The House of Da Vinci

About

The House of Da Vinci is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Blue Brain Games and was released on November 24, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

"The House of Da Vinci" is a 3D puzzle adventure game set in the Renaissance era. Players must solve mechanical puzzles, find hidden objects, and escape from rooms to uncover the mystery behind their master's disappearance. The game offers an authentic atmosphere of the time, immersing players in the world of Leonardo da Vinci.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,406 reviews

story274 positive mentions

grinding106 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and immersive atmosphere.
Challenging puzzles that require logical thinking and observation.
Engaging story that ties into Leonardo da Vinci's inventions.

Controls can be clunky and frustrating, making interactions difficult.
Some puzzles rely heavily on pixel hunting, leading to frustration.
Ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving players wanting more.

story
714 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
4%
The story in "The House of Da Vinci" is often described as weak or underdeveloped, serving primarily as a backdrop to the puzzles rather than a compelling narrative. While some players found the premise intriguing and appreciated the historical context involving Leonardo da Vinci, many criticized the plot for being thin, nonsensical, or abruptly ending without resolution. Overall, the game is recommended for its puzzles and visuals, but players should not expect a deeply engaging storyline.
- “The story does a good job of creating intrigue and mystery because we become invested in the story of our protagonist, Giacomo.”
- “The visuals are fantastic, the puzzles are amazing, and the storyline is intriguing!”
- “The story is simple but beautifully told, with gorgeous and detailed art, hauntingly beautiful classical music, and clever puzzles.”
- “The story is almost nonexistent; you are basically trying to catch up to your fleeing master (Da Vinci) from a third party that is trying to get you both, comparing that to the null story in the room games leaves the House of Da Vinci's story very weak and bare-bone.”
- “The attempted storyline unfortunately doesn't really hit the mark and seems to just barely connect the puzzles thematically.”
- “The story just suddenly ends right at the point when it becomes interesting.”
graphics
706 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
26%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, intricate detail, and atmospheric design, effectively bringing the game's Renaissance theme to life. Many players noted the high quality of the artwork and the immersive environments, although some criticized the interface and controls as clunky or frustrating. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, they are sometimes overshadowed by gameplay issues, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience.
- “The graphics are stunning, with detailed environments that bring Leonardo da Vinci's inventions to life in a visually captivating way.”
- “The visuals are fantastic, the puzzles are amazing, and the storyline is intriguing!”
- “Beautiful graphics and challenging puzzles.”
- “If you like puzzle games that make no sense, have dark obscure graphics that make it hard to even see where the puzzle is, and the controls for the puzzles are frustrating and wonky, then you will love this game.”
- “The visuals are not a net positive for me as the art style also does a horrendous job of discerning the background from the things that can be interacted with.”
- “This graphically beautiful game is ruined by awful gameplay and even worse puzzles.”
gameplay
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The gameplay of "The House of Da Vinci" is heavily inspired by "The Room" series, featuring intricate mechanical puzzles and a visually appealing renaissance setting. However, many players found the mechanics to be clunky and frustrating, with issues such as pixel hunting and unintuitive controls detracting from the overall experience. While the puzzles can be engaging and thought-provoking, the execution often leads to a sense of tedium and confusion, making the gameplay feel less polished compared to its inspirations.
- “The gameplay is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a beautifully crafted renaissance world filled with intricate mechanisms and clever puzzles.”
- “Amazing puzzles, lots of gameplay, just the right kind of subtle hints for when you get stuck but only want a nudge in the right direction.”
- “The puzzles are excellently designed, innovative and have a very mechanical feeling to them; it is fun to tinker with them.”
- “It seems like it is trying to copy The Room but with very uninteresting turns and very boring mechanics where sometimes it even has some pointless clicks just to make you feel you're solving a riddle but you're actually just clicking around.”
- “The mechanics were sub-par to begin with, but toward the end they got infuriating.”
- “This game is a far worse copy of the first The Room game, with frustrating mechanics, complete lack of story, and puzzles with no overarching theme or logic.”
music
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and calming, effectively enhancing the overall experience, though some players noted it can be repetitive and looped. While many appreciated the soundtrack's ability to set the mood and complement the visuals, a few reviewers felt it missed the opportunity to incorporate more period-appropriate music. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, but some players opted to turn it off in favor of their own playlists.
- “The soundtrack in this game is very calm and cozy, as is the atmosphere.”
- “The music and sound effects lend a period atmosphere to the game.”
- “The art is beautiful, the soundtrack immersive, and the puzzles ranged from straightforward to diabolical.”
- “The music can feel... loopy, like a continuous soundtrack playing the same song over and over again.”
- “Background music is almost non-existent, which is kind of a lost opportunity to catch the players' waning interest (or settle them in a bit more of a relaxed mood).”
- “The music is your standard 'oooh it's a mystery puzzle game' music, a completely missed opportunity to use literally renaissance, or at least renaissance-like music, to better convey the time-period.”
atmosphere
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
23%
2%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful visuals, immersive sound design, and thematic coherence, creating a captivating experience that enhances gameplay. While many players appreciate the relaxing and intriguing ambiance, some note that the narrative can feel shallow or disconnected from the gameplay, detracting from the overall immersion. Overall, the combination of graphics, music, and environmental design contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere that many find enjoyable.
- “The music and sound effects lend a period atmosphere to the game.”
- “The atmosphere is interesting and it is quite immersive; I particularly liked the sound effects when items moved.”
- “The graphics, the atmosphere, and the environments are spot on.”
- “Story & atmosphere: very shallow, feels like a theme park ride on rails, difficult to believe that you're actually doing what the narrative claims you're doing.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere were decent, but instead of wanting more after the ending, I was just happy it was over.”
- “Atmosphere is gothic and relaxing; navigation and puzzles are a nightmare.”
grinding
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The reviews consistently highlight that the game's puzzles are often tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over hidden elements and clunky controls that detract from the overall experience. While some puzzles are engaging, the majority are described as requiring excessive trial and error, leading to a sense of grinding rather than enjoyment. Overall, the game suffers from a lack of intuitive design, making it a tedious endeavor for many players.
- “This game is tedious, miles away from the room.”
- “However, there were some puzzles/things you need to find that seemed pretty arbitrary/obscure and would be extremely tedious to find without the hints.”
- “Unless you're prepared for a lot of tedious repetition of a puzzle without any real logic, you're going to be quite unhappy.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and unresponsive controls that hinder gameplay. Many players experienced frustrating mechanics requiring pixel precision and occasional freezes, leading to the need for restarts. While some found the game enjoyable despite these problems, the overall consensus highlights a pressing need for stability improvements.
- “This game is very nice, with little to no glitches or problems running it.”
- “There are glitches in this game on my computer, to the extent that I absolutely cannot play it.”
- “But the main flaw is that this game freezes.”
- “There were some glitches here and there where things just don't move the first few times you click them, and the 'hitboxes' of zoomable scenes are not always clear, which makes it frustrating to later find out that it was that thing that you clicked on 10 times where nothing happened.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
59%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many players noting that it offers little value after the initial playthrough due to predictable puzzles and a lack of variation. While some features allow for chapter replays and experimentation with unlocked mechanisms, the experience remains largely unchanged unless players forget the solutions over time. Many reviewers suggest that the game is best enjoyed as a one-time experience, with limited incentive to revisit.
- “The replayability is quite there, to beat your own time, or playing after some weeks when you have forgotten most of the steps again.”
- “ infinitely replayable”
- “Replay value”
- “Little replay value until you forget the solutions.”
- “Less than 5 hours of gameplay and no replay value (it's exactly the same every time as far as I went into the second time through).”
- “While you can replay chapters at will and can visit the hall of achievements to 'play' with all the mechanisms you've unlocked, there isn't much replay value unless you have a bad memory or wait long enough to forget how all the puzzles are solved.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting long loading times on high-end PCs and subpar mouse controls that detract from the experience. While many appreciate the overall performance and lack of bugs, there are significant concerns regarding its optimization for both PC and mobile platforms, suggesting that improvements could enhance gameplay.
- “Very well made with good performance.”
- “Good looks, good puzzles, good sound, decent story, runs smoothly, and no bugs I noticed.”
- “Well optimized”
- “Probably unoptimized for PC since loading takes way too long for a top-end system.”
- “I understand there's a satisfaction in manually pulling these levers and wheels, but it could've been optimized much better.”
- “No, it's not perfect, as there are many times you can tell it wasn't completely optimized for a mouse: camera control and manipulation of items that just don't work very well (looking at the astrolabe in particular).”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky contraptions and amusing puzzles, which provide a lighthearted experience despite some players finding the story confusing. Many reviewers appreciate the blend of reality and fantasy, noting that the humor enhances the overall enjoyment, even if it doesn't significantly impact the gameplay. Overall, the game is described as addictive and funny, with a unique charm that keeps players engaged.
- “My 2 tips for this game are to very closely inspect any item you come across, and to use your funnyvision abilities as often as possible.”
- “Funny contraptions with intricate solving mechanisms.”
- “It doesn't really add anything to the game itself but it's funny to see how reality and fantasy differ quite a lot from each other.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
Players express a mix of frustration and enjoyment regarding the emotional experience of the game. While some felt inadequate when struggling with puzzles, leading to feelings of motion sickness and reliance on hints, others appreciated the immersive escape room atmosphere, indicating a strong emotional connection to the gameplay despite its challenges.
- “Awesome game, made me feel like being out in an escape room again.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a strong negative sentiment towards the game's monetization strategy, with users labeling it a cash grab and criticizing the developers for prioritizing profit over quality, despite being an indie title.
- “This game feels like a cash grab; being an indie game doesn't excuse the poor monetization practices.”
- “The developers seem more focused on making money than providing a quality gaming experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great ruined by aggressive monetization strategies.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development received mixed reviews, with a consistent score of 7/10 indicating that while the character design is visually appealing, it may lack depth or complexity in their development throughout the game.