The 7th Guest

About

"The 7th Guest" is a single-player Horror Point and Click game with a good plot, graphics, and music, but can be very grinding. Players explore a haunted mansion, where the master toy maker Stauf's game comes to life, revealing the horror that occurred when six guests were invited. The game is known for its groundbreaking use of full-motion video, live actors, and 3D-rendered environments, as well as Stauf's bizarre puzzles that players must solve to end the nightmare.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 381 reviews

story46 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

The game features a nostalgic atmosphere and is a classic from the 90s, appealing to fans of retro gaming.
The puzzles are varied and can be quite challenging, providing a sense of accomplishment when solved.
The FMV cutscenes, while cheesy, add a unique charm and character to the game.

The game has aged poorly, with outdated graphics and slow movement that can frustrate modern players.
Many puzzles lack clear instructions, leading to confusion and reliance on guides.
The voice acting and dialogue can be repetitive and annoying, detracting from the overall experience.

story
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The story of "The 7th Guest" is a mix of campy horror and mystery, featuring a disjointed narrative that unfolds through full-motion video cutscenes and ghostly visions of the past. While some players find the plot intriguing and atmospheric, many criticize it for being confusing, poorly acted, and lacking coherence, often feeling like a collection of random scenes rather than a cohesive tale. Despite its flaws, the story retains a nostalgic charm for those who appreciate its cheesy elements and the challenge of piecing together the narrative through gameplay.
- “As a seasoned gamer who appreciates captivating storytelling and challenging puzzles, I can confidently say that this game is a masterful blend of mystery, horror, and brain-teasing delights.”
- “The game's captivating storyline unfolds through beautifully crafted FMV (full motion video) sequences that bring the characters and setting to life.”
- “The story hooks you from the get-go; not only is it full of conventional intrigue, but it has the clever twist that the story sequences are not experienced as events in the here-and-now, but ghostly visions of past events.”
- “By the time I've found the next puzzle, I've already forgotten where in the rather weak story I'm at.”
- “The puzzles have no reason to be there and they are not tied to the environment or story.”
- “The story actually doesn't make much sense overall, and due to the poor quality of the FMV, it can be difficult keeping track of the story and what is actually happening.”
graphics
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
58%
14%
The graphics of *The 7th Guest* are widely regarded as dated by modern standards, reflecting its 1993 origins, yet they were considered groundbreaking at the time of release, particularly for their use of pre-rendered visuals and full-motion video. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and atmospheric detail, many criticize the poor quality of the visuals and user interface, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a historical curiosity that showcases the evolution of graphics in gaming, but it may not appeal to those accustomed to contemporary standards.
- “The eerie ambiance, hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, and haunting visuals create an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impression.”
- “The combination of atmospheric sound effects, eerie music, and beautifully rendered pre-rendered graphics creates a sense of dread and anticipation as you explore the mansion's dimly lit hallways and unsettling rooms.”
- “For its age, the game is still challenging, even if the graphics are a bit dated (perhaps even to the point of being retro-cool perhaps?) and I guarantee you will be googling solutions at some point(s).”
- “Add to that the dated graphics and terrible UI, and you get a pretty rough experience.”
- “The graphics are dated, the acting is laughable, and the interface is as basic as they come; but this isn't the reason to check out The 7th Guest.”
- “While the game was graphically advanced when it was first released, nowadays it looks terrible in comparison to more recent releases, primarily due to the FMVs used throughout.”
music
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
10%
The music in the game is a polarizing aspect, with many praising the atmospheric and haunting soundtrack composed by George Sanger, also known as "The Fat Man," which enhances the eerie ambiance and overall experience. However, some users criticize the MIDI quality and volume issues, noting that it often drowns out voice acting and can detract from the game's intended horror atmosphere. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered a highlight by many, its execution and integration into the gameplay have received mixed reviews.
- “The eerie ambiance, hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, and haunting visuals create an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impression.”
- “The music is nothing short of terrific, setting just the right tone of inviting mystery while being melodically gratifying enough that I more than once just sat back happily enjoying the tunes.”
- “The best reason to play 7th Guest is the wonderful music by the Fat Man; you might also like to play it to get a glimpse of what gaming was like in the 90s.”
- “The music is atonal and grating, the cutscenes are so pixelated and impossible to discern, and virtually every experience is slowed to a Windows 3.11 level.”
- “The game is meant to be a horror game but the music is so cheesy and mismatched that it kills any sense of dread or atmosphere.”
- “It's the tendency for the voice to be drowned out by the music that really hurts the presentation.”
gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
15%
The gameplay of the game is often criticized for being slow, clunky, and outdated, with many puzzles feeling tedious and lacking clear hints. While some players appreciate the nostalgic value and the charm of the story and atmosphere, others find the mechanics frustrating and the overall experience lacking compared to modern standards. Despite its innovative use of CD-ROM technology at the time, the gameplay has not aged well, making it more suitable for those seeking a nostalgic trip rather than a compelling gaming experience.
- “It was one of the first games to utilize CD-ROM technology to its full potential, providing stunning visuals, high-quality audio, and an innovative gameplay experience.”
- “The story is intricately woven into the gameplay, and while the voice acting may feel dated, it adds to the game's overall charm and contributes to the eerie ambiance.”
- “The puzzles themselves that you solve to make these apparitions appear (the bulk of the gameplay) are also surprisingly fun - when they tell you what they want from you.”
- “The gameplay is mostly about solving the puzzles, much like many other games of this genre.”
- “The puzzles are extremely obscure, the gameplay is rather obnoxious, and the slow transitions between the pre-rendered screens get very frustrating after a while.”
- “But the gameplay isn't just ruined by most of the puzzles: the sequences where you move around the mansion combined with the occasionally meaningless cutscenes that can trigger at any moment make it a tedious waste of time.”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
23%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, enhanced by a chilling soundtrack and live-action performances that draw players into the eerie setting of the Stauf mansion. Reviewers highlight the combination of unsettling visuals, sound effects, and a gripping narrative, which together create a memorable experience that remains impactful even decades after its release. While some aspects, like graphics and puzzle difficulty, show their age, the overall atmospheric design continues to resonate with players seeking a captivating horror-puzzle adventure.
- “The live-action performances add an immersive layer to the storytelling, drawing you deeper into the chilling atmosphere of the Stauf mansion.”
- “The eerie ambiance, hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack, and haunting visuals create an unforgettable experience that leaves a lasting impression.”
- “The combination of atmospheric sound effects, eerie music, and beautifully rendered pre-rendered graphics creates a sense of dread and anticipation as you explore the mansion's dimly lit hallways and unsettling rooms.”
- “One of the standout features of The 7th Guest is its haunting atmosphere.”
- “I also remember it giving me the creeps between the music, the scenes, and the atmosphere.”
- “Graphics are really dated, but I must say that they managed to present a disturbing enough atmosphere with decent attention to detail.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious and frustrating puzzles, slow movement, and unskippable cutscenes that detract from the experience. Many players find the puzzles to be a mix of overly simplistic, nonsensical, or excessively complicated, leading to a sense of annoyance rather than enjoyment. The combination of clunky navigation and drawn-out gameplay makes progression feel more like a chore than a rewarding challenge.
- “My major gripe is in all the drawn-out unskippable cutscenes and the long tedious walks down halls.”
- “But when it takes so long to explore what is a relatively small mansion, it becomes more tedious than worth the reward you feel when progressing.”
- “But the gameplay isn't just ruined by most of the puzzles: the sequences where you move around the mansion combined with the occasionally meaningless cutscenes that can trigger at any moment makes it a tedious waste of time.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its campy and cheesy style, featuring amusing voice acting and memorable insults from characters like Henry Stauf. Players appreciate the blend of silly humor with challenging puzzles, as well as the entertaining animations and music that enhance the comedic experience. Overall, the game successfully combines a lighthearted tone with engaging gameplay, making it a fun and nostalgic experience.
- “We weren't just moving those chess pieces, we were enjoying the animation, music, and of course, Henry Stauf's insults, which were cheesy and very funny.”
- “The voice acting and the actors are hilarious to watch, especially when they attempt to kill or hurt someone.”
- “This game has a lot of silly humor, hard puzzles, and a very neat storyline.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the multiple endings that encourage exploration, others find that once puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to replay due to their difficulty and lack of engaging content. Additionally, technical issues and unskippable cutscenes detract from the overall experience, leading to a consensus that replay value is limited.
- “With multiple endings to uncover, the game encourages replayability and exploration, ensuring that each playthrough remains intriguing and fresh.”
- “Although a childhood favorite, it does not have much replay value; once you know how to solve the puzzles, you breeze through the game.”
- “The puzzles, once solved, provide almost no replay value other than the microscope in the lab.”
- “This game didn’t age well; the FMV is horrible by today's standards, voice acting is not great, and some puzzles are just sadistically hard and do not have replayability.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its impressive graphics tailored for modern hardware, enhancing the immersive experience. However, some users feel that there could be more optimization, particularly in the live-action performances and voice acting, which do not meet high standards.
- “Great graphics, optimized for today's hardware, and good music are one of the game's standouts.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting significant bugs, jerky performance, and frequent audio/visual glitches that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the campy charm and engaging gameplay, the interruptions and freezing during key moments ultimately lead to frustration and make it nearly unplayable for many.
- “Buggy, jerky, absolutely unplayable.”
- “Stauf also likes to interrupt you to make puns and so on while you're solving the puzzles, which is swell and everything except for the fact that every time he wants to chat, it freezes the gameplay.”
- “However, the lag before any action (though I understand part of it is atmospheric!) and the graphic glitches finally drove me to give up on this game.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally engaging, with a captivating story that evokes nostalgia and a strong atmospheric presence that enhances the overall experience. The challenging puzzles further contribute to the emotional depth, making it a compelling choice for those who appreciate games that resonate on a personal level.
- “The puzzles are challenging, the story kept my attention, and it made me feel nostalgic.”
- “If you like atmospheric games that play on your emotional state, this is the one for you.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is noted to be effectively conveyed through the use of older and somewhat blurry character designs, which align well with the characters' conditions, enhancing the overall narrative experience without revealing any spoilers.
- “I won't present any spoilers here, but considering their condition, the old and somewhat blurry character designs ended up being quite appropriate.”