The House on Holland Hill
- March 1, 2022
- hedgefield
"The House on Holland Hill" is a first-person psychological horror game set in a secluded English manor. You play as a paranormal investigator, exploring the dark and twisted history of the house and its inhabitants. Uncover hidden secrets, solve puzzles, and face your fears as you delve deeper into the mystery of Holland Hill.
Reviews
- The game features a unique mix of 2D character models and 3D environments, creating a visually appealing experience.
- It offers an engaging story told through multiple food deliveries, with a suspenseful atmosphere reminiscent of a horror movie.
- The game has replayability due to multiple endings and a decent price-to-fun ratio, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of short interactive stories.
- The gameplay is very short, with some players feeling that it lacks depth and content for the price.
- The narrative can feel repetitive and clichéd, with limited consequential choices affecting the story.
- There are technical issues such as tearing and the absence of walking animations, which detract from the overall experience.
- story28 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is presented through a unique format of food deliveries, featuring colorful 2D character models against shadowy 3D backgrounds, which some players found engaging. However, many reviewers noted the story's predictability and cliches, leading to a sense of repetition despite its short runtime. While the multiple endings and details add depth, the overall narrative may not satisfy everyone, making it more suitable for those who appreciate short, interactive stories rather than traditional gameplay.
“I like the format of telling a story via multiple food deliveries, and I like the contrast of colorful 2D character models over shadowy 3D backgrounds.”
“The art style is awesome, and the story is great too, with a lot of mystery and a bit of horror.”
“Treat it like a short story with multiple endings, and you'll get more out of it than if you just want a traditional video game.”
“What's bad about this game is that the only thing it's advertising is the story, and the story is cliché, overplayed, and cringe.”
“That said, the game feels somewhat repetitive despite its short runtime, and I wish there were more consequential choices throughout the story.”
“A very short horror story that will not satisfy all, but for those willing to take a chance, there are some nuggets here to be enjoyed.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is praised for its effective use of lighting, creating an engaging and anxious ambiance that enhances the experience. However, some reviewers feel that while the atmosphere is good, it lacks depth and could benefit from more content. Overall, the combination of 2D characters and a 3D environment contributes positively to the game's immersive quality.
“There's great use of lighting and atmosphere here.”
“What I can mention is the anxious atmosphere (in a good way) the 2D characters and 3D environment create.”
“A short and fun interactive fiction experience that makes great use of lighting and atmosphere.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their unique and appealing art style, which enhances the overall experience and complements the mysterious and slightly horror-themed narrative. Players express a desire for more content featuring this distinctive visual approach.
“The art style is awesome and the story is great too with a lot of mystery and a bit of horror.”
“Would love to see more with this art style.”
“A very nice short game, and I really like the art style.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this indie game is characterized as quirky and funny, contributing to a tense yet contained experience. Players appreciate its neat style and great lighting, culminating in an amusing conclusion.
“Quirky, funny, tense, contained, and short indie experience with a neat style and some great lighting that ends on an amusing note.”
“Quirky, funny, tense, contained, and short indie experience with a neat style and some great lighting that ends on an amusing note.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being overly brief, with a maximum playtime of around 30 minutes, and is described as having a completely linear narrative, which may not justify its price unless heavily discounted.
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a brief experience, yet it is noted for its strong replayability, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.
“A short experience, but highly replayable.”
“A brief journey that invites you to play again and again.”
“Though it's a quick playthrough, the replay value keeps me coming back.”
“The game offers a short experience, but it is replayable.”
“The game offers a short experience, but it is replayable.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for being heavily focused on promoting a clichéd and overplayed story, which detracts from the overall experience. Players feel that the game's reliance on this narrative as its main selling point is unoriginal and disappointing.