Coming into 2025, I’ve found myself reading more books. From graphic novels to non-fiction anthologies, I’ve been bitten by the bookworm this year and can’t quite seem to shake its influence. Having spent hours on mystery games like Strange Horticulture and, of course, Vampire: The Masquerade’s Shadows of New York and its sister, Coteries, Your House felt like the logical next step. From Patrones and Escondites’ bizarre press releases to the promise of “a story you can play,” and “a game that you can read,” it piqued my interest immediately, and has swiftly become one of my favorite puzzlers of this year.
Characterized by its colorful yet subtle noir comicbook style, Your House follows the story of Debbie, a rebellious young teen who has decided to throw caution to the wind and strike out on her own. Her best friend has betrayed her, sleeping with her now ex-boyfriend. She’s spending her birthday alone in her room at Hicksville Boarding School, wallowing in self-pity and charging herself up to flip the bird at the world. Oh, and she’s also just been hit by a car.
Just as it feels like all hope is lost, she receives a mysterious letter, which includes a set of keys for an apartment in New York. The puzzle game kicks off with you stealing a motorbike and fleeing the school, with pennies to your name and blood pumping noisily through your veins. What, I ask, could possibly go wrong?
Well, it turns out that said new home is inspired by the real-life apartment designed by Eric Clough, the creator of the iconic ‘Mystery on Fifth Avenue.’ A series of different puzzles were built into the structure’s walls, with various cyphers to solve and clues to piece together. From the onset, Your House pays homage to Clough’s designs in its own, eccentric way.
As I ascend the steps and attempt to go inside, I’m greeted with a pinpad with no obvious code. A quick buzz informs me that I need to look at “the cars, birds, and trees.” There’s no option to glance around, so I go rummaging in my backpack to try something to help. After five or so minutes I realize that, alongside the keys, I was sent a random postcard emblazoned with the image of a motel and, as you’ve likely guessed, cars, birds, and trees. Feeling pretty clever, I type in the respective numbers in order, but I’m still met with an angry bleep.
On the back of the postcard, however, is a stamp with another bird on it. I add it to my total and the keypad clicks merrily: just when you think you’ve solved it, Your House throws you a curveball, and I absolutely love it.
But the puzzles aren’t just a case of finding clues and matching them up with the correct solution – Your House is, as I said, a “game you can read.” As I hotwire the aforementioned motorcycle, I’m told that Debbie has to connect the green wire to the black wire, then the red wire to the blue wire. On the page, however, the word ‘green’ is on a blue background, ‘black’ is on a red one, and so forth. Do you match by the color, or the word? That’s the question.
I often find that visual novels follow the same patterns of making choices and hoping for the best. The best ones, however, do something different: Doki Doki Literature Club is, well, vaguely psychotic, and Strange Horticulture adds in plant identification and exploration to keep things interesting. With its weird quirks and unique artstyle, Your House is something new again, and I highly recommend giving it a go.
Your House is out now on Steam, and is currently available at a 10% discount, bringing it down to $8.99 / £8.09 until Thursday April 10. You can pick it up here.
If you, like me, love solving clues and tying up loose ends, check out our list of the best detective games. Alternatively, we have a rundown of all the best relaxing games, if you’re looking for something to while away the hours with.
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