Riddlewood Manor [REVIEW] – A Whimsical Horror Delight

If you’re in the mood for something spooky but not TOO serious this Halloween, Riddlewood Manor might just be what you’re looking for. It’s a point-and-click puzzler with a kooky sense of humour and just enough horror to keep you on edge (all without giving you nightmares), mixing old-school adventure design with escape-room style challenges. It’s not perfect, but there’s plenty of charm lurking behind its creaking doors to ensure it is well worth your time this spooky season.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Story-wise, Riddlewood Manor’s tale is serviceable, but not really the star of the show. It tells the tale of the Riddlewood family and the fate of their daughter, who just so happened to have a demonic doll named Suzie who’s still lurking around now… nice. It’s got that kooky, mysterious charm that fits the tone of the game well, but I’d be lying if I said I got too invested in everything that was going on. Still, it provides a fun backdrop for all the puzzle-solving, whilst it keeps things moving along with enough weirdness to stay entertaining (especially when characters like the chicken king show up).

Right off the bat, I have to give full credit to the visual design. The cartoony-horror look hits just the right balance between sinister and silly… enough atmosphere to feel eerie, but not so much that it turns bleak or dreary. The environments are colourful, detailed, and filled with personality, from dusty libraries, gooey sewers, perilous gardens, and toy-filled bedrooms, whilst being able to look around each room in full 3D gives the game an immersive touch. I often found myself just rotating the camera to take in the little visual jokes or background details, with plenty of character to be found within the world. It’s a game that clearly enjoys being a little bit spooky, but it also wants you to have fun being scared.

There are also some solid jump scares sprinkled throughout, usually when you least expect them. One moment you’re carefully studying a puzzle, and the next you spin the camera around to find something lurking behind you. Think that toilet is safe? Think again, there’s a ghost in it. That monstrous door won’t hurt me, will it? Oh wait, it’s eating me. They’re not constant scares, but when they land, they land well, all whilst staying within the boundaries of the lighter tone of the game.

“Riddlewood Manor is a charmingly eerie and rewarding puzzler that’s perfect for fans of escape rooms and old-school puzzle games.”

When it comes to puzzles, Riddlewood Manor really shines. Each room plays out like its own mini escape room, with clever enigmas that range from classic brain teasers to unique, spooky spins on familiar puzzle types, and there’s always a great sense of discovery when you finally connect the dots or unlock a tricky mechanism. Sometimes, it’ll just require finding the right item in the environment and using it in the right place, whilst other times you’ll just need to use a bit of clever logic – there’s a good balance there that ensures each puzzling area is always engaging.

That said, a few of the later puzzles can start to get a bit obtuse (especially when it comes to unlocking the true ending), and there were times when I wasn’t sure if I was missing something obvious or if I simply hadn’t found the right clue somewhere else yet. The main frustration comes from how much the game expects you to backtrack, and you’ll often need to revisit old rooms to pick up clues for puzzles found elsewhere, or redo entire sections after dying (which happens often if you click on the wrong thing). Because each room is self-contained, it’s easy to lose track of which piece of information belongs where, and you’ll definitely want to keep notes – or better yet, take photos – since a lot of clues are visual illustrations rather than text. It’s satisfying when it all comes together, sure, but there were a few moments where I felt more like a lost ghost than a clever detective figuring everything out.

Death is part of the game’s loop though, and while the almost roguelite structure – where you retain information or actions from previous runs – adds an interesting twist to the formula, it also highlights the repetition of the experience. Dying often means redoing puzzles and occasionally losing items you might’ve needed later, and whilst it’s not a deal-breaker, it does slow the pace just enough to turn a few exciting discoveries into chores.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It has imperfections then, but Riddlewood Manor still captures that classic point-and-click magic -making you feel clever one moment and utterly baffled the next. The mix of horror, humour, and head-scratching puzzles works really well, and whilst a bit more polish and refined repeated tasks would’ve elevated it further, it’s still a really fun puzzler that I had a good time playing. It only clocks in at around six hours too (and that could’ve been less if I didn’t get stuck in the garden for so long… all my own doing), so it never outstays its welcome.

Developer: Peanut Button
Publisher: Peanut Button
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed)
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3019550/Riddlewood_Manor/