"Every kid has that one toy that scares them. Imagine if it came to life."
Mr. Hopp's Playhouse is an indie Survival Horror Stealth-Based Game by Moonbit Studios.
Released on October 7th, 2019, you play as a girl named Ruby, who is unnerved by the stuffed rabbit (which her Nana Esther made for her) that sits on a stool. One night, she gets out of her bed and goes off to find her parents, unaware that she's in danger...
The game's mechanics are inspired by Lasagna Boy by Trashy Rascal Studios.
The game can be found on itch.io
.
This game contains examples of:
- Alone with the Psycho: Your parents have gone missing, so it's just you and Mr. Hopp inside the house.
- Antagonist Title: Mr. Hopp's Playhouse.
- Artificial Stupidity: Sometimes, the AI patrols require the player to wait a little too long.
- Content Warnings: At the very beginning:"This game contains scary themes, flashing visuals, and jumpscares. Player discretion is advised."
- Death Is a Slap on the Wrist: If you get caught, you'll just be sent back to the progress from the last major item you found.
- Easter Egg:
- In the attic, at a certain point of the game you can find a door that will lead you to a black room full of giant, floating eyes. In the same zone, you will also find a message of Hopp that says as follows: "Nana looked into the fires of Hell... and she saw me".
- If you put "1987" as the safe code, you will be jumpscared by Golden Freddy. Yes, that Golden Freddy.
- Evil Sounds Deep: "PLAY WITH ME RUBY!"
- Game-Breaking Bug:
- There has been an issue where by the end, dying at all makes your gun refuse to work on subsequent attempts until you exit to the main menu and come back.
- If you crouch at the end to try to dodge out of the way, it doesn't act as if you've been caught, but you can't move and you are stuck crouching.
- Go Look at the Distraction: While stepping on the wrong toys at the wrong time will definitely lead you-know-who right to you, the toys can also serve as a distraction; it makes it easier to control where you want him to end up.
- Hell Is That Noise: Mr. Hopp's growling, stomping, and music box-tune are signs he's nearby.
- Ironic Nursery Tune: Mr. Hopp's patrolling sound is an eerie nursery room-esque theme.
- Jump Scare: When you get caught, of course.
- Kid Hero: Ruby seems to be about 10 or 11 years old.
- Killer Rabbit: Pun aside, in the opening (as well as one of the last shots of the Escape Artist ending), Mr. Hopp appears harmless, even if he's a little bit creepy. He quickly turns out to not be so.
- Killer Teddy Bear: Mr. Hopp is, on the surface, just a soft toy that Ruby's grandmother made. Whether he was evil when Nana made him (while the tapes assume her strange behavior is due to dementia, there's also evidence it could be something else) or possessed shortly after Ruby acquired him isn't explained.
- Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Is Mr. Hopp actually possessed, or is it all just in Ruby's imagination?
- Multiple Endings: This game has three endings.
- "Sleep Tight": Ruby goes back to bed, and Mr. Hopp is looming over her...
- "Firestarter": Ruby starts a fire, which results in her house and Mr. Hopp burning down. Ruby escapes.
- "Escape Artist": Ruby shoots Mr. Hopp with a slingshot, and the police arrive and take her and Mr. Hopp away. Ruby escapes.
- Nightmare Face: Getting caught will treat you to a flashing screen with Mr. Hopp's lovely mug.
- Nothing Is Scarier: You never know when Mr. Hopp will appear/leave.
- Pyjama-Clad Hero: Ruby spends the entire game in her pyjamas.
- Reality Ensues:
- Ruby is only 10-11 years old, of course, she's going to be outmatched against Mr. Hopp. Until she gets a gun/slingshot at least.
- Returning to bed right after a fresh murder scene? You might as well dig your own grave while you're at it. Mr. Hopp will find you and kill you without hesitation.
- Firing a gun inside of your house, especially at nighttime? Don't be surprised when the cops come banging down your door. Subverted in the newer version where the gun is replaced with a slingshot.
- Retraux: The graphics and gameplay can certainly bring Clock Tower (1995) to mind.
- Run or Die: You have no means of fighting off Mr. Hopp. Until you find a gun/slingshot in a safe, that is.
- Scare Chord: Plays when you get caught.
- Shout-Out:
- Somewhere, you can find a red balloon.
- At one point, you can hear the static that plays when Slenderman sees you.
- Sprint Meter: Ruby has a Stamina meter that drains when she runs.
- Stealth-Based Game: In addition to hiding and running away from Mr. Hopp, you have to be careful while exploring. Footsteps can be deafening, and toys will make noise if you accidentally step on them (you have to jump over them when walking), which can draw unwanted attention.
- Tragic Keepsake: Mr. Hopp is the only thing Ruby has to remember her Nana by. Subverted since it's Ruby's parents who believe this to be the case, but the stuffed rabbit completely freaks her and them out.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: When you pick up a gun/slingshot from the safe, you can use it to shoot Mr. Hopp.
- Visibility Meter: You have one labeled "Status", which can go from "Hidden" (green) to "Visible" (yellow) to "Danger" (red) depending on where you are and how much noise you make.
- Vocal Dissonance: Mr. Hopp, a lanky stuffed rabbit, has a voice befitting that of a big, hulking monster.
