Haunted House Renovator Review – It’s Spooktastically good

Haunted Renovator Simulator is one of those unexpected gems that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. What starts as a simple spin on the “fix up an old house” premise quickly becomes a surprisingly charming blend of renovation, exploration, and supernatural mischief — and it works brilliantly on Xbox.

If you’re expecting a Phasmaphobia type experience you’ll be disappointed, but if you’re a fan of Powerwash Simulator or Crime Scene Cleaner type games this might be for you.

You are a spiritually sensitive, telekinetically-adept (yes, more on that in a moment) home renovator who inherits a flat from the passing of his grandfather.  However, his dear old grandad is still having around and gives you tips and story elements whilst you play through the locations.

You start with the flat that your grandfather left you.  You use this as a tutorial to prepare you for the skills required later on, as well as a central hub that allows you to reach the other properties via the rather handy lift.

Each property is split into several rooms.  In each room, the game will present you with certain objectives.

The renovation gameplay is genuinely satisfying. Tools feel responsive, upgrades come at a steady pace, and there’s something deeply rewarding about transforming crumbling, ghost‑ridden wrecks into warm, lived‑in spaces. The controls translate smoothly to a controller, making painting, wallpapering, and rebuilding feel intuitive rather than fiddly.

First, identify any items in the room that seem to have some supernatural energy to them, which is handy as they have some (quite whizzy) particle effects highlighting them.

Destroy the items (they are mostly broken so easy to smash to bits and place into bags for disposal), you need to choose a flooring type, wallpaper and ceiling.  You will decide whether to fix the floor and ceiling or simply replace them, whilst the wallpaper is simply torn down and new one hung using your handy telekinesis (oh yes, you are the only telekinetic, psychic decorator in town).

You then have to repair anything in the room that needs it and clean anything that is dirty.  Sometimes it is easier to break 90% of the items in the room and replace them with new ones, but you can see what items are missing by looking at the shop menu under “Quest Items”.

At this point, there will be items around that seem out of place…. A stuffed bear and a capybara spring to mind, which are haunted and you must identify how to remove the spirit associated with them.  This is done with your handy dandy camera which identifies the item and two ways to get rid of the spirit.  One is kinder, but harder to accomplish and worth more dollars, or the quick and dirty method which earns you less.

So, at this point the place is starting to look more habitable, but we have the task of replacing every item of furniture you may have destroyed.  Once the room is “complete”, you will open other doors within the property and the pattern repeats.

However, a wraith will exist in every property.  Once you take their photograph, you can identify items that are required to capture the spirit and send it to the light.   This is done with the use of a Magic Circle you place on the floor, which is seeded by you with items from the property, or you can buy replacements.  This will bind the spirit and remove them safely.

If you spirit should touch you, they will take temporary control of your body and make you run and hide.  You can cut the threads that bind you to the spirit by repeatedly pressing A.  It is an occupational hazard but doesn’t slow down your gaming experience that much.

Graphics

Visually, the game has a cosy, slightly whimsical style that fits the tone perfectly. The lighting, dust particles, and subtle paranormal effects all help build atmosphere without ever overwhelming the player (although the repeated haunted laugh gets tiresome quickly). Performance on Xbox is solid, with smooth framerates and quick loading times that keep the loop flowing.  Be aware the game did crash once during my testing, but I cannot say if that was game or console related.  Save your game manually and often.

Boo!

What really elevates the experience is the haunting element. The ghosts aren’t there to terrify you — they add personality, humour, and a sense of mystery to each property. Every spirit has a story and uncovering why they’re lingering becomes just as engaging as the renovation itself. It’s a clever twist that gives the game heart and keeps each project feeling fresh.

Conclusion

If you enjoy chill, creative games with a unique twist — or you just love the idea of flipping houses while negotiating with the occasional friendly ghost — Haunted Renovator Simulator is absolutely worth your time. It’s relaxing, quirky, and surprisingly heartfelt, making it a standout addition to the Xbox library.