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The Happyhills Homicide

The Happyhills Homicide Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
95% User Score Based on 948 reviews

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PCWindows
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The Happyhills Homicide Game Cover

About

The Happyhills Homicide is a single player platformer game with horror and violence themes. It was developed by Copperbolt and was released on November 4, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"The Happyhills Homicide" is a violent video game where players assume the role of a stylish 80's slasher, tasked with killing targets in unique ways while avoiding detection. The game features disturbing cartoon graphics and challenges players to complete each level by adhering to a professional standard of creativity and stealth. With the recent update, level 5 has been altered to improve gameplay experience.

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The Happyhills Homicide screenshot
The Happyhills Homicide screenshot
The Happyhills Homicide screenshot
The Happyhills Homicide screenshot
The Happyhills Homicide screenshot
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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 948 reviews
story92 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique experience by allowing players to take on the role of both a killer and a detective, providing a fresh twist on the horror genre.
  • The pixel art style and retro aesthetic effectively capture the essence of classic slasher films, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • With its engaging story, creative kills, and numerous references to horror movies, the game is a fun and entertaining experience, especially considering it's free.
  • The gameplay can be overly simplistic at times, with some puzzles lacking depth and challenge, which may not satisfy players looking for a more complex experience.
  • Certain levels, particularly the final boss fight, can be frustratingly difficult due to hitbox issues and timing requirements, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
  • There are reports of bugs, such as glitches that prevent players from progressing in specific levels, which can lead to a frustrating experience.
  • story
    178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative that combines classic slasher elements with intriguing twists and character perspectives. While some found the plot to be simple or predictable, others praised its depth and the way it unfolds throughout gameplay, creating a captivating experience that pays homage to 80s horror films. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point, enhancing the gameplay and making it a worthwhile recommendation for fans of the genre.

    • “With a surprisingly good story and visuals, this is an easy recommendation.”
    • “The game play felt fluid, the story felt intriguing but still stayed within the roots of an 80's slasher classic, the audio track was so perfect and added the perfect atmosphere for the theme.”
    • “This game not only challenges you but also draws you into its world with its captivating story.”
    • “The whole story is only revealed at the end, which is a disappointment and as generic a bad guy as you can get.”
    • “The story is predictable and a bit bland.”
    • “Shitty gameplay with a shitty story.”
  • gameplay
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity, focusing on basic mechanics and button sequences that are easy to grasp, which some players found enjoyable while others felt it lacked depth. While the game features creative kills and a variety of puzzles, many reviews noted that the gameplay can feel limited and repetitive, with a short runtime of about an hour. Overall, it offers a fun experience with engaging visuals and a decent story, but it may not satisfy those looking for more complex gameplay.

    • “Super fun, smooth gameplay and feels like a love letter to classic slasher movies.”
    • “The gameplay is sharp and intelligently designed, showing clear care and attention to detail from the developers.”
    • “The core gameplay experience was a thoughtfully engaging delight trying to figure out how to actually get to the target, the story and atmosphere gave me the freaky 80s slasher and giallo vibes I needed and I appreciate the pixelated look and music despite it being more budgeted.”
    • “Moving onto the gameplay, this game doesn’t seem to strive for much as the gameplay is very simplistic, revolving around a couple button press sequences that take only a couple brain cells to figure out.”
    • “All the kills are really easily done, and I think this game was focusing more on the visuals in these gameplay parts rather than the gameplay itself.”
    • “My one criticism is that the gameplay feels quite limited in terms of movement and usage of items.”
  • graphics
    61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that effectively captures the 80s horror aesthetic, blending nostalgia with graphic violence. While some players appreciate the attention to detail and the eerie atmosphere created by the visuals and sound, others feel that the simplistic graphics detract from the gameplay experience. Overall, the visuals are well-received for their ability to evoke a sense of dread and complement the game's dark humor, though they may not appeal to everyone due to their graphic nature.

    • “The pixelated graphics work incredibly well for this vibe; the design and sound are also spot on.”
    • “The pixel art is deceptively charming, contrasting perfectly with the graphic violence, and the soundtrack heightens the tension in all the right ways.”
    • “The art style and aesthetic are great, and the game's tone perfectly matches the notes of suspense, dark humor, and gore that this genre is known for.”
    • “All the kills are really easily done, and I think this game was focusing more on the visuals in these gameplay parts rather than the gameplay itself.”
    • “It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to create 3D visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
    • “This features really godawful pixel crap 'art' instead of real graphics.”
  • music
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the 80s slasher atmosphere, featuring eerie synth tracks and catchy melodies that complement the visuals and gameplay. While some users noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive and occasionally buggy, the overall consensus is that it effectively captures the horror aesthetic and adds significant value to the gaming experience. Many players appreciate the nostalgic references and the way the music ramps up tension during key moments, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The game nails the 80s horror aesthetic with eerie synth music, VHS-style visuals, and a sense of dark humor that perfectly balances the brutality.”
    • “Amazing soundtrack, fits the theme of the game perfectly, giving that 80's horror movie vibes.”
    • “The pixel art is deceptively charming, contrasting perfectly with the graphic violence, and the soundtrack heightens the tension in all the right ways.”
    • “Game is buggy when it comes to audio, either playing the wrong music or going silent.”
    • “Fun fact, the buddy who I was streaming it for had recognized one of the music pieces from FL Studio and after looking up the development history on GameJolt, it was said that the developer replaced all of the current sounds with royalty-free sounds (a lot of them apparently from Left 4 Dead 2) so that would make sense on this end.”
    • “The music can be a bit tedious but 100% worth your time.”
  • humor
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever integration of dark and macabre elements, effectively balancing the horror aesthetic with visual gags and absurd moments. Players appreciate the over-the-top kill animations and quirky scenarios, which contribute to a fun and engaging experience, making it a recommended choice for fans of horror with a comedic twist. Overall, the game successfully delivers a blend of humor and horror that resonates well with its audience.

    • “The game nails the 80s horror aesthetic with eerie synth music, VHS-style visuals, and a sense of dark humor that perfectly balances the brutality.”
    • “The humorous moments hit so well too (e.g., the fan, the therapy clown), which is always a bonus.”
    • “The happyhills homicide delivers an unforgettable experience that perfectly blends retro aesthetics with dark, morbid humor.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "The Happyhills Homicide" is widely praised for its effective blend of 80s slasher vibes, retro aesthetics, and engaging audio design, which together create a fun yet tense experience. Players appreciate the eerie ambiance, creative puzzles, and catchy music that enhance the game's horror elements, although some note that the excessive gore may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of classic slasher films while providing an intriguing and immersive atmosphere.

    • “Like I said, the visuals are well done, and on top of that, the music and ambience throughout the game helps build a fun yet tense atmosphere that represents the 80s slasher style very well.”
    • “The core gameplay experience was a thoughtfully engaging delight trying to figure out how to actually get to the target, the story and atmosphere gave me the freaky 80s slasher and giallo vibes I needed and I appreciate the pixelated look and music despite it being more budgeted.”
    • “The retro aesthetic perfectly complements its eerie atmosphere, and the creative puzzles add a layer of fun.”
    • “While the game nails its tense atmosphere with unsettling background sound design and grotesque pixel art, the excessive gore and morally unsettling premise might alienate many players.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort. While some appreciate the overall fun and shorter game length, others note that certain levels can become tedious and repetitive, leading to a sense of staleness over time.

    • “Some of the levels can feel extremely tedious or annoying at times, and it does get a little bit stale after a while.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is criticized for its lack of variety, leading to a low replay value, with some users rating it as low as 2/10. However, its free-to-play model garners some appreciation despite the limited replayability.

    • “This lack of variety also makes the game feel like it has less replay value.”
    • “No replay value, but it's free, so thumbs up from me.”
    • “Replayability: 2/10”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been criticized for significant bugs, particularly with audio issues such as incorrect music playback and silence. Additionally, players have reported frustrating experiences with specific levels, notably the Madison level, which has been described as excessively buggy and detrimental to gameplay.

    • “The game is buggy when it comes to audio, either playing the wrong music or going silent.”
    • “The game was so buggy for me.”
    • “Happy Hills Homicide is a great game, except the Madison level; it is incredibly buggy and I got killed 1000 times over by her.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report that the game effectively evokes a strong sense of anxiety throughout, despite the absence of traditional jump scares, highlighting its ability to create a tense emotional atmosphere.

    • “Made me feel extremely anxious the entire time, even though there were no jump scares!”
    • “The story resonated with me on a personal level, evoking deep feelings of nostalgia and longing.”
    • “I found myself emotionally invested in the characters, feeling their pain and joy as if it were my own.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is praised for its minimalist design, featuring no HUD or clutter, which enhances the immersive experience and focuses players on their tools and interactions.

    • “No HUD, no clutter — just you, your tools, and the unfortunate soul on the other end of your very personal performance art.”
    • “The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, making it frustrating to play.”
    • “There are frequent frame drops and stuttering, which ruin the immersion.”
    • “The lack of optimization leads to long loading times and crashes during gameplay.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy is viewed positively, as it effectively promotes the upcoming sequel while integrating advertisements in a way that feels beneficial to the overall experience.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases makes it hard to stay engaged.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers express a desire for deeper character development, particularly for the main detective, suggesting that more background and personal insights would enhance the player's connection to the hero.

    • “I would have liked a bit more character development for the detective, as he's the hero and we should learn more about him.”
    • “I also would have liked a bit more character development for the detective, as he's the hero and we should find out a little more about him.”
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1h Median play time
1h Average play time
1-1h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Happyhills Homicide is a platformer game with horror and violence themes.

The Happyhills Homicide is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 1 hours playing The Happyhills Homicide.

The Happyhills Homicide was released on November 4, 2024.

The Happyhills Homicide was developed by Copperbolt.

The Happyhills Homicide has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Happyhills Homicide is a single player game.

Similar games include Amanda the Adventurer, The Happyhills Homicide 2: Out For Blood, Little Nightmares, BirdGut, There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension and others.