Stay Out of the House

About

"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?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,303 reviews

gameplay40 positive mentions

stability40 negative mentions

The game offers a terrifying atmosphere and is genuinely scary, making it one of the best horror experiences for fans of the genre.
Gameplay mechanics are engaging, with a mix of stealth, puzzle-solving, and resource management that keeps players on edge.
The retro PS1 aesthetic and sound design effectively enhance the horror experience, creating a nostalgic yet unsettling vibe.

The game is plagued by bugs and technical issues, including glitches that can lead to soft locks and frustrating gameplay experiences.
Some puzzles are overly cryptic and can lead to tedious backtracking, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
The AI behavior can be inconsistent, with the killer sometimes being overly aggressive or failing to react as expected, leading to unfair deaths.

gameplay
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The gameplay is characterized by its tense stealth mechanics, engaging puzzles, and a strong emphasis on survival, reminiscent of classic PS1 horror games. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay systems, some criticize the clunky inventory management and occasional frustrating mechanics. Overall, the game offers a rich and immersive experience, appealing to fans of the genre despite some technical issues and design choices that may not suit everyone.
- “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.”
- “Extremely tense stealth gameplay, great visual design, lots to explore, lots of puzzles to solve, very open-ended, and a good challenge.”
- “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 upon it.”
graphics
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a well-executed PS1 retro aesthetic that effectively enhances the horror atmosphere, drawing comparisons to 80s slasher films. While many players appreciate the nostalgic visuals and their contribution to the game's tension, some criticize the reliance on filters that can obscure readability and create a visually unpleasant experience. Overall, the graphics are praised for their artistic intent and ability to evoke a sense of dread, making them a standout feature for fans of indie horror.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The atmosphere is spot-on, the PS1-era aesthetic is great.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, often described as palpable, oppressive, and reminiscent of classic horror films like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Reviewers highlight the effective use of ambient sound, unique art styles, and a focus on psychological tension over jump scares, creating a deeply engaging experience. While some critiques mention technical issues or reliance on jumpscares in certain titles, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout feature that enhances the horror experience.
- “It establishes an atmosphere and never lets go of it throughout the entire duration - some insanely good ambience here.”
- “The first time playing this through was magic, the atmosphere is palpable, and the game really is scary.”
- “Master class in stealth horror design, the game is absolutely dripping in a foreboding, tense atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere in this game isn't the best, and is reliant on the jumpscares.”
- “Yet again, no music or anything to make the atmosphere feel tense.”
- “The atmosphere oozes uncomfortably and uneasiness.”
story
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The game's story is described as a well-crafted yet sometimes unfocused narrative that intertwines with environmental storytelling and puzzle-solving elements. While some players found the plot engaging and appreciated the multiple endings and lore, others felt it became convoluted and leaned too heavily into horror tropes, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the story offers depth for those willing to explore it, but may not captivate all players equally.
- “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, eradicating the evil within.”
- “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.”
- “For those who bought it - do yourself a favor and try to get all endings, as there is more than one layer of the story in this game (and each is satisfying).”
- “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.”
stability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have numerous bugs and glitches, including issues like clipping doors, enemies phasing through walls, and game-breaking soft locks, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players found these bugs frustrating, many still enjoyed the gameplay and acknowledged that the developers are actively working on fixes. Overall, the game's stability is considered rough, with a significant number of minor issues that may impact enjoyment, but not to the extent of rendering it unplayable.
- “I really want to recommend this game... but it's just so damn buggy.”
- “I found this game full of glitches and needlessly frustrating.”
- “This game feels incredibly rough; it has a really good concept and great ideas based on Resident Evil and Granny, but unfortunately feels really rough and buggy.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
11%
78%
Players generally find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during longer puzzle sections and extended cutscenes that disrupt immersion. While some appreciate the game's atmosphere and design, many feel that the repetitive nature of certain tasks detracts from the overall experience. However, the inclusion of save points helps mitigate some of the grind, allowing players to recover more easily from 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.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
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 detracts from immersion. While some find the minimalistic approach terrifying and reminiscent of classic horror 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.”
- “No ambient noise, let alone music, and you spend most of the time just standing around hoping that some sort of event trigger occurs to progress the game as you stand still in a 4x4ft room.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, driven by multiple endings and the exploration of various rooms that encourage players to return. While some reviews note that it may not have extensive replay value, the combination of intriguing puzzles and a manageable length makes it appealing for repeated playthroughs. The curiosity to uncover all aspects of the game adds to its replay potential, especially given its indie pricing.
- “I also enjoy the replay value of this game; different endings make you more prone to going back and doing something different.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding elements like Granny's antics and absurd situations—such as characters clipping through floors and the killer's darkly comedic methods—hilarious. The blend of personality and humor, particularly in the interactions and scenarios, adds a unique charm that resonates with players, making the emotional strain of gameplay amusing rather than purely stressful. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its appeal.
- “Granny is absolutely hilarious, caw caw.”
- “There's also a strong sense of personality and humor, like 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 and emotional strain the player goes through during a Puppet Combo game is hilarious; I love it!”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, highlighting feelings of unease and fear that linger even after gameplay. The intense mental strain experienced during play is both amusing and terrifying, contributing to a memorable horror experience. Overall, the game effectively evokes a visceral emotional response, making it a standout in the horror genre.
- “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 development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that while the environments, character designs, and scares are excellent, there is no specific mention of character development, suggesting it may not be a focal point of the game.