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The Horror at Highrook

The Horror at Highrook

Nullpointer Games · released May 1, 2025

IndieRPGSimulation

The Horror at Highrook is an occult card crafting narrative RPG. Explore a haunted mansion with your team of investigators, summon dark entities, craft powerful protections, uncover the fate of the missing family, and choose your own path through the darkness.

84
VGC Score
·No trend datahigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Demo Update” (2y ago)

84%
At launch
90%
Steam all-time
80%
Press
92%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)8018
All-time Steam reviews90%84241
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)92%86458
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (May 29, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 458 total reviews in window · weighted 221.1 up / 20.2 down · computed 6h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (10)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 78
    trust 79May 8, 2025

    For those seeking a unique entry point into TTRPGs, The Horror at Highrook is a satisfying starting course. It has issues that derail the fun, ranging from poor inventory management and lackluster leveling mechanics to the lack of any real hint system. It’s also a fairly linear affair, with little replayability (something at odds with its tabletop roots). Still, if you can embrace the flaws, there’s a fun little adventure waiting for you.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 70Jun 14, 2025

    With an intriguing story, classic horror and mystery tropes that align with the style and concepts behind its inspiration, in particular HP Lovecraft, The Horror at Highrook is a compelling and enjoyable investigation digital board game. It is not always obvious how to proceed, but a little determination proves rewarding and entertaining as you uncover the truth behind the cast of characters and the mansion they are investigating. It is a one-shot experience, though, so don’t let the board game aesthetic fool you.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 67May 24, 2025

    The Horror at Highrook is a great pastime for fans of Lovecraft's stories and card & board games. The simple and fairly consistent gameplay loop from start to finish may not be the ultimate challenge for players who crave it. However, if you're looking for a relaxing card game in a horror-themed setting, The Horror at Highrook is a great choice for those sleepless summer nights.

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  • 98
    trust 66May 6, 2025

    The Horror at Highrook really is worth a try, although it's not for those who are fresh to the puzzle investigation scene. The game gives an interesting blend of tabletop mechanics and card-building eldritch mystery games that tickles an itch for both the horror lore game hunters and the seasoned mystery sleuths.

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  • 80
    trust 65May 20, 2025

    The Horror at Highbrook is one of the best tabletop-style games I've played. The card-based mechanics are complex but introduced in a way that doesn't leave you feeling overwhelmed, while the writing is top-notch and the atmosphere develops perfectly. Whether you're a fan of board games, horror writing or just after an excellent written Lovecraftian mystery then this is an easy recommendation.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 63May 1, 2025

    The Horror at Highrook offers a bug free haunting experience complete with unique mechanics and an air of nostalgia.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 61May 1, 2025

    Horror at Highrook, a Lovecraftian RPG with cards.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61May 1, 2025

    The Horror at Highrook is a look at eldritch horror through the lens of a TTRPG. While the game can have a lot of text, the management style of gameplay sets it apart from other horror titles and will ensure you lose hours of time before it's done.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 54May 1, 2025

    The Horror at Highrook is a smart RPG that dares to be different, and if you're willing to stick at it, there's a great story and some interesting mechanics.

    read full review ↗
  • 78
    trust 47May 2, 2025

    While a few typos and grammar issues throughout hint that the game still needs a little polish, The Horror at Highrook is a great time for anyone who loves a little Lovecraft with their card games.

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. Patch 1.06
    May 8, 2025
  2. Patch 10.5
    May 5, 2025
  3. Patch 1.04
    May 3, 2025
  4. Patch 1.03
    May 2, 2025
  5. Demo Update
    May 29, 2024significant · resets scoring window