The Housewife

About

The Housewife is a single player simulation game with a drama theme. It was developed by Colossal Wreck and was released on August 25, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

"The Housewife" is a narrative-driven simulation game where you play as a 1960s housewife, managing household chores, raising a family, and navigating societal expectations. The game features a distinctive art style and offers a unique perspective on the role of women in mid-century America. Balance your daily tasks and personal goals while dealing with the challenges and rewards of domestic life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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45%

Audience ScoreBased on 120 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game attempts to raise awareness about domestic abuse, providing a unique perspective on the psyche of victims.
Some players found the soundtrack enjoyable and appreciated the artistic intent behind the game.
The game successfully conveys a sense of dread and urgency, reflecting the pressures faced by victims of domestic violence.

The gameplay is repetitive and tedious, primarily consisting of cleaning tasks with little depth or engagement.
Many players criticized the execution of the game's themes, feeling it trivializes serious issues and lacks a coherent story.
The game is riddled with bugs and poor mechanics, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment for players.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The game's story is criticized for its lack of depth and context, with many reviewers noting that it fails to provide a meaningful narrative or character development, reducing the experience to a series of chores. While the intention to raise awareness about domestic violence is acknowledged, the execution is deemed unrealistic and superficial, leaving players wanting a more relatable and engaging storyline. Overall, the game is seen as an empty simulation that misses the opportunity to address serious themes effectively.
- “I do salute the developer for the idea, yet I sincerely suggest for him to adorn his game with some more context and an actual story next time, alongside a bit more relatable gameplay dynamic.”
- “The games focusing on artistic presentations or contemplative, social ideas should present a relatable enough story, rather than being an empty simulation.”
- “Their story feels like it only barely gets a mention with about 3 audio clips in the first 3 chapters that even give the barest sense that there are issues in their relationship, and the opening cutscene of the fourth chapter was the first time the game really gives itself the opportunity to deal with a serious issue in a serious manner.”
- “Non-existing gameplay with no explanation nor story; you are supposed to just clean your house and get beaten.”
- “No backstory, no dialogue, no character depth, nothing.”
- “Their story feels like it only barely gets a mention with about 3 audio clips in the first 3 chapters that even give the barest sense that there are issues in their relationship. The opening cutscene of the fourth chapter was the first time the game really gives itself the opportunity to deal with a serious issue in a serious manner, serving up something I'd more expect in a bad Unity horror game cutscene.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The gameplay is primarily centered around cleaning mechanics, which some players find tedious and lacking depth, particularly in comparison to similar titles like "Viscera Cleanup Detail." While the concept is appreciated, many reviewers suggest that the mechanics, such as aiming and distance perception, could be improved, and that the game would benefit from a more engaging narrative and relatable dynamics. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a straightforward cleaning simulator that may not appeal to everyone.
- “I do salute the developer for the idea, yet I sincerely suggest for him to adorn his game with some more context and an actual story next time, alongside a bit more relatable gameplay dynamic.”
- “The graphics aren't too good, the gameplay is alright, but it's good to see a developer going into an area not many people will touch. I actually enjoyed it.”
- “Gameplay is nothing new, but that's not the point of this game; the implications are.”
- “Again, their gameplay is similarly tedious though, this time without the time limit.”
- “Gameplay is nothing but a cleaning simulator.”
- “With gameplay, the reticle brings up problems; it must be dead on to pick up or aim, and distance is hard to interpret when doing the garbage chore.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The humor in the game is largely unintentional, stemming from poor animations and graphics that make disturbing themes feel absurd rather than impactful. While some players find moments, like the husband's exaggerated actions, amusing, many criticize the game's failure to handle serious subjects appropriately, undermining its intended message. Overall, the humor detracts from the gravity of the game's themes, leaving players confused about the creators' intentions.
- “Now, the animation used for all these are so bad, it becomes funny rather than disturbing.”
- “Also, physics, textures, and animations are all so horrible and sad, it really basically ends up being funny.”
- “The only real reason to play this game is to watch the hilarious sequence in which the husband comes home thinking he's Roman Reigns and hits his wife with a Superman punch.”
- “Yeah, it's not funny.”
- “I'm not sure if the creators of this game thought that it was funny, but it is really not funny.”
- “Not only does it teach the horror of domestic abuse, but it also teaches the player how to optimize the time you are given to perform a task and the unfunny feeling you get when someone watches you as you perform your duties.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is described as beautiful and relaxing, with a lengthy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate its ability to create a calming atmosphere, making it suitable for both gameplay and everyday activities like cleaning. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.
- “Beautiful music, very long soundtrack.”
- “It has a nice soundtrack.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and monotonous, with repetitive tasks required to progress through the four chapters. The lack of a time limit does little to alleviate the boredom, leading to an overall negative perception of the grinding experience.
- “The game consists of 4 chapters, and in each chapter, we are given a list of tedious tasks to complete before our husband comes back home.”
- “Again, their gameplay is similarly tedious though, this time without the time limit.”
- “This game is so tedious and boring.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively portrays the profound impact of emotional abuse, illustrating how it instills fear and anxiety in the victim, even when escape seems possible. The open front door symbolizes the illusion of freedom, while the end screens reinforce the ongoing emotional turmoil regardless of success or failure in gameplay. Overall, it captures the complex dynamics of control and the lasting effects of abuse on mental well-being.
- “To further show that emotional abuse has already taken its toll on you, the game shows that the front door of the house is wide open, and that you can technically leave at any time, but as soon as you reach the road you remind yourself that your controlling husband does not want you to leave the house and you fear the consequence of displeasing him.”
- “The other part that most conveys something about being an abuse victim are the end screens to each level--it doesn't matter if you pass or fail, you're still experiencing fear, anxiety, and emotional pain.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The graphics have received consistent criticism, with many users describing them as poor and unfinished, often accompanied by buggy controls. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the developer's willingness to explore less conventional areas in game design.
- “Bad graphics.”
- “Bad graphics, buggy controls, and the map seems to have an unfinished feel.”
- “Bad graphics.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for poor graphics, buggy controls, and an overall sense of an unfinished map, indicating significant technical issues that detract from the user experience.
- “The graphics are poor, the controls are buggy, and the map feels unfinished.”
- “The graphics are poor, the controls are buggy, and the map feels unfinished.”