House of the Vigil

Screenshot from House of the Vigil – isometric horror adventure

House of the Vigil is a short, atmospheric isometric horror game by indie developer Zapster. It blends the eerie charm of GBA and PS1-era visuals with a modern narrative mystery.

You play as Anna Turner, a babysitter whose quiet night spirals into horror when the child she’s watching goes missing. Trapped in an unfamiliar home, Anna must uncover the truth before time runs out.

🎬 Trailer for House of the Vigil

🎮 Let’s Play House of the Vigil

Player: Qrow (YouTube: @ImQrow)

YouTuber Qrow dives into House of the Vigil in a full playthrough that perfectly captures the game’s creeping tension and puzzle-solving. From the eerie narration to the unsettling final escape, Qrow highlights the “Sims-meets-indie-horror crossover” aesthetic and praises the game’s strong atmosphere and pacing.

Viewer Reactions (YouTube comments):

“Ooh that was a good one!!” — @amandawalker7739
“Crazy how I noticed the numbers in the background first from the TV scene 😂 but her neck bendin’ got me 😅” — @lashae4u
“Yo, I’m driving while I watch this wtf who cares about safety” — @aydencomplains2004
“[!] SPOILER [!]” — @MorningDuckHasReturned

📝 What Players Are Saying

Players on Steam are praising House of the Vigil for its atmosphere, nostalgic design, and impressive polish for a debut release:

“A great debut title! I wish there were more horror games like this that take cues from suburbia instead of just haunted mansions.” — Sekhem, Steam Review
“House of the Vigil was a thrilling and entertaining experience from start to finish! For just ONE person working on this entire game, it’s a masterpiece.” — Annie Kin, Steam Review
“Incredible art, atmosphere, and throwbacks to games like Resident Evil. Definitely recommend — an amazing first game from an unbelievably talented Zapsterrrr.” — iamJOLO, Steam Review
“Short game but loved the whole thing. Will definitely be on the lookout for more from this dev.” — Chorizotaco_, Steam Review

👥 Developer Spotlight

House of the Vigil is the debut project from Zapster, a solo indie developer inspired by retro horror and late-90s puzzle games. With its original art and eerie music, the game feels like a forgotten title from another era—restored and reimagined for today’s players.

➡️ Play more from Zapster on Itch.io

💭 Final Thoughts

House of the Vigil stands out as a heartfelt and haunting debut. Its nostalgic visuals and slow-burn mystery evoke the best of classic horror games. The short runtime keeps players hooked while leaving them wanting more.

If you love games like Faith or Mothered, this one deserves a spot on your wishlist.