird things, but nothing that ruined my experience.”
    • “I found this game full of glitches and needlessly frustrating.”
    • “I truly believe behind the bugs and glitches there is a good game here, but right now it just is not worth it.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during longer puzzle sections and extended cutscenes that disrupt immersion. While some appreciate the challenge and atmosphere, many feel that the experience becomes overly drawn out, detracting from the game's initial excitement. However, the presence of save points helps mitigate some of the tedium associated with dying or making mistakes.

    • “You can find plenty of VHS tapes to save your progress, so if you happen to die or mess up, it isn't tedious to get back to where you were.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “While the bulk of the game is 10/10, some of the longer puzzle sections are truly just tedious and sap away any fear that was previously earned, replaced with the 'please let this part end' type of feeling that I fear most games try to avoid.”
    • “A really interesting atmosphere, premise, art style, and killer design ruined by tedious, annoying, and player-hating features.”
    • “It's a very tedious experience.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the effective use of sound to create tension and enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of ambient music and sound design, which they find detracts from immersion. While some find the minimalistic approach terrifying and reminiscent of retro games, others feel it leads to a disjointed experience, leaving them waiting in silence for events to unfold. Overall, the effectiveness of the music and sound varies significantly among players, impacting their overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The sounds and music are amazing and make it feel really uncomfortable; the graphics are PS1 style, which adds to the horror fuel in my opinion.”
    • “The art, the music, the sound effects, and the visual style are incredible.”
    • “Every level had music that not only built tension but made the world feel real and alive.”
    • “Lack of any music here other than the sound cues is absolutely terrifying.”
    • “No sounds (and the sounds that do play are incredibly loud and have no distance meaning a customer could walk in and the door being extremely loud despite being on the other side of the store), no cheesy music in the background, nothing to immerse me in the experience.”
    • “Yet again, no music or anything to make the atmosphere feel tense.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game offers strong replayability due to its multiple endings and the exploration of various rooms, encouraging players to return for different experiences. While some reviews note that it may not have extensive replay value, the combination of intriguing puzzles and a manageable length keeps players engaged. The consensus highlights a balance between curiosity-driven exploration and the satisfaction of uncovering all the game's secrets.

    • “Highly recommend, fantastic replayability!”
    • “I still have not yet traversed every room in the house, adding replay value to the game as I am still curious about what is in two rooms.”
    • “I also enjoy the replay value of this game; different endings make you more prone to going back and doing something different.”
    • “I still have not yet traversed every room in the house, adding replay value to the game as I am still curious as to what is in two rooms.”
    • “It's short enough to have a lot of replay value with multiple endings to get, but long enough to really get a feel for the entire house as you crawl your way through disgusting, derelict hallways, closets, vents, and corridors.”
    • “The game doesn't necessarily take that long to complete and doesn't have that much replay value, but hey, it's an indie game and the price is decent.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and quirky, particularly through characters like the hilarious granny and absurd situations such as glitches and the killer's darkly comedic tactics. The blend of personality and humor, alongside the emotional strain experienced by players, adds a unique comedic layer to the gameplay.

    • “Granny is absolutely hilarious, caw caw.”
    • “There's also a strong sense of personality and humor, like for example how the killer forces his victims to watch brainwashing propaganda channels on the TVs scattered throughout the house, or how the grandma can ride her wheelchair up and down a flight of stairs.”
    • “Just the amount of mental/emotional strain the player goes through during a Puppet Combo game is hilarious; I love it, lol.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, highlighting feelings of unease and fear that linger even after gameplay. The experience is described as both mentally and emotionally taxing, with some finding the intensity amusing despite its horror elements. Overall, the game effectively evokes a visceral emotional response, making it memorable for players.

    • “It's been a while since I last played a horror game that actually made me feel uneasy, so I'd say this game did a pretty good job of making me nearly shit myself while playing it.”
    • “Just the amount of mental and emotional strain the player goes through during a Puppet Combo game is hilarious; I love it!”
  • character development2 mentions

    While the reviews highlight the excellence of the environments, character designs, and scares, they do not provide specific insights into character development. Overall, the focus seems to be more on the aesthetic and atmospheric elements rather than the growth or depth of the characters themselves.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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