Check out our review of Puppet House, a survival horror puzzle game with a nasty little puppet…
We’ll take a look at the gameplay, the story, the visuals, the puzzles and everything else to help you decide whether or not you should pick it up.
Transcript
I’ve been reviewing new horror games all month and we’ve got time for at least one more, so let’s talk about Puppet House.
If you’re someone who gets a kick out of the retro horror aesthetic and has a bit of a masochistic love for puzzles, it might be your thing. It’s got everything: a killer puppet, a haunted mansion, and enough puzzles to make you question every life choice that led you here. Developed by Vecube Studio and Spirit Games Studio, Puppet House is an unapologetic love letter to 80s and 90s horror, wrapped up in a puzzle-heavy escape room adventure. So grab your flashlight and an extra dose of patience—you’re going to need it.
Let’s set the scene: You’re Detective Rick, an average guy with an above-average number of missing persons cases piling up in Field Town. All leads point to one place—an old mansion once owned by the late ventriloquist Peter Hill. Sounds like a bad idea, right? Well, that’s the whole point. This mansion isn’t just your typical haunted house. It’s crawling with unsettling vibes, and oh yeah, it’s home to a murderous puppet, arguably my least favourite type of puppet. Rick’s investigation quickly turns into a fight for survival, with a side of puzzle-solving that’ll either have you feeling like Sherlock Holmes or a confused contestant on The Crystal Maze.
From the get-go, Puppet House doesn’t shy away from its campy influences. It knows exactly what it is and leans into it hard. The killer puppet is absurd, the storyline is predictable, and the dialogue is so cheesy you could melt it on nachos. But that’s the charm. This isn’t trying to be the next Silent Hill – it’s here to entertain you with B-movie ridiculousness, a vibe that I don’t think there’s enough of in video games.
Here’s the thing with Puppet House: You’re going to be solving a lot of puzzles. Like, a lot. Most of which I was nowhere near smart enough to handle. This game might as well be called “Puppet House: The Escape Room Edition.” The haunted mansion is packed with intricate, mind-bending puzzles that will test every ounce of your problem-solving skills. The puzzles aren’t just throwaway time-fillers either—they’re woven into the mansion’s spooky atmosphere, making every locked door and hidden passage feel like part of the haunted world. They range from classic “find the missing piece” quests to more complex challenges that involve manipulating the environment in clever ways.
Now, for the most part, these puzzles are a lot of fun, particularly if you’re better at solving them than me. I appreciate this is a very low bar, but still. But it’s oh so satisfying when you crack a particularly tough riddle, and the rush of discovering a new passage or unlocking a creepy room is chef’s kiss. However, after the first few hours, the novelty starts to wear off. You might find yourself rolling your eyes at yet another puzzle that involves matching symbols or deciphering cryptic notes. It’s not that they’re bad; it’s just that they can get repetitive, especially when they break the flow of the game’s spooky pacing.
What saves the gameplay from falling into a monotonous grind is the constant pressure from the game’s antagonist – the soul-stealing puppet. While you’re busy trying to figure out how to open that secret passage, this little nightmare is stalking you. And let me tell you, this puppet has a talent for jump scares. The game plays with your nerves, making you feel like the puppet is always one step behind you, even when it’s not. It’s tense, it’s stressful, and it’s a perfect contrast to the more relaxed pace of the puzzle-solving.
If you’re the kind of gamer who values a rich, multi-layered narrative with deep character arcs, you might be disappointed here. The story of Puppet House is about as deep as a puddle, and that’s by design. Detective Rick’s investigation into the ventriloquist’s mansion is really just an excuse to throw you into creepy situations with the killer puppet, and that’s totally fine for the type of game this is. It’s the kind of horror experience where the atmosphere does the heavy lifting, not the story.
That said, the game does attempt to flesh out the backstory through environmental storytelling. You’ll find newspaper clippings, journal entries, and cryptic notes scattered throughout the mansion, hinting at the dark history behind Peter Hill and his creepy puppet collection. It’s enough to give the game some context, but don’t expect any shocking plot twists or character development. Rick is basically a cardboard cutout of the “grizzled detective” archetype, and the puppet, while terrifying, doesn’t offer much in terms of personality beyond “I will murder you” vibes.
But honestly, who’s playing this for the story? You’re here to be creeped out by a puppet and solve some puzzles. And on that front, the game delivers.
Where Puppet House truly shines is in its atmosphere. The mansion you’re stuck in isn’t just some generic haunted house. It feels alive, like the walls are watching you—and they probably are. The developers nailed the retro VHS aesthetic, with grainy textures and eerie lighting that give the whole game a “found footage” vibe. Every room is filled with unsettling details, from flickering lights to dusty old furniture that looks like it hasn’t been touched in decades.
The visual style is clearly inspired by 80s and 90s horror films, and if you grew up watching movies like Puppet Master or Poltergeist, you’ll feel right at home. The design of the killer puppet is another highlight. It’s grotesque, with exaggerated features that make it look both absurd and terrifying—kind of like Slappy from Goosebumps but cranked up to 11. The puppet doesn’t have to do much to freak you out; just seeing it pop up in the corner of your screen is enough to make your skin crawl.
For those wondering about game length, expect to spend around 8-10 hours on your first playthrough, depending on how fast you are with the puzzles. It’s a solid length for a game like this—long enough to feel satisfying, but not so long that it overstays its welcome. That said, the middle section of the game drags a bit, especially when the puzzles start to feel repetitive.
If there’s one thing that elevates Puppet House beyond just a puzzle game, it’s the sound design. The developers knew exactly how to play with your nerves, using sound to create an oppressive, tension-filled atmosphere. The mansion is filled with creaks, groans, and eerie whispers that make you feel like you’re never truly alone. And then there’s the puppet. It doesn’t just sneak up on you—it announces itself with an unsettling clatter or a high-pitched giggle that’ll send chills down your spine.
The music is subtle but effective. It never overpowers the action, but it’s always there, lurking in the background, adding to the sense of dread. The combination of sound and visuals works together to create a deeply immersive experience that’ll have you glancing over your shoulder, even after you’ve turned the game off.
So, is Puppet House worth diving into? If you love horror, puzzles, and that sweet retro aesthetic, then absolutely. This game nails the atmosphere, with creepy visuals and an unsettling soundscape that’ll keep you on edge. The puzzles are challenging, and while they can get repetitive, they’re satisfying enough to make you want to push through. Plus, who doesn’t want to face off against a killer puppet?
But what did you think of Puppet House? Please let me know in the comments below—I’d love to hear your thoughts. And while you’re down there, don’t forget to like and subscribe for plenty more on all things gaming. Check out our movie channel, UDS Films, and head over to upsidedownshark.com to keep up with everything else we’ve got going on.
Until then, my name is Tom, this has been UDS, and I’ll see you next time!
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Tom Baker
I like Star Wars, heavy metal and BBQ Pringles.
