Info about Hello Neighbor:

Official game description:
Hello Neighbor is a stealth horror game about sneaking into your neighbor's house to figure out what horrible secrets he's hiding in the basement. You play against an advanced AI that learns from your every move. Really enjoying climbing through that backyard window? Expect a bear trap there. Sneaking through the front door? There'll be cameras there soon. Trying to escape? The Neighbor will find a shortcut and catch you.  
*   Suspenseful horror gameplay that focuses on sneaking around your neighbor's house  
*   Constantly evolving experience where the Neighbor's AI counters your moves, and learns from what you do  
*   Sandbox-style gameplay with plenty of environmental interaction and physics

Release date: Dec 8, 2017

Categories: Stealth Gameplay, Survival Horror, Puzzle Solving, Sandbox, AI Competition, Atmospheric Horror, Single-player, Environmental Interaction

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 15; verdict: Overpriced with Technical Issues; summary: The game has received significant criticism for being overpriced, with many users feeling that the cost does not match the value provided. Technical issues such as janky physics, poor AI, and a broken workshop have also been frequently mentioned, impacting the overall user experience. Additionally, there are complaints about the gameplay quality and content value, further contributing to user dissatisfaction.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Significant Improvement; summary: The game suffers from several critical issues, including illogical puzzles that require external guides, numerous bugs that hinder gameplay, and poor gameplay mechanics. Users frequently need to rely on external guides to progress, which significantly impacts the overall experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 80; verdict: Barely Playable; summary: The game experiences significant issues on Linux, primarily related to launch reliability. Users report that the game does not launch, which is a critical problem affecting the overall usability on this platform.
- Steam Deck: score 90; verdict: Broken; summary: The game experiences significant issues on the Steam Deck, including frequent crashes, network connectivity problems, control and input lag, and display issues. These problems severely impact the user experience, making the game difficult to play and enjoy.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with lower-end systems experiencing more issues. Higher VRAM configurations also report instability, suggesting broader optimization problems.
  - Sample size: 356 (3% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM (mixed, 196 reports): Performance ranges from smooth gameplay to significant lag and crashes, depending on specific configurations.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (negative, 82 reports): Reports of poor optimization and performance issues dominate this cohort.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 45 reports): Frequent crashes and instability reported, indicating severe performance problems.
  - Caveats: 356 of 11071 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently mention that the game is only worth purchasing when it is on sale, implying that the full price is too high for the value provided. Many users suggest waiting for discounts, indicating that the community perceives the fair price to be significantly lower than the current base price. The general sentiment is that the game is overpriced at its full price, and a fair range would be much lower.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 3.0h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct mentions of playtime. One reviewer mentions finishing the game in under three hours, which suggests a short completion time for the main story. Another reviewer mentions passing the game in 5 hours, which aligns with the idea of a relatively short playthrough. Additionally, specific mentions of spending significant time on particular tasks (10 minutes, an hour or two) help to provide context for session lengths and the detailed nature of gameplay. However, there is limited evidence for endgame content, leading to a lower confidence score.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts off tedious and confusing but becomes fun and addictive once players overcome the initial learning curve, especially when playing with friends or using mods.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Overcoming the initial learning curve and confusion
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Unclear puzzles; Lack of tutorials; Tedious initial gameplay; Buggy mechanics
  - Unlock drivers: Understanding game mechanics; Playing with friends; Using mods
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Using mods; Watching tutorials; Playing without external help for the first time
- Player Archetypes:
  - Nostalgic Viewer (sale)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and memories associated with the game.
    - Playstyle: Casual, often revisiting the game for nostalgic reasons rather than challenging gameplay.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Fan; Viewer
    - Reference games: Hello Neighbor Alphas
  - Horror Beginner (sale)
    - Motivation: Experiencing horror in a manageable way.
    - Playstyle: Cautious and exploratory, focusing on managing stress levels.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Beginner; Newbie
    - Reference games: Other horror games
  - Mod Enthusiast (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Enhancing gameplay through mods.
    - Playstyle: Experimental, often trying out different mods to change the gameplay experience.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: Modder; Enthusiast
    - Reference games: Games with strong mod communities
  - Completionist (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Completing all aspects of the game.
    - Playstyle: Thorough and persistent, aiming to complete all achievements and explore every part of the game.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: Completionist; Achievement Hunter
    - Reference games: Games with extensive achievement lists


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fun and challenging gameplay (weight 0.73): The gameplay is frequently described as tricky, fun, and challenging. Players enjoy the creative and complex puzzles, as well as the cat-and-mouse dynamics.
- Interesting and fun mods (weight 0.34): Mods are a significant aspect of the game, with players appreciating the variety and quality of mods available. Mods enhance gameplay and add to the enjoyment.
- Positive overall impressions (weight 0.25): Many players express general positivity towards the game, calling it good, cool, and enjoyable. Some reviews mention the game's performance and overall quality.
- Engaging and memorable story (weight 0.22): The story is highlighted as one of the game's strongest points, with players describing it as amazing, engaging, and thought-provoking.
- Great music and soundtrack (weight 0.15): The game's music and soundtrack are frequently praised as great, perfect, and memorable, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.14): Players feel the game is worth the money, particularly when purchased on sale. Frequent sales make it a good value for the price.
- Good graphics for its time (weight 0.14): The graphics are considered decent and good for the time the game was released, appealing to fans of early versions.
- Addictive and time-consuming (weight 0.09): The game is described as addictive and capable of making time fly, indicating that it keeps players engaged for extended periods.
- Achievements add value (weight 0.08): Completing all achievements is a notable aspect for some players, adding value and replayability to the game.

Common complaints:
- Game is plagued by bugs (weight 0.41): There are numerous reports of bugs in the game, which can be disruptive and annoying. These bugs affect gameplay and can even be exploited.
- Puzzles are overly complex (weight 0.35): Many players find the puzzles in the game to be too obscure, challenging, and confusing. They often don't make sense and can be illogical, leading to a lot of trial and error.
- Ineffective neighbor AI (weight 0.35): The AI of the neighbor is frequently criticized for being ineffective and not very intelligent. It can be particularly useless in larger houses and less effective in newer versions.
- Poor controls and physics (weight 0.29): The game's controls are often described as awful and imprecise. The physics engine is also criticized for being horrendous and broken.
- Cartoony graphics and poor visual style (weight 0.27): The game's graphics are often described as too cartoony, which can be off-putting. Additionally, the visual style is criticized for being poor.
- Lack of guidance and explanations (weight 0.23): The game is criticized for its lack of in-game guidance and explanations, which can make it confusing and frustrating for new players.
- Game is unpolished and overpriced (weight 0.21): Many players feel that the game is unpolished and not worth its price. It is often described as a mess and too simple for its cost.
- Act 2 and Act 3 difficulties (weight 0.2): Players find Act 2 and Act 3 particularly challenging and buggy. Act 2 is often described as strange and difficult, while Act 3 is noted for its increased difficulty and bugs.
- Game launch issues (weight 0.11): Several players have reported issues with launching the game. It either does not launch properly or crashes upon launching.
- Fragmented and flawed storyline (weight 0.09): The storyline is noted for being fragmented and poorly developed. It is often criticized for not being well-executed.

Gameplay feedback:
- Puzzle-solving and exploration (weight 0.43): The game features a variety of puzzles that players need to solve, combined with exploration elements. These puzzles vary in difficulty across different acts, providing a challenging and engaging experience.
- Advanced AI behavior (weight 0.28): The neighbor AI in the game is advanced, learning from player actions and setting traps. This AI behavior adds a dynamic and challenging aspect to the gameplay.
- Multiple acts with increasing difficulty (weight 0.25): The game is divided into multiple acts, each with increasing difficulty. This structure keeps the gameplay engaging and progressively challenging.
- Mod support and workshop (weight 0.18): The game supports mods and has workshop compatibility, allowing players to create and share new experiences. This feature enhances the game's replayability and community engagement.
- Stealth and horror themes (weight 0.18): The game incorporates stealth and horror elements, creating a suspenseful atmosphere. Players must avoid the neighbor and navigate through psychological suspense scenarios.
- Interactive environments (weight 0.16): The game offers interactive environments where players can engage with objects and use physics-based interactions. This adds a layer of realism and immersion to the gameplay.
- Achievement system (weight 0.09): The game includes an achievement system, where players can earn achievements through various actions. However, some achievements can be obtained accidentally due to physics interactions.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes and bugs (weight 0.37): The game frequently crashes and has many bugs that affect gameplay and progress. These issues are widespread and significantly impact the player experience.
- Launch and installation issues (weight 0.19): Players experience difficulties with launching the game, including crashes during launch and installation problems. These issues prevent players from even starting the game.
- Performance and optimization (weight 0.17): The game has poor optimization leading to performance issues such as lag and FPS drops. Some players report decent performance, but many experience significant problems.
- Physics engine issues (weight 0.12): The physics engine in the game is reported as broken or weird, leading to unexpected behaviors and bugs that affect gameplay.
- Technical glitches and errors (weight 0.12): The game has various technical issues, including fatal errors, unhandled exceptions, and screen resolution problems. These issues disrupt gameplay and require troubleshooting.
- Loading and startup times (weight 0.08): Players report long loading times and issues with the game hanging at the splash screen, affecting the overall gaming experience.
- Game size and requirements (weight 0.07): The game has decent PC requirements and a small game size, making it accessible to a wide range of players, including those with less powerful hardware.
- Specific technical issues (weight 0.06): Players encounter specific technical issues such as black screens with a clock, freezes, and network problems, which disrupt gameplay.
- Character glitches (weight 0.05): Characters, such as neighbors, frequently get stuck and glitch, which can be either amusing or detrimental to gameplay.
- Positive performance feedback (weight 0.05): Some players report that the game runs smoothly and has good performance, providing a positive gaming experience.
- Specific act bugs (weight 0.03): Certain acts in the game, such as Act II, are particularly buggy, causing frustration and disrupting the gaming experience.
- Pirated version issues (weight 0.03): Players using pirated versions of the game experience lag and other technical problems, impacting their ability to play smoothly.
- Unique gameplay exploits (weight 0.03): Players have found unique and amusing exploits, such as using trash bags to launch characters, adding a fun element to the game.
- Game pauses on launch (weight 0.02): The game launches into a paused state, which can be confusing and disruptive to the gaming experience.
- Playable on Steam Deck (weight 0.02): The game is playable on the Steam Deck, providing an additional platform for players to enjoy the game.
- Mixer usage (weight 0.02): The game uses a mixer, which may be relevant to players interested in the technical aspects of the game.
- Texture issues (weight 0.02): Players report getting stuck in textures, which can be frustrating and disrupt the gaming experience.

Recommendations:
- Mixed recommendations for purchase (weight 0.36): Players have varying opinions on whether to recommend the game. Some highly recommend it, while others do so with reservations or not at all.
- Try different versions and mods (weight 0.24): Players suggest trying different versions of the game, such as Alpha 1 and Pre-Alpha, and using mods to enhance the gaming experience.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.21): Many players suggest purchasing the game only when it is on sale or at a discount, indicating that the full price may not be worth it.
- Recommended for specific audiences (weight 0.2): The game is recommended for particular groups such as puzzle game lovers, horror fans, indie game fans, and nostalgic fans.
- Worth it for nostalgic value (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for those who watched it as a child or have a nostalgic connection to it.
- Consider other options (weight 0.05): Some players recommend getting the original game instead of sequels or suggest playing other versions for a better experience.
- Available for free or cheaper elsewhere (weight 0.05): The game can be found for free on certain platforms or cheaper on different sites.
- Targeted at younger audiences (weight 0.05): The game seems to be targeted at younger audiences, particularly kids who enjoy exploring secrets.
- Positive general feedback (weight 0.05): Some players express positive sentiments about the game, indicating it is very good or worth every penny.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.19): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's technical issues, including frequent crashes, bugs, and physics problems. Additionally, the difficulty of puzzles, particularly in Act 2 and Act 3, and the lack of guidance contribute significantly to this frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.18): Players enjoy the game's fun gameplay mechanics, interesting puzzles, and engaging story. The availability of mods and the sandbox mode also enhance the overall positive experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.13): Players feel nostalgic due to childhood memories associated with the game, including watching YouTubers play it and personal experiences from earlier versions. The game's story and history also evoke fond memories.
- Disappointment (weight 0.1): Players express disappointment due to the game's numerous bugs, unmet expectations from early alphas, and poor gameplay mechanics. The final product's quality and AI behavior also fall short of expectations.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Players are excited about the game's unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, active modding community, and the potential for enhanced experiences with mods. The game's atmosphere and narrative also contribute to this excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players feel satisfied with the game's story, AI, and gameplay mechanics. The availability of mods and the overall enjoyable experience, despite some bugs, contribute to this satisfaction.
- Joy (weight 0.04): Players experience joy from the game's fun gameplay, story, and the ability to play with friends. The game's graphics, relaxing atmosphere, and mods also enhance this joy.
- Happy (weight 0.03): Players are happy with the game's content, mods, and overall performance. The game's simplicity, puzzles, and story contribute to this happiness.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players find the game's physics bugs and unique scenarios humorous and entertaining. The chaotic and hilarious gameplay moments add to the amusement.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Players feel sadness due to the game's story and ending. The plot details and the history of the neighbor evoke this emotion.
- Fear (weight 0.01): Players experience fear due to the scary neighbor and the chase sequences. The overall atmosphere of the game contributes to this fear.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game for its overall experience, gameplay, and nostalgia. The goofiness, freedom, and story are also cherished aspects.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players feel anger due to the game's technical issues, including crashes and bugs. The game's poor performance and strong dissatisfaction with its quality contribute to this anger.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by the puzzles, particularly in Act 2 and Act 3. The lack of clarity and guidance in these puzzles contributes to this confusion.}