Wardwell House

About

Wardwell House is a single player simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by MoolionGames and was released on January 14, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

Wardwell House is an innovative and realistic horror game with outstanding atmosphere. You must find hidden clues and objects of interest that slowly reveal the haunting story. Feel the build-up of fear as you traverse the forest and make your way through Wardwell House.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 574 reviews

story67 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a unique concept of using 360-degree photographs to create an immersive horror experience.
The atmosphere is well-crafted, with effective sound design that enhances the tension throughout the gameplay.
The story, while short, is intriguing and keeps players engaged, making it a worthwhile experience for a free game.

The gameplay is linear and restrictive, with no real choices or exploration, which can make it feel more like a guided tour than an interactive game.
The ending is abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered, which can be frustrating for players seeking a more complete narrative.
The controls can be clunky, making it difficult to navigate and interact with the environment smoothly.

story
219 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
9%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it intriguing and atmospheric, while others criticize it for being confusing, predictable, or lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the unique storytelling approach through interactive 360-degree visuals, but note that the narrative often feels disjointed or underdeveloped, leading to an unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, while the game offers a creepy experience and some engaging moments, it struggles with coherence and player agency in its storytelling.
- “If you are a slower player and don't feel like running and fighting for your life all the time, just want to enjoy a little horror story and leisurely explore, this is the game for you.”
- “The atmosphere built up very well throughout the story, and it's just the right amount of creepy.”
- “I really enjoyed this game, but I have some dislikes; I enjoyed the concept, it was creepy, I definitely had goosebumps on occasion, the story could have used a little refining for instance some more background on who you are, a possible date and time, at least at the beginning because as you progress your character loses sense of time.”
- “The game is boring as hell, the story of this game is trash and nothing really happens in it.”
- “The story felt really unresolved and all over the place for the amount of backstory put into the house/owner.”
- “The story is predictable.”
atmosphere
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
34%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepiness and immersive qualities, with many players noting the effective use of sound, visuals, and environmental details to create a chilling experience. While some found the gameplay mechanics and pacing lacking, the overall ambiance successfully draws players into a spooky and unsettling world, making it a recommended choice for fans of atmospheric horror. Despite its short length and occasional clunkiness, the game effectively builds tension and maintains an eerie atmosphere throughout.
- “An immersive walkthrough game, truly atmospheric and creepy.”
- “The graphics are incredibly realistic and contribute strongly to the game's atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere built up very well throughout the story, and it's just the right amount of creepy.”
- “The atmosphere is creepy, but there aren't many moments that actually scared me; some points to make decisions would be nice too.”
- “The sound effects were the only thing giving any sort of spooky atmosphere, and even they were nothing special. I, unfortunately, wouldn't advise spending your time playing this game.”
- “While not being your average exploration horror game, the atmosphere that was created was impeccable.”
gameplay
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
69%
6%
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click experience, reminiscent of Google Street View, where players interact with glowing icons to uncover story snippets. While the unique 360-degree exploration mechanic is praised, many reviewers find the gameplay overly linear and lacking in interactivity, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the mechanics are simple and user-friendly, but the lack of depth and engaging choices detracts from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay, reminiscent of old point and click games but with a twist, was interesting.”
- “I really like the concept of Google Street View sort of gameplay for a horror game.”
- “An interesting take on a horror game using 360-degree camera mechanics.”
- “The gameplay I would describe as Google Street View the game.”
- “I thought the story was bland and the lack of gameplay made the experience feel a thousand times longer than necessary.”
- “Unfortunately, gameplay feels slow and gets annoying sometimes. There is a different approach to navigation and scenes, but controls feel very uncomfortable.”
graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
34%
6%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning visuals and realistic environments that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize the use of black and white imagery and inconsistent art styles that detract from immersion. Many players appreciate the unique approach to graphics, likening it to a blend of real-life photography and 3D elements, but feel that the overall execution falls short of expectations, particularly when compared to gameplay quality. Overall, while the visuals are often described as aesthetically pleasing, they are not universally well-received, with some players finding them repetitive or lacking in contrast.
- “Excellent graphics and realistic.”
- “The graphics are incredibly realistic and contribute strongly to the game's atmosphere.”
- “This game has some stunning visuals.”
- “The graphics in this game are passable, but could be better (couldn't they afford a color camera?).”
- “The developers would benefit by using color photos instead, and really working on capturing horrific visuals, as the use of black and white with absolutely no clashing objects for contrast isn't appealing to the majority of players.”
- “As far as graphics and music, I can say a creepy atmosphere was accomplished here, but that's about it.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to create a creepy and unsettling atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players enjoyed the minimalist soundtrack and ambient sounds, noting their effectiveness in building tension, others found the music repetitive and lacking in variety. Overall, the sound design contributes significantly to the game's eerie vibe, though there are calls for more depth and integration in the musical elements.
- “The tense music and sound effects combined with the unsettling atmosphere and descriptions make for a horrifying experience - one that I would recommend if you're looking for a fright.”
- “Best part of it all is that this game is free to play and yet I can tell a lot of effort went into making this game from the creepy music cues and the incredible voice acting; I can't wait to see what the creators of this game make next!”
- “The music/background noises gave off just the right amount of unsettling that it keeps you on your toes.”
- “It's really just a short novel with pictures and no real music.”
- “It's regrettable, but nothing of interest occurs, and there's very little ambience to set the mood; the background is primarily filled with nature sounds, since you're out in the woods, but there are only a couple moments of tense music.”
- “I do, however, wish that the soundtrack wasn't on such an obvious loop.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game often arises from moments that unintentionally subvert expectations, such as predictable jump scares and low-budget production values that lead to comedic outcomes. Players found themselves laughing at scenes that were meant to be creepy, particularly during the game's climax, where the intended suspense turned into humor instead. Overall, while the game aims for a spooky atmosphere, it frequently delivers laughs through its execution and unexpected moments.
- “There was also what was supposed to be a creepy moment in a playroom, but actually, I had to laugh when it happened due to how obvious the moment was leading up to it. It just struck me as funny, lol.”
- “I was prepared to be brought back into the suspenseful and creepy world of the first few minutes, but instead my half hour of gameplay was rewarded with a 'jumpscare' that admittedly had me laughing.”
- “The ending was hilarious with the zoom in, which is what I'm sure the creators of this game were probably not going for.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, highlighting feelings of vulnerability, excitement, and fear throughout their experience. The design effectively evokes a sense of caution and anticipation, particularly towards the ending, which many found satisfying. Overall, the game successfully engages players on an emotional level, enhancing their enjoyment.
- “I'm sure it won't have this effect for everyone, but it really spooked me. The way it's designed made me feel vulnerable, exposed, and powerless.”
- “I played the game and I should underline that I really liked it! It was fun to have that 360-degree experience, and the game made me feel excited, nervous, and scared in some parts of it. I liked the ending!”
- “It made me feel cautious about continuing the story.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game "Wardwell House" is generally considered to have low replayability due to its linear structure, lack of alternate endings, and absence of choices or customization options. While some users acknowledge its low price of 79p, they still find the game offers little incentive to play again.
- “Wardwell House is a free, very short, slightly creepy, point-and-click, first-person horror game with a confusing ending and absolutely no replay value.”
- “It's totally linear, with no alternate endings, no plot-altering choices, no character customization options, no difficulty levels, and absolutely no replay value as a result.”
- “It is not very replayable, but for 79p, you can't really complain all that much.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the cumbersome controls that require dragging the left mouse button to look around.
- “The left mouse button and dragging to look around was tedious and frustrating.”
- “Grinding feels like an endless chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay motivated to play.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with minimal bugs or glitches, providing a user-friendly gameplay experience. However, some users have noted that the settings menu exhibits occasional issues.
- “Did a good job of making me uncomfortable and scared me a few times, but the settings menu is a bit buggy.”