The Happyhills Homicide
- November 4, 2024
- Copperbolt
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "The Happyhills Homicide," players are welcome to a twisted town where they can fulfill dark desires and unleash their violent creativity, solving crimes in a unique and morbid fashion. With various ways to murder, investigate, and explore, this game offers a dark and humorous take on the traditional murder mystery genre. However, be warned, Happyhills is not for the faint of heart.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredibly well-made for a free game, with great graphics, engaging gameplay, and a captivating story that keeps players guessing.
- The retro pixel art and sound design effectively create a tense atmosphere, appealing to fans of slasher horror.
- Unique gameplay mechanics allow players to experience both the killer and detective perspectives, adding depth and strategy to the game.
- The game is quite short, with only about an hour of gameplay, which may leave some players wanting more.
- Excessive gore and a morally unsettling premise may alienate players who are not fans of graphic violence.
- Some players experienced bugs and technical issues, which detracted from the overall experience.
- story12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is highly praised for its complexity and engaging twists, effectively blending puzzle elements with dark, intriguing themes. Players appreciate the dual perspective of both detective and killer, as well as the subtle yet impactful storytelling that unfolds through the environments and character motivations. Overall, the narrative captivates players, leaving them eager for more and intrigued by its slasher horror references and graphic visuals.
“At its core, it’s a puzzle game layered with dark and intriguing undertones that unfold through a story full of twists.”
“The game’s story became more complex and fascinating with each level, encouraging me to continue playing.”
“I'm not gonna spoil the story as it's probably a lot of people's first time going through this, but there is some sort of method to the madness when it comes to who he kills, and this game does throw you off quite a few times.”
“That may not sound like much, but the game slowly reveals the backstory of the serial killer and their motivations over the course of the game's 20 levels, unveiling quite an interesting mystery into their origins before its ominous ending.”
“The storytelling is subtle yet effective, letting the environments and actions paint a chilling picture of madness.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its sharp design and attention to detail, offering a mix of straightforward mechanics and engaging puzzles that enhance the experience. While some players note the game is short, lasting only about an hour, the overall execution and visuals are well-received, with many expressing a desire for expanded mechanics in future iterations. The combination of chilling visuals and fitting background music further contributes to a compelling gameplay atmosphere.
“The gameplay is sharp and intelligently designed, showing clear care and attention to detail from the developers.”
“Gameplay involves you going through levels murdering people, but also having to solve puzzles along the way such as breaking a bottle to distract someone, timing thunderstorms so you don't wake up a dog, and setting off bear traps with a rake. It's not hard at all, but also not blatantly obvious, especially towards the last few levels.”
“I think the puzzles and gameplay are well done; the creator adds mechanics as you play, and some puzzles can be a bit challenging at first.”
“Gameplay involves you going through levels murdering people, but also having to solve puzzles along the way such as breaking a bottle to distract someone, timing thunderstorms so you don't wake up a dog, having to set off bear traps with a rake, etc. It's not hard at all, but also not blatantly obvious, especially towards the last few levels.”
“I think the puzzles/gameplay are well done; the creator adds mechanics in as you play, and some puzzles can be a bit challenging at first.”
“Desde que vi a gameplay do ycro, eu fiquei com vontade de jogar, mas fiquei com o pé atrás quando vi que não estava na steam, mas sim na game jolt. Agora que está aqui, eu pude jogar. Design muito bom, gráficos que não incomodam os olhos, história rasa que não intriga, mas tudo bem, e o final é bom. Dito isso, 7,5/10.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their nostalgic pixel art style, which effectively contrasts with the graphic violence and enhances the overall dark humor and suspenseful tone. Reviewers highlight the charming yet morbid aesthetic, noting that it successfully captures the essence of slasher horror while delivering a visually engaging experience. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's unique storytelling and immersive atmosphere.
“The art style and aesthetic is great and the game's tone perfectly matches the notes of suspense, dark humor, and gore that this genre is known for.”
“The pixel art is deceptively charming, contrasting perfectly with the graphic violence, and the soundtrack heightens the tension in all the right ways.”
“The pixel graphics took me back to the old days and evoked a sense of nostalgia.”
“Overall a great game that has tons of slasher horror cameos, while hitting all the slasher horror tropes that are done amazingly visually it is graphic so if you don't like gore or slasher films it might not be for you even though I would definitely recommend it as it's a free to play game with a truly unique storytelling style.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in "Happyhills Homicide" is praised for its brilliant composition and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, effectively contrasting with its graphic violence. Reviewers note that the soundtrack heightens tension and evokes nostalgic vibes reminiscent of classic games, contributing to the overall charm and enjoyment of this free-to-play title.
“Brilliant music creates a great atmosphere; all in all, Happyhills Homicide is a great little free-to-play game well worth your time.”
“Straightforward gameplay, chilling visuals, and an overall great choice of background music.”
“The pixel art is deceptively charming, contrasting perfectly with the graphic violence, and the soundtrack heightens the tension in all the right ways.”
“Getting massive Splatterhouse 3 music vibes.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Happyhills Homicide" is characterized by its dark and morbid wit, appealing to those who enjoy unconventional horror. Players appreciate the blend of retro aesthetics with comedic elements, particularly in the amusing death scenes and quirky dialogue, making it a recommended choice for fans of humorous yet bloody adventures.
“The Happyhills Homicide delivers an unforgettable experience that perfectly blends retro aesthetics with dark, morbid humor.”
“Highly recommended for those with a dark sense of humor and a love for unconventional horror experiences.”
“This was an amazing easy puzzler where you just kill everyone; the death scenes are great and it has a couple of funny parts, like 'please wait while I fix this killing machine.'”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is effectively crafted through unsettling sound design and grotesque pixel art, creating a tense experience. While the brilliant music enhances the overall ambiance, the excessive gore and morally challenging themes may deter some players. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile free-to-play title.
“Brilliant music creates a great atmosphere; all in all, Happyhills Homicide is a great little free-to-play game well worth your time.”
“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.”
“The atmosphere feels disjointed, lacking a cohesive theme that makes it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“Despite some interesting visuals, the overall atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any real sense of dread or excitement.”
