Released just in time for Halloween, Puppet House captures a haunting atmosphere within its puzzle-horror framework, offering a blend of escape-room challenges and unsettling discoveries. Developed by Vecube Studio and Spirit Games Studio and published by Gaming Factory, this game takes players to Field Town’s eerie outskirts, where detective Rick investigates a series of local disappearances linked to a ventriloquist’s decaying mansion. The chilling premise of a possessed puppet, brought to life by a dark ritual, adds layers of dread to Rick’s investigation as players face both psychological and physical horrors. We tested it on a PlayStation 5.
The mansion itself is designed with a great sense of place; each dimly lit corridor and dusty room is infused with detail, creating a claustrophobic environment that’s both oppressive and compelling. Puppet House employs shadow and light to great effect, amplifying the suspense as players make their way through the abandoned rooms. Despite some issues with texture edges being visible, the game’s moody aesthetic makes it easy to feel immersed in this creepy environment. Sound design, too, plays a key role in building tension, with atmospheric audio cues that keep players on edge, although occasional sound glitches can pull players out of the experience.
As players explore the mansion, they encounter puzzles that vary in complexity, demanding a mix of logic and intuition. The game’s puzzles are an engaging element, and while some are relatively straightforward, others require a bit of trial and error, which may test the patience of players expecting faster-paced gameplay. Still, these challenges are generally rewarding and add to the escape-room vibe the game aims for. Unfortunately, certain puzzles feel unintuitive or repetitive, which can interrupt the narrative’s momentum and even lead to frustration as players backtrack to find clues they might have overlooked – or even search the web for what to do.
Navigating Puppet House is generally smooth, with controls well-optimized for the PlayStation 5, allowing players to interact with the environment in ways that enhance immersion. Yet, some control mechanics can feel a bit clunky during high-stakes moments, especially when players face off against the game’s supernatural threat. The titular puppet is a terrifying adversary, its sudden appearances well-executed to startle and unsettle, though chase sequences can become repetitive and lose their impact after a few encounters.
The narrative of Puppet House is compelling in its setup, presenting a detective story with a supernatural twist that maintains suspense throughout. Detective Rick’s journey through the mansion’s dark secrets adds an intriguing layer, but the game’s storytelling could be more nuanced. Despite its potential, the pacing can be a bit uneven, with moments of tension-building sometimes interrupted by prolonged sequences that don’t quite hit the mark in terms of narrative depth. Still, the mystery itself keeps players engaged as they seek answers about the puppet’s origins and the fate of the missing townspeople that is connected to it.
While Puppet House doesn’t reinvent the horror genre, it succeeds in creating a creepy, escape-room-style experience that’s atmospheric and memorable. With a bit more polish in areas like puzzle design and pacing, the game could have achieved even greater immersion. For those seeking a horror adventure that’s a mix of tension and a few good puzzles, Puppet House delivers a solid, eerie experience that will keep players invested until the secrets of Field Town are finally revealed.
Score: 7.0/10
Press Play Media 