THE MUTE HOUSE

About

THE MUTE HOUSE is a single player action game. It was developed by December Blues Games and was released on January 27, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

THE MUTE HOUSE is a survival horror game where a policewoman investigates her sister’s disappearance in a mysterious, isolated mansion. With fixed camera angles and classic inventory management, players explore eerie environments, solve puzzles inspired by the genre’s golden age, and manage scarce resources while facing lurking dangers. Atmospheric tension and thoughtful exploration drive the chilling experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews

story20 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic survival horror games, particularly reminiscent of Resident Evil 1.
The puzzles are well-designed and engaging, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly cryptic.
The atmosphere is immersive, with impressive graphics and sound design that enhance the horror experience.

The lack of a map and non-linked storage boxes can lead to frustrating backtracking and confusion.
Some boss fights feel unbalanced, with one-hit kill mechanics that can be frustrating, especially without nearby save points.
The controls can be clunky at times, particularly during combat and navigation, which may detract from the overall experience.

story
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The game's story is generally described as simple and straightforward, with some players appreciating its concise delivery through notes and environmental storytelling, while others find it lacking depth and engagement. While the narrative may not be groundbreaking, it effectively supports the gameplay and atmosphere, leaving room for potential sequels to expand on its mysteries. Overall, the story serves as a functional backdrop for the puzzles and horror elements, though opinions vary on its execution and interest level.
- “Love the story, characters, level design, and voice acting.”
- “The story was cool enough; the touch of the Frankenstein-inspired reveals with tech from that era adds to it well - as with the difficulty and monsters escalating.”
- “The story is basic, but I actually like it that way.”
- “The story essentially does not have a narrative.”
- “There are maybe 3 cut scenes with dialogue throughout the runtime, and the entire story is told through notes around the mansion. The story that is there is lacking and, all in all, uninteresting.”
- “The story is very basic and not engaging at all.”
gameplay
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The gameplay is a blend of classic survival horror mechanics with modern twists, featuring fixed camera angles, a unique ammo management system, and engaging puzzles. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and depth of the mechanics, others find the controls and camera angles occasionally frustrating, leading to challenges in navigation and combat. Overall, the game offers a solid experience for fans of the genre, though it may require patience due to its archaic elements and limited narrative presentation.
- “Great use of fixed camera angles for both immersion and gameplay.”
- “Most importantly, I felt there was a great balance of 'being in control but barely,' which is, in my opinion, the core of Resident Evil gameplay.”
- “The leech and flask items will spice up gameplay a bit, and the loop of 'explore, solve puzzle, fight enemy, repeat' stays engaging throughout.”
- “I've played games with controllers before and got used to it after a bit, but the mechanics in this game are nonsensical to me.”
- “Some people say that this game is quite hard - I wouldn't say that the gameplay itself is, it's just a mix of controls and camera angles that sometimes work against you.”
- “Another being in an incredibly tight room, whilst fighting the camera angles added with an instant-death mechanic made it annoying; I also inadvertently shot a gas cylinder that I just assumed was part of the environment, which killed me instantly.”
atmosphere
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
13%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring stunning graphics, dynamic lighting, and effective sound design that enhance the horror experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic survival horror games, with well-executed fixed camera angles and atmospheric music contributing to a tense and engaging environment. Overall, the game's ability to create a captivating and spooky atmosphere stands out as one of its strongest aspects.
- “The graphics and atmosphere are surprisingly good; it has dynamic reflections that look like ray tracing. You can see full reflections on shiny floor tiles and mirrors. It stands up against the best-looking games of this type, in my opinion, despite the dynamic lighting. Performance is very good.”
- “The lighting and cinematic camera angles really enhance the atmosphere—especially one angle while crossing the bridge to the cemetery.”
- “➕ horror atmosphere; it's a dark mansion, creaking noises, dead bodies that may or may not be zombies.”
- “The atmosphere and sound are spot-on, and it really does feel like one of the classics.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
28%
10%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the immersive atmosphere, dynamic reflections, and high-quality character and environment designs. While some noted a nostalgic resemblance to classic titles with a mix of modern aesthetics, others pointed out low-budget elements and graphical limitations. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal, especially for fans of the survival horror genre.
- “The graphics and atmosphere are surprisingly good; it has dynamic reflections that look like ray tracing. You can see full reflections on shiny floor tiles and mirrors. It stands up against the best-looking games of this type, in my opinion, and despite the dynamic lighting, performance is very good.”
- “The atmosphere is really good with beautiful prerendered graphics that showcase the talent of one indie developer.”
- “The graphics are jaw-dropping on max settings for this type of game.”
- “On the other hand, when you look at the game too closely, you'll notice the low budget graphics and all sorts of cut corners.”
- “Tldr: if you don't care about graphics and nostalgia bait, ignore this and hop on Crow Country.”
- “Forgive any graphical, audio, or engine constraints--this was broadly a one man show, and it produced roughly 6.5 hours of fun, 0.5 hours of main menu and pause screen water breaks, and then also 1.5 hours of frustration, which is a success by my margin.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
18%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the classic survival horror atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its fantastic quality and ability to create immersion. It effectively complements the visuals and gameplay mechanics, contributing to a cohesive and engaging experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, with a good balance of ambient sounds and thematic elements that elevate the game's tension and mood.
- “The music is fantastic and nails the classic survival horror vibe.”
- “Final thoughts: all in all, the mute house is a great-looking survival horror game with an excellent atmosphere and music.”
- “The mansion is beautifully rendered, with each room being unique and very detailed, and the music is perfectly fitting.”
- “You have to listen for an audio cue and it is easily missed if you like to have music on or watch videos on a second monitor.”
- “Firstly, it should come as no surprise that the Spencer Mansion has been ripped off again; however, the overall music and sound effects were well done.”
- “The music... omg.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting excellent performance on the Steam Deck and impressive graphics, including dynamic reflections that rival top-tier titles. Players report solid performance with no significant bugs, contributing to a smooth gaming experience.
- “The graphics and atmosphere are surprisingly good; it has dynamic reflections that look like ray tracing, but I'm not sure. You can see full reflections on shiny floor tiles and mirrors. It stands up against the best-looking games of this type, in my humble opinion. Despite the dynamic lighting, performance is very good.”
- “Also, the game performance was great.”
- “No bugs to speak of, and performance was solid!”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, citing disconnected storage boxes and frustrating puzzles that require external help to navigate effectively. This has led to a general recommendation against the game due to its repetitive and time-consuming nature.
- “In short, it was a tedious game that I can't recommend.”
- “The storage boxes not being connected across save rooms are just plain tedious.”
- “A few tedious puzzles that need a YouTube video to avoid wasting time taking a lap around the mansion without a map.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, players report a stable experience with minimal issues, noting no significant bugs or glitches during gameplay. However, some users experienced occasional animation glitches and audio inconsistencies when transitioning between rooms.
- “Good RE1 type game, good graphics, no glitches or bugs, a mix of easy and intermediate puzzles, good soundtrack and story.”
- “There were some animation glitches and some weird audio going into a new room.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the reviews highlight positive aspects such as character design and overall aesthetics, they do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game.