5.5

Review: House Builder

Gameplay and setup
The game is entirely about mimicking the construction process. You get assignments to build houses in different locations, from snow-covered polar areas to desert-like environments. Each project requires you to collect raw materials, use tools and follow steps that match real building techniques.

The gameplay is highly linear: You get specific instructions per phase, such as mixing cement, stacking bricks, or building pipes. Although this provides a structured experience, it significantly limits creative freedom. For example, there is no sandbox mode where you can design your own home or experiment with shapes.

Technical performance
On a graphical level, the PS5 version offers a moderate experience. Some environments are attractively displayed, such as the Japanese or Scandinavian levels, but textures and light effects are inconsistent. The framerate usually remains stable, but bugs and glitches are common. Players report crashes in objects, clumsy physics in vehicles such as cranes, and in some cases even crashes that crash the game.

The control on the PS5 generally feels pretty intuitive, although selecting smaller building components can sometimes be frustrating. Tutorials are present, but not always fully clear, which can lead to confusion in more complex tasks.

Progression and content
House Builder contains about 40 construction projects in the console version, which is a large extension compared to the PC version. The difficulty level is gradually increasing and you can free up skills that allow you to work faster or more efficiently, such as faster paintings or automatic sorting of materials.

However, the progression remains limited because the game leaves little room for experiment or personal input. Once completed, the levels offer no replayable value unless you enjoy the process itself.

Educational value
What House Builder does well is the educational aspect. It gives a solid impression of how construction processes work. Materials such as concrete, wood, insulation and glass wool are correctly introduced and applied. This gives the game an instructive experience, especially for players interested in engineering or architecture.

Restrictions
The main weakness of the game is the lack of creative freedom. You can't design your own house or make your own decisions about the form or decor. In addition, the technical defects on console are disturbing, especially for players who expect a smooth and polished experience. The gameplay is also repetitive in the long run, because each level follows a similar structure.