Whisper of the House is one of those cozy games that immediately pulls players into its gentle rhythm. Similar to the popular title Unpacking, the core gameplay revolves around unpacking, tidying and decorating the interiors of various houses. However, Whisper of the House expands on this gameplay by adding a range of charming townspeople, each with their own requests, stories and small mysteries/puzzles into each of their space, motivating and rewarding curiosity. Tasks include helping someone move into a new home, restoring the abandoned house of a missing alchemist, or planning the interior design for a newly opening flower shop. Every task comes with its own narrative touch. Perhaps the lost alchemist is not as far away as one might think?
Beyond the interiors, the game gives players a notable sense of autonomy. You are free to explore the town, pick up tasks at your own pace and interact with the environment outside of scripted objectives. This freedom extends to small acts of care for the town itself: players can collect trash scattered around the city, repair leaking fire hydrants, and recycle unwanted items in the recycle bin for some vouchers.
That said, explicit environmental gameplay elements remain relatively limited. The existing systems (cleaning up trash, recycling items and repairing fire hydrants) hint at pro-environmental themes, but they are not explored. This opens up an interesting opportunity to come up with ideas on how Whisper of the House could further integrate sustainability without disrupting its cozy atmosphere.
For example, the game could include environmentally friendly furniture options, such as items made from recycled wood, second-hand or refurbished furniture, or décor crafted from natural, low-impact materials. They could show that sustainable options can look just as nice and appealing as any other design choice. Additionally, town houses could feature renewable energy elements like solar panels, rainwater collection systems or energy-efficient lightning, normalising these technologies. Other potential additions might include community gardens, composting systems, or quests centred around repairing and reusing objects instead of replacing them.
Whisper of the House already succeeds in making care, curiosity and attentiveness feel rewarding. With a few thoughtful additions, it could also become a quiet but powerful message of how cozy games can encourage environmentally friendly thinking, both for players and for developers looking to embed sustainability into everyday play.