Murder House throws players into a nightmare straight out of the golden age of VHS horror. Set in the late 1980s, the game follows a young news crew as they break into the abandoned home of Anthony Smith, a notorious serial killer known as the Easter Ripper. Hoping to film a scoop, the crew quickly realizes the house is not as empty as it seems. One by one, members are hunted down, leaving the player to survive the night against a relentless killer who embodies the brutal slasher archetype. The story captures the dread of being stalked with no escape, combining slasher-film tension with survival horror gameplay.
Developed and published by Puppet Combo, Murder House was first released for PC in October 2020. Known for their grindhouse inspired horror titles, Puppet Combo designed the game as a tribute to classic slasher films and the survival horror of the PlayStation 1 era. The game later expanded to consoles, launching on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch in October 2021, bringing its retro nightmare to a wider audience. By blending the raw aesthetics of 1980s VHS horror with the mechanics of late 1990s survival horror, Murder House established itself as one of Puppet Combo’s most ambitious and celebrated projects.
Gameplay
Murder House uses fixed camera angles, tank controls, and deliberate pacing to evoke the survival horror of the PlayStation era. Exploration is claustrophobic, with narrow hallways, locked doors, and limited resources amplifying tension. Players must solve puzzles, find keys, and manage scarce items while evading the Easter Ripper, who stalks the house with unpredictable ferocity. The game emphasizes vulnerability and survival depends on timing, stealth, and knowing when to run. This design choice mirrors the feeling of slasher films, where characters are hunted rather than empowered, reinforcing the dread at the core of the experience.
Visuals & Style
The visual style of Murder House deliberately mimics the lo-fi look of VHS tapes and PlayStation era graphics, complete with grainy textures, pixelated models. The low-resolution aesthetic not only appeals to nostalgia but also enhances the unease, making every shadow feel more threatening. Puppet Combo complements this style with a grindhouse presentation abrupt audio stingers, distorted screams, and eerie silence heighten the sense of dread. The Easter Ripper’s design, a towering figure in a grotesque rabbit mask, anchors the game’s identity as a slasher nightmare brought to life.
Importance in Survival Horror History
Murder House is significant for revitalizing the slasher subgenre within gaming. At a time when most survival horror leaned toward supernatural or psychological themes, Puppet Combo leaned fully into the brutality and helplessness of classic slasher films. It proved that retro aesthetics and mechanics could still deliver fresh terror when combined with strong thematic direction. The game’s success also highlighted the growing influence of indie horror developers, showing how small studios could innovate by looking back at horror’s roots rather than forward toward cinematic realism.
Reception vs Historical Value
Critics and players alike praised Murder House for its oppressive atmosphere, retro authenticity, and terrifying antagonist. While some found its tank controls and rough edges difficult to handle, these were also seen as intentional design choices that contributed to the experience. Historically, the game has been recognized as a standout entry in Puppet Combo’s catalog, cementing the studio’s reputation for creating experimental horror that balances nostalgia with originality. It has since been embraced as one of the defining indie survival horror titles of the 2020s.
Availability & Collectibility
Murder House is available digitally on PC through Itch.io and Steam, and on consoles including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Get it on:
Steam: Murder House on Steam
Itch.io through Patreon sub: Patreon access for Murder House – itch.io
Xbox: Buy Murder House | Xbox
PSN: Murder House
Nintendo: Murder House for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Official Site
Trailer: