House Call

About House Call

House Call is a minimalist puzzle game by helloitscrash that channels the spirit of 2000s Flash point-and-click adventures. Released in 2026 for PC, it drops you into a tense, single-player mystery where you investigate a frantic call about something lurking inside a house. The genre is pure retro indie, think static environments, mouse-driven exploration, and logic puzzles tied to the setting. The story is brief but atmospheric, focusing on figuring out the house’s secrets through environmental clues. At just 10 minutes long, it’s a short but focused experience, designed to evoke nostalgia for early web-based adventures while leaning into modern polish. Perfect for quick sessions, it prioritizes eerie tone over complexity.

Gameplay

You control a cursor that interacts with objects in a fixed 2D house layout. Puzzles revolve around finding hidden items, manipulating objects, and deducing sequences to progress. Each room unlocks incrementally, requiring you to backtrack and apply new information. The core loop is simple: click to examine, drag to move items, and solve spatial or logic challenges. There’s no inventory system, solutions rely on contextual clues and environmental storytelling. The single-player mode is linear, with no branching paths. Controls are intuitive but lack modern refinements like hotkeys. The 10-minute runtime feels brisk, but the puzzles demand precise clicks. The lack of save points means mistakes force restarts, adding tension.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate House Call 4.2/5, with 78% completing it in under 12 minutes. Community moods skew eerie (68%) and curious (54%), matching the game’s tense vibe. Critics praise its retro charm but note repetitive puzzle design. One review: “A love letter to old Flash games, but the lack of polish hurts immersion.” Achievements are minimal, only three, focused on exploration and speed. 82% of players finish on first try, suggesting balanced difficulty. Average playtime is 11.3 minutes, with 92% replaying to uncover missed details. While not deep, its brevity appeals to fans of concise, atmospheric experiences.

PlayPile's Take

House Call is a $9.99 micro-adventure best for nostalgia seekers and puzzle fans who enjoy tight, spooky environments. It lacks depth but nails the mood and mechanics of its inspirations. The short runtime makes it ideal for casual play, though its lack of modern features may deter some. With a 78% completion rate and strong retro appeal, it’s a quick win for indie enthusiasts. Buy it if you miss the simplicity of early point-and-clicks.

Storyline

A call. On the other end, a voice. A hushed voice, desperate for help. "Something is inside my house." You speed out the door, get in your car, and drive to the address the voice gave to you. Find them.