Review of Puppet House.

Initial release date: October 24, 2024

Developers: VeCube Studio, Spirit Games Studio

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S

Genres: Puzzle, Adventure game, Indie game, Action game, Adventure

Publisher: Gaming Factory

Engine: Unreal Engine 4

Never trust a puppet. That’s always been a firm rule of mine, imprinted after watching innumerable films and playing several games in which these seemingly innocent things cause disaster. They may appear to be charming bundles of fabric or wood, but underneath the surface lies utter malice and a deep-seated loathing for humanity.

One of the most recent Resident Evil games, Resident Evil Village, included an entire chapter with a puppet as the boss, manipulating your worst dreams. However, in Puppet home, an evil puppet is on the loose, torturing a man confined in a home of horrors.

It’s the Puppet House.

Rick, a police officer with a passion for studying paranormal events, takes up a new case in his free time. He relates his experiences in a gruff, somber tone reminiscent of an old-school detective. The case centers on an abandoned property originally occupied by a ventriloquist, which is now haunted by odd screams, flickering lights, and a history of missing people. When Rick arrives at the scene, he is knocked unconscious and placed in a small cell within the house. His goal is to flee.

The plot unfolds naturally as you play, exposing itself through documents embellished with adorable handwritten notes and doodles. These records detail the history of the puppet and its master, a typical B-movie plot of blood, rituals, and murder.

Despite its typical cliches, the story is engrossing and enjoyable, serving as a fun backdrop for the three to four hours of gameplay. The rhythm is terrific, continuously moving you along to the next set piece, giving little time for reflection. And Puppet House’s atmosphere and visual storytelling skillfully evoke fear and discomfort.

Expect puzzles.

The gameplay is straightforward but effective, with Puppet House shown entirely in first person. You explore the house, looking for clues and solving puzzles to advance. While the objectives are usually apparent, there are times when you may find yourself temporarily bewildered because the game provides no hints or direction. However, the puzzles are not unduly difficult, and answers are frequently found near the riddles themselves. You have a limited inventory and a camera to record important information, which helps with puzzle solving.

Occasionally, you will be attacked, resulting in a quick-time event (QTE) that you must accomplish in order to survive. These QTEs are simple and easy to complete; however, later in the game, you will come across traps that can quickly kill you, although the generous checkpoint system prevents extreme aggravation.

Visually, Puppet House is competent but not exceptional. The puppet is well-designed, as are parts of the house’s interiors, which are brimming with interesting things and features. However, some textures and lighting effects are dull, but they do not greatly detract from the overall horror/escape room vibe.

An entertaining frightening experience.

The sound design is fantastic, with frightening music, atmospheric noises, and perfectly timed jump scares. The voice acting is very impressive, particularly the man who plays Rick, who delivers his lines with real gravitas.

Puppet House may not revolutionize the horror genre, but it does an excellent job of executing its traditional aspects. The pacing is superb, the gameplay is fun, and the puzzles provide a satisfying challenge without being unduly complicated. The visuals are good, and the sound design adds to the atmosphere, so Puppet House is worth seeing if you want a quick but interesting horror experience.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 82%

Controls: 78%

Aesthetics: 90%

Content: 81%

Accessibility: 76%

Value: 85%

Overall: 82%

ATMOSPHERIC AND CREEPY!

Summary:

Puppet House is a tense, dramatic game that blends difficult puzzles with a frightening visual. Each chamber immerses players in an uncomfortable setting, aided by exceptional lighting and sound design. While certain puzzles are difficult to solve and the controls are rather limited, the game’s creepy atmosphere captivates players. It’s a brief yet memorable experience ideal for aficionados of atmospheric horror and puzzle solving. Puppet House demonstrates that sometimes the creepiest stories are presented through the smallest aspects.