“You can never see outside of yourself”: The House Before is a body horror game in which you are a house tunnelling through its own soul
The House Before is an unconventional body horror game where players take on the role of a sentient house navigating its own existence. In this surreal premise, the player’s character is a house whose limbs stretch through endless rooms filled with grotesque creatures. The game explores themes of perspective and self-awareness, with the house protagonist unable to see outside itself or experience the world beyond its fleshy walls.
Gameplay involves managing the house’s interior and features soul-tunnelling minigames that provide an abstract and philosophical gaming experience. Rather than traditional action or exploration, players must contend with the interior management aspects of being a sentient structure. The premise draws inspiration from existential horror concepts, questioning fundamental aspects of identity and consciousness. The game’s narrative hook asks whether players are “a good house or just a pale afterthought” of some previous dwelling, adding layers of existential dread to the experience. This atypical approach to game design positions The House Before as a boundary-pushing title within the body horror genre, offering a darkly humorous meditation on perspective, existence, and self-awareness.