From Next Door
A downloadable game for Windows
From Next Door is a short mystery-horror game developed for the 2016 Pixel Horror Jam, featuring 100% original graphics, story-driven gameplay, exploration and decision making. It draws inspiration from the works of Junji Ito and games like Silent Hill, with the story focused on the eerie and the bizarre.
Story
Namie has just moved into a new house, one that was rented for a too-good-to-be-true price. It seemed like a good idea at first - nice house, low price, fully furnished, quiet neighborhood… but when she comes across a locked room on the second floor, she starts to realize there's more to the house than what she was told. Why is that room locked? Why did the previous tenant leave the house so suddenly, leaving his things behind? And what's the deal with the windowless house next door?
Gameplay
The game is largely centered around the story itself, with the player exploring the environment to discover clues and to progress forward. Exploration is the key to uncovering the game's mysteries - and although the game follows a linear story line, the choices you make will affect how you discover information and, perhaps, even affect the outcome of things.
Length: ~50 min
Warning: Mild jumpscares
Headphones recommended!
(You can press Alt+Enter to go fullscreen!)
Version 1.1 Update: Bug Fix
Version 1.2 Update: Added small hint for puzzle and bug fix
Version 1.3 Update: Bug fixes, added an RTP and no RTP version of the game
Download
Install instructions
If you already have RPG Maker VX Ace's RTP installed, you can download the no RTP version. If not, download the RTP version which already includes it. If you don't know what RTP means, then you probably need the RTP version!
Feel free to report any bugs you might encounter!
Comments
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:D
Interesting game.
Although word-counting puzzle was a bit boring. I was thinking about dimensions of these objects (geometrical bodies?) at first, but turns out it is a lot... harder. Especially for dyslexic people.
Hello Zeta,
is there a possibility for a german Version?
Hello! Unfortunately I have no plans for official translations of this game at the moment, but there are some fan translations around for languages such as Italian, Spanish, Russian and Korean.
Thank you for your answer. Can you tell me how I can translate your game. It is for my friend. I would give it a try to translate it in german.Your game is great :3
Unfortunately again, I can't exactly say how these fan translations were made so I don't think I can help you, I apologize!
I could never reach a good (if there is any) or true ending, because I got too freaked out to try to beat the chase sequence again and again haha Maybe one day I'll be brave enough, but for now I have to rest my case about how creepy this game manages to be.There were many times where I had to peek through my fingers at the screen, such as when you are given a full screen of the window next door... The game manages to play with your anticipation and use it against you.
Finally a horror game with subtle social commentary.
One can observe the issues with a culture of strict stoicism. She had a neighbour who actually cared, but the internalised social values compelled the protagonist to limit assistance accepted.
do u always die
This was really well made and really did envelop me into the story and atmosphere of the game's world! The pixel graphics was very simple yet told a very intricate story as it went well with the story and the music and allowed the creepiness to shine through. (Video below if anyone's interested!)
The way how the days went by with enough to do as well as the part of the night where the player is shown the character sleeping creates an eerie contrast and accentuates the scare factor each night.
Everything was really well done and the story really does shine through with the fire deodorant being both a hilarious and great payoff! Even having a simple NPC to 'physically' talk to gives the break of flow the story needs, and it's just a really well rounded and crafted story with great tone and ambience in the game!
The only thing I would suggest to improve on would be the house's layout; it was all so cramped and though that does achieve that claustrophobic 'something is wrong' feeling', it becomes slightly frustrating during the chase scenes. The creature is too fast and the environment is too cramped, which doesn't allow for much manoeuvrability. So making the creature slower and the environment slightly larger (or at least the corridors) would help balance things out.
Other than that, the way the choices are well baked into the story so that making a decision will change the ending that you might get through natural actions was well done! It felt organic and a great way to change the endings up. The art was really freaky and matched the tone of everything REALLY well, especially the window. I can't place my finger on it, but that was super freaky and such a simple scene. The music was subtly in the background but really added to the scenes, making creepy parts creepier and the 'normal' day parts more normal.
All in all, it was a great game and really well made and it was super fun to play! Congrats on making it, and good luck for future projects!
Idk how to open the game, Idk if it's the rar but it won't extract file
thanks soo much<3
I played this game a whole back and it was super fun, I hope there's more to come from you!
so so so difficult to get the true ending omg
Nice game. Sometimes I feel goosebumps at certain scenes, but I like the story. I made gameplay on Youtube, you can watch if you want.
I tried to play this game, but it wouldn't launch; troubleshooting came up with 'Incompatible program", so I guess this only runs on older versions of Windows? Will there ever be an update or remake or something?
This game should run fine on Windows 10! (unless you're running Windows 11, then I'm not sure how RPG Maker games run on that)
I'm not sure what the error could have been, perhaps something to do with the RTP? If you don't have RPG Maker Ace VX RTP installed on your computer then you need to download the version of the game that has the RTP included! (If you have no idea what RTP means then you probably need the RTP included version, haha). If that's not the case, then maybe you could tell me the error message that you get when you try to run the game, is 'Incompatible program' the only thing that appears?
Weirdly enough... I just tried to launch it again and it worked this time. I knew I had the RTP version too, so I wasn't sure what it was before, but it just wouldn't launch. I found the incompatible program thing when I ran a diagnostic on it though, and I know that sometimes running the diagnostic will fix stuff, idk, but it's fine now.
Hey, you think you can add this script for fullscreen? https://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?threads/fullscreen.14081/
Or any other way to keep the same ratio and pixel scaling in fullscreen?
I wasn't sure what you mean by keeping the same ration and pixel scaling, as when I go fullscreen with Alt+Enter like in most RPG Maker games (or F1 -> choosing to start in fullscreen), the game retains its aspect ration for me, and in multiple computers. However, after doing a brief research on the subject it seems that the scaling of the game is handled by your graphics driver rather than the game itself, so it appears to be a limitation of the engine and one I had no idea even existed!
And unfortunately I don't have RPG Maker at the moment so I can't make modifications to the game (unless if it's for something like a game-breaking bug), especially as I'm extremely busy with my other project and other things. Right now, I can only suggest looking into GPU scaling/aspect ratio options of your graphics card (maybe something like this could help?), so I apologize that I couldn't be of any more help!
Wait is there an actually “good” ending or do we just die in the end no matter what?
I have the same question
After finally playing it, is this a sequel to Junji Itos manga "The Window Next Door"? Haha, its so fitting, aside from the monster design
A very nice adventure! I guess the house is the very same seen in Junji Ito's "The window next door" :)
d=(' v ')
Hey
I was participating in that same jam and after it had ended I was checking other creators' games. Unfortunately, because of RPG Maker requirement I did not check out your game at that time.
Three years later out of curiosity, I've opened this page and I saw RTP included version ;D
I must say that is my favourite game of that jam :) The game is simple, but at the same time it has interesting story and really cool moments (I will not spoil them here ;) ).
I was sad that it has ended so quickly, but for the limited amount of time you had to create such game it is a really solid title. Thx for making this game.
Thanks a bunch! While at first I didn't have an RTP included version, it didn't take me long to put one up, so it must have been just some unfortunate timing!
Honestly, even if I had more time I think I would have made it basically the same way, as my main source of inspiration for this (Junji Ito!) is known for his short and often open ended stories. But still, I'm currently working on another horror game so if you're interested you can keep an eye out for that. And thank you again!
Hey, SpaceZeta. I'm Seth, a hispanic small stream interested by your game and i need answers for my questions about you and the game. how i can chat with you? sorry for the bother and thank you for your interest
Hello! I'm so sorry it took me this long to reply, but I'm finally coming back to social media in general so here I am! You can find many ways to contact me here if you're still interested, and thank you nonetheless!
I really enjoyed playing this one, it really captures the tense feeling that Junji Ito has in his mangas.
Olá, me contaram que você é Br né? Fiz um vídeo (aliás, uma série) do seu jogo em Libras =D
Espero que gosteBR total, hehe. Obrigada por jogar! (Por sinal, nunca tinha visto um canal de Let's Play em Libras, muito interessante!)
Ok, what i choose download game? Isn't (RTP Included or no RTP)?
Very good game. I like that way that, in the seemingly normal situation or setting, strange and mysterious things happen and are discovered.
Does anyone know of games somewhat similar to this one?
crooked man!
The Junji Ito feel has been utterly nailed, without actually having to go to the straight up gross-out party his stories usually end up in - and even without that, you have managed to create an RPG style horror game that runs on the sheer anticipation rather than a multitude of deaths like many of its kind. Wonderful work - the visual of just that open, gaping window will haunt me for a while.
At worst, I could say some puzzles could use a little tightening - the math book is unclear on whether various tenses of the word "Spiral" counts in figuring out the password, and the game seemed to make such a huge deal out of the nail puller I kept wondering when I had to use it in the climax (and as a result died a LOT trying to get different endings).
But all in all - one of the best spooks I have had in a good while.
Absolutely fantastic. Bravo.
Any chance this is getting a MAC release?
need a damn sequel....or even a prequel on how those things came to be or even whats inside their house.
I'm pretty coward to play this things, so I make my boyfriend play it for me XD I like the way is ambiented with the sound, but I didn't like the way the maps where placed.
When I got the camera and choose "no" for hidding in the closet I get a bug.
A good game. The Gameboy graphics style is just great. The sounds are creepy and scary. We enjoyed it very much.
Here is a video we made while playing:
Keep up the good work !!!I played it. The first jumpscare at the window made me throw my headphones off in fright.
Still, I recommend that everyone tries it out.
Really enjoyed this game, well done and nice endings
loved this! i'm normally a real wuss with horror but this was really compelling. i'd love to see a sequel that answers some of the unanswered questions. i do think it could've been clearer on how to get the different endings, but it's still great.
This is my second time playing through the game, first time releasing a video. I absolutely adore it. The sound in this game is incredible. Half the time I couldn't tell what sounds I was hearing from the game and what ones were coming in from outside my window. You can see what I mean in my video Don't Look Next Door - From Next Door Part 1.
What does RTP means ? can someone explain
Fantastic stuff, definitely felt the Junji Ito influences. Love the visual style and the story was very well told, overall really nicely done, great job!