The House [zebaxx]

About

The House [zebaxx] is a single player action game. It was developed by zebaxx and was released on August 5, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"The House" is a short psychological horror Indie game based on a fictional story. This is the first game of this video game saga. In "The House" you play an 18-year-old Spanish boy named Antonio who is home alone and one day he decided to leave home and when he returned he noticed things that were somewhat strange... Game features: VHS movie aesthetic. Character texts and …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 32 reviews

gameplay2 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game features outstanding graphics and a haunting atmosphere that immerses players in its world.
The story is intricate and encourages players to make meaningful decisions, enhancing the overall experience.
The jump scares and sound design effectively create a tense and frightening environment.

The game is extremely short, with many players finishing it in under 10 minutes, leading to a feeling of dissatisfaction.
There are numerous technical issues, including poor performance and low-quality assets, which detract from the gameplay experience.
The narrative and gameplay mechanics are often criticized for being poorly executed and lacking depth.

story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The story of the game is described as both intricate and profound, exploring themes of loss, redemption, and humanity's struggles, particularly within the immersive environment of the house [zebaxx]. However, some users criticize the narrative for being nonsensical or poorly executed, with mentions of stolen assets and technical issues detracting from the overall experience. Overall, opinions on the story are highly polarized, ranging from deep emotional resonance to outright disdain.
- “The story is full of detail.”
- “Every room tells a story, every artifact has meaning, and every corner invites curiosity.”
- “It is a story of loss and redemption, of fear and courage, of humanity's eternal struggle against forces beyond comprehension.”
- “The story doesn't make any sense at all.”
- “There's no real story.”
- “Stolen assets and absolutely terrible story.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are praised for their stunning art direction, combining gothic and surreal elements to create a beautiful yet haunting world. However, some users report significant performance issues, including low frame rates and a lack of graphical settings, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The graphics are some of the best I've ever seen.”
- “The art direction is stunning, blending gothic aesthetics with surrealist touches to create a world that is both beautiful and haunting.”
- “Zero graphics settings, not even a menu.”
- “This game matured me into coming out of the closet and now my life is way better. The graphics made me realize that I am homosexual, but this game runs on such low FPS that I have developed a tumor as great as the plot of this game.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay of "house [zebaxx]" is praised for its revolutionary mechanics that significantly enhance immersion, offering players a unique and engaging experience.
- “Gameplay that redefines immersion.”
- “The gameplay mechanics of the house [zebaxx] are nothing short of revolutionary.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in this indie horror game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the immersive experience, featuring a range of sounds from eerie creaks to haunting melodies. The score effectively complements the game's tone, with melancholic piano and intense orchestral pieces that elevate the tension and atmosphere. Overall, the audio design, including both music and sound effects, is considered a standout element that contributes significantly to the game's impact.
- “From the eerie creak of a door to the haunting strains of the musical score, every sound contributes to the immersive experience.”
- “The music, composed with a perfect understanding of the game’s tone, ranges from melancholic piano melodies to heart-pounding orchestral crescendos, always perfectly complementing the on-screen action.”
- “As soon as I entered that store, and got some unity music in my bones, I was ready to go.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor performance and subpar visuals, overshadowing the otherwise high-quality voice acting that enhances character depth. Many players feel that despite the strong performances, the technical aspects detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “Performance is terrible, and it looks bad.”
- “Sometimes, performance is more important than fancy lighting, no matter how much I like fancy lighting.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of house [zebaxx] is described as hauntingly beautiful and richly immersive, creating a dark, surreal fairytale experience that captivates players. It effectively builds a pervasive sense of dread through its atmospheric design, sound, and storytelling, avoiding reliance on cheap scares or excessive gore.
- “The house [zebaxx] firmly belongs to the latter category, standing as a towering monument to the potential of interactive storytelling, atmospheric immersion, and emotional resonance.”
- “From the moment you step into the hauntingly beautiful world of the house [zebaxx], you are enveloped in an atmosphere so rich, so vivid, that it feels as though you are traversing the pages of a dark, surreal fairytale.”
- “This is not a game that relies on cheap jump scares or over-the-top gore; instead, it builds a pervasive sense of dread through its atmosphere, sound design, and narrative twists.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game "The House" is highlighted by its exceptional interactive storytelling and atmospheric immersion, which evoke strong feelings in players. The high-quality voice acting enhances character depth, while moments of tension and resolution, such as the impactful decision to involve the police, contribute to a profound emotional experience.
- “The house firmly belongs to the latter category, standing as a towering monument to the potential of interactive storytelling, atmospheric immersion, and emotional resonance.”
- “The voice acting is top-notch, bringing the characters to life with performances that are both subtle and emotionally charged.”
- “The man/woman definitely jumpscared quite a bit, but that resolution of turning them into the police really made me feel great!”