Stay Out of the House plunges players into a suffocating nightmare where survival depends on cunning, stealth, and sheer willpower. Trapped in the home of a deranged cannibal killer, players must navigate claustrophobic hallways, make decision like avoid detection or fight back, and uncover the horrors lurking in every corner. The game tells a story of abduction and desperation, where each choice can lead to freedom or death. With danger lurking behind every locked door and every creaking floorboard, the experience captures the essence of being hunted with nowhere to run.
Developed and published by Puppet Combo, Stay Out of the House was released in 2022 for PC, following years of anticipation as one of the studio’s most ambitious projects. Known for their grindhouse inspired horror titles, Puppet Combo built the game as an homage to late 1970s and early 1980s exploitation horror films, especially The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Designed with low poly PS1 style visuals and VHS filters, the game emphasizes atmosphere and tension over polish, firmly situating itself within the modern indie horror movement.
Gameplay
The game’s core mechanics focus on stealth, resourcefulness, and survival under pressure. Players must carefully avoid the cannibal’s gaze, using distractions, hiding spots, and planning escape routes to survive. Unlike traditional combat driven survival horror, Stay Out of the House emphasizes vulnerability and gives the player the option to stay hiding and avoid detection or “turn tables” and face the killer. Exploration is essential, with puzzles, keys, and hidden passages scattered throughout the house. Randomized elements and multiple escape paths give each playthrough a sense of unpredictability, ensuring that players remain on edge at all times.
Visuals & Style
True to Puppet Combo’s signature style, the visuals mimic the grainy aesthetic of VHS tapes and retro consoles, using pixelated textures, washed out colors, and distortion effects to heighten the sense of unease. The environments are deliberately grimy, filled with bloodstains, rotting furniture, and oppressive darkness. Sound design is equally important, with muffled footsteps, distant creaks, and sudden bursts of violence creating a relentless sense of dread. The lo-fi presentation amplifies the grindhouse feel, making the horror raw, dirty, and disturbingly authentic.
Importance in Survival Horror History
Stay Out of the House holds a special place in the resurgence of indie horror as a vehicle for experimental, unpolished fear. By stripping away modern conventions and focusing entirely on the terror of being hunted, Puppet Combo recreated the suffocating helplessness that defined the most notorious moments in horror cinema. Its emphasis on stealth, unpredictability, and vulnerability shows a different side of survival horror, proving that fear can thrive without action heavy mechanics or advanced graphics. It represents both a tribute to the slasher genre and a bold reminder of the genre’s roots in raw tension.
Reception vs Historical Value
Upon release, Stay Out of the House earned acclaim from fans of extreme horror for its relentless tension and unapologetic brutality. Critics praised its atmosphere and ability to generate genuine fear, while some noted that its deliberately clunky visuals and mechanics might alienate players unfamiliar with Puppet Combo’s grindhouse style. Historically, the game is considered one of Puppet Combo’s defining works, embodying their mission to blend exploitation cinema with survival horror in ways that few developers attempt. It cemented the studio’s reputation as a leader in retro inspired horror experiences.
Availability & Collectibility
Stay Out of the House is available digitally on PC via Steam, Xbox One , Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, GOG and Nintendo Switch. Puppet Combo gives access to their entire catalog to their Patreon subscribers as well. Its reputation as a standout indie horror title ensures its lasting presence within the community. For collectors of digital horror, it represents both a unique survival horror experiment and a piece of Puppet Combo’s growing cult legacy.
Get it on:
Steam: Stay Out of the House on Steam
GOG: -20% Stay Out of the House on GOG.com
Xbox: Buy Stay Out of the House | Xbox
PSN: Stay Out of the House PS4 & PS5
Nintendo: Stay Out of the House for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Official Site
Puppet Combo’s Patreon: PUPPET COMBO | Creating 80’s HORROR GAMES | Patreon
Trailer: