Neighbours back From Hell - 81/100
Neighbours back From Hell - 81/100
Review date: August 17, 2026, Author: Swiper4ik
Review date: August 17, 2026, Author: Swiper4ik
A remaster of iconic neighbor pranks.
A remaster of iconic neighbor pranks. Many have heard of the original Neighbours from Hell and its sequel, but today they are hopelessly outdated. To the rescue comes a remaster that fixes bugs, updates the graphics, and merges both games into a single experience. It is a simple and dynamic point-and-click game where the risk of losing is minimal, but the satisfaction from pulling off pranks is immense. Yes, violence is bad, but the game presents it strictly in a lighthearted, comedic way. There are no deep mechanics or complex storytelling here—just a couple of cutscenes and a fixed set of stages. However, compared to the classics, this is a noticeable step forward that leaves no negative aftertaste. And no matter how familiar the house and vacation locations are, it is still satisfying to spot the subtle differences with every new step. But the main problem lies in the complete lack of fresh content.
A remaster of iconic neighbor pranks.
A remaster of iconic neighbor pranks. Many have heard of the original Neighbours from Hell and its sequel, but today they are hopelessly outdated. To the rescue comes a remaster that fixes bugs, updates the graphics, and merges both games into a single experience. It is a simple and dynamic point-and-click game where the risk of losing is minimal, but the satisfaction from pulling off pranks is immense. Yes, violence is bad, but the game presents it strictly in a lighthearted, comedic way. There are no deep mechanics or complex storytelling here—just a couple of cutscenes and a fixed set of stages. However, compared to the classics, this is a noticeable step forward that leaves no negative aftertaste. And no matter how familiar the house and vacation locations are, it is still satisfying to spot the subtle differences with every new step. But the main problem lies in the complete lack of fresh content.
The storyline on PC and mobile devices used to be stripped down: we simply played as Woody, an actor on a show where the main goal driving the entire broadcast was tormenting the neighbor. Granted, the victim of these pranks was no saint either, but his hostility was at least justified by the fact that he never agreed to participate in the TV show. Only the console versions included two introductory cutscenes, which the remaster finally brings back. At the beginning of the story, the neighbor was simply ruining Woody's daily life, prompting our hero to use his connections to get revenge. The ending shows the conclusion of the second game, where the characters hit an iceberg on a ship and float away on lifebuoys. This frames the protagonist as someone who isn't entirely an evil villain. For many, this is a relatable scenario about being fed up with an annoying neighbor, giving players a safe outlet to vent their frustration. The project is divided into two seasons: the standard house and the vacation from hell. In the first season, rooms and shelves unlock gradually, whereas in the second, players get immediate access to fully open locations. The visual style, with its recognizable claymation aesthetic, still looks pleasant and unique. Special praise goes to the optimization: the remaster runs effortlessly even on the weakest hardware, which makes total sense given the original's mobile roots.
The storyline on PC and mobile devices used to be stripped down: we simply played as Woody, an actor on a show where the main goal driving the entire broadcast was tormenting the neighbor. Granted, the victim of these pranks was no saint either, but his hostility was at least justified by the fact that he never agreed to participate in the TV show. Only the console versions included two introductory cutscenes, which the remaster finally brings back. At the beginning of the story, the neighbor was simply ruining Woody's daily life, prompting our hero to use his connections to get revenge. The ending shows the conclusion of the second game, where the characters hit an iceberg on a ship and float away on lifebuoys. This frames the protagonist as someone who isn't entirely an evil villain. For many, this is a relatable scenario about being fed up with an annoying neighbor, giving players a safe outlet to vent their frustration. The project is divided into two seasons: the standard house and the vacation from hell. In the first season, rooms and shelves unlock gradually, whereas in the second, players get immediate access to fully open locations. The visual style, with its recognizable claymation aesthetic, still looks pleasant and unique. Special praise goes to the optimization: the remaster runs effortlessly even on the weakest hardware, which makes total sense given the original's mobile roots.
The gameplay revolves around setting up chain-reaction pranks while managing a pool of three lives. A panel at the top of the screen displays the gold medals earned from pulling off tricks. The player has to search every corner and shelf for useful items, ranging from spicy candies and bowling balls to stinky cheese, soap, and banana peels. Each trap needs to be placed in a specific spot, which can be figured out intuitively or by reading the humorous descriptions in the inventory. At times, you have to combine items, which adds a layer of creativity to the gameplay. At the bottom of the screen sits the interface displaying the victim's status and current tasks. To avoid constantly panning the camera, an indicator shows the neighbor's current mood and his next intended path. Completing a stage only requires reaching a minimum medal threshold, but given the low difficulty, maxing out the neighbor's misery is a breeze. For maximum irritation, traps should be chained together so the victim stumbles from one prank into the next without leaving a state of rage—at peak anger, a rage meter fills up and sounds a loud train whistle. In the second season, the neighbor's equally mean mother joins the fray, alongside neutral characters like the neighbor's crush and a toddler, both of whom can be manipulated to trigger further outbursts. The game is an easy, stress-free play that can be finished in a single evening. But that is also its main weakness: the experience barely sticks in your memory, and fans of the PC originals will be disappointed by the lack of new mechanics. Even older console ports (such as the GameCube version) offered revised controls, fresh levels, and unique scenarios that would have been great to see in a full remaster. There is no incentive to return to Neighbours back From Hell—after one playthrough, you know the entire game by heart.
The gameplay revolves around setting up chain-reaction pranks while managing a pool of three lives. A panel at the top of the screen displays the gold medals earned from pulling off tricks. The player has to search every corner and shelf for useful items, ranging from spicy candies and bowling balls to stinky cheese, soap, and banana peels. Each trap needs to be placed in a specific spot, which can be figured out intuitively or by reading the humorous descriptions in the inventory. At times, you have to combine items, which adds a layer of creativity to the gameplay. At the bottom of the screen sits the interface displaying the victim's status and current tasks. To avoid constantly panning the camera, an indicator shows the neighbor's current mood and his next intended path. Completing a stage only requires reaching a minimum medal threshold, but given the low difficulty, maxing out the neighbor's misery is a breeze. For maximum irritation, traps should be chained together so the victim stumbles from one prank into the next without leaving a state of rage—at peak anger, a rage meter fills up and sounds a loud train whistle. In the second season, the neighbor's equally mean mother joins the fray, alongside neutral characters like the neighbor's crush and a toddler, both of whom can be manipulated to trigger further outbursts. The game is an easy, stress-free play that can be finished in a single evening. But that is also its main weakness: the experience barely sticks in your memory, and fans of the PC originals will be disappointed by the lack of new mechanics. Even older console ports (such as the GameCube version) offered revised controls, fresh levels, and unique scenarios that would have been great to see in a full remaster. There is no incentive to return to Neighbours back From Hell—after one playthrough, you know the entire game by heart.
Verdict:
The initial pranks and the neighbor's reactions bring genuine satisfaction and motivate you to push forward, but as soon as you get used to the rules, the magic quickly fades.
Verdict:
The initial pranks and the neighbor's reactions bring genuine satisfaction and motivate you to push forward, but as soon as you get used to the rules, the magic quickly fades.
Have I completed the game (main campaign/story)?
Have I completed the game (main campaign/story)?
Do I recommend the game?
Do I recommend the game?
⏳
✅
✅
~2 Hours