Puppet Combo games don't care about your feelings. If you've ever loaded up a slasher-style horror title only to realize you have no idea how to hide or why a giant man in a pig mask is suddenly breathing down your neck, you know the vibe. Stay Out of the House is the spiritual successor to the lo-fi, VHS-era horror aesthetic that makes you feel dirty just looking at it. It's mean. It's grainy. Honestly, it’s one of the most stressful stealth-horror experiences you can find on Steam or consoles right now.
Most people jumping into a stay out of the house walkthrough expect a linear path. They want a "go here, grab that" list. But this game doesn't work like that. It’s a systemic immersive sim disguised as a low-poly nightmare. The Butcher—that’s the guy trying to turn you into dinner—has a schedule. He hears things. If you leave a door open that was closed, he notices. If you turn off a light, he might wonder why. It’s less about following a script and more about learning the rules of a very sick house.
The Prologue: Night Shift and the Trap
The game starts with a slow burn at a gas station. You're playing as a character named Roxanne, just trying to finish a shift. This part is basically a tutorial for the mechanics, but don't get complacent. You need to handle the customers, grab the keys, and eventually, things go south.
When the white van pulls up, you're done. You get abducted.
This leads to the "Bunker" or the house itself. You wake up in a cage. This is where the real game begins. Your first priority isn't even escaping the house; it's escaping that initial room without the Butcher hearing the clatter of the cage door. If you rush, you're dead in thirty seconds.
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Escaping the Cage and Finding Your Bearings
You’re stuck in a room filled with hanging meat. It’s gross. Look for a way to pick the lock or find a loose bar. Once you're out, crouch. Always crouch. If you stand up and run, the floorboards will give you away instantly.
The house is a labyrinth of three main floors: the basement (where you start), the main floor (kitchen, living room), and the upstairs (bedrooms and the terrifying attic). You need to find specific items to progress, but the game randomizes some placements. Generally, you’re looking for the Bolt Cutters, the Screwdriver, and the Hammer.
The Butcher’s Patterns
He’s not a teleporting ghost. He’s a physical entity in the game world. If he’s in the kitchen, you can safely move in the basement. But here’s the kicker: the "Grandmother." She sits in the living room. She’s blind, but her hearing is supernatural. If she screams, the Butcher comes running. This is why a stay out of the house walkthrough isn't just about items; it’s about sound management.
Key Items and Where They Usually Hide
The Screwdriver is your best friend. It opens vents. Vents are the only place you are truly safe, mostly. You'll often find it in the kitchen area or the utility rooms.
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Then there's the Hammer. You need this to pry boards off doors. It’s loud. Using it is a calculated risk. You hit a board, you hide. You wait. You listen for the heavy boots of the Butcher coming to investigate the noise. If you try to hammer down a door in one go, you’re asking for a cleaver to the skull.
- The Revolver: Yes, you can fight back. It’s in the office upstairs, usually locked behind a puzzle or requiring a key. But ammo is incredibly scarce. Shooting the Butcher doesn't kill him; it just stuns him and makes him very, very angry when he wakes up.
- The Hex Key: Essential for the vents and certain machinery.
- The Poison: If you can find the rat poison, you can actually mess with the Butcher’s food, which gives you a window of time where he’s incapacitated.
Dealing with the Grandmother
Seriously, she’s the worst part of the house. You’ll find her in a rocking chair. If you get too close or make a noise near her, she triggers an alert. You can actually kill her if you find a weapon, but doing so creates a massive amount of noise. Most high-level players suggest just avoiding the living room entirely or moving at a literal snail's pace when you're nearby.
The Stealth System is Deeper Than You Think
The game uses a light and shadow system. If you're in total darkness, the Butcher has a harder time seeing you, but he can still smell or hear you if you're close.
- Closets and Beds: These are your primary hiding spots.
- Holding Your Breath: There’s a mechanic for this. If he’s sniffing around the closet you’re in, you have to hold your breath. Don't let the meter run out, or you'll gasp and die.
- Distractions: You can throw bottles or turn on radios. This is vital for lure-and-loop strategies. Turn on the TV in the den, wait for him to go there, then slip into the kitchen to grab the basement key.
Opening the Way to the Final Escape
To actually "Stay Out of the House" for good, you need to unlock the main gate or find the secret exit in the mines. This requires the Wrench and the Crank Handle.
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The attic is where things get weird. There's a "Baby" up there. It’s not a normal baby. It’s a mutated nightmare that crawls on the ceiling. It’s faster than the Butcher and much harder to dodge. You need the Flashlight (found in the car or the shed) to keep it at bay, but light attracts the Butcher. It’s a constant trade-off.
The Three Endings
There isn't just one way this ends.
The Bad Ending: You try to run out the front door without disabling the traps. You get caught or blown up.
The Standard Ending: You find the keys to the van, navigate the yard, and drive away. It sounds simple, but the yard is littered with bear traps.
The True Ending: This involves finding the secret laboratory underneath the house. It requires a lot of back-and-tracking and finding the Keycards. It reveals the lore behind why this family is doing what they’re doing. It’s dark. It involves a lot of body horror and a final "boss" encounter that’s more about puzzle-solving under pressure than combat.
Advanced Survival Tips for the Perfectionist
Don't leave doors open. I can't stress this enough. If the Butcher sees a door open that he knows he closed, he enters "Search Mode." In this mode, he checks under beds and inside closets more frequently.
Check the cameras. If you find the security room, you can see where he is. This is a game-changer. It turns the experience from a blind panic into a tactical heist.
Also, watch your footsteps in the grass outside. The sound of crunching leaves is loud. Stay on the dirt paths or the stone if you can. And for the love of everything, watch for the bear traps. They are everywhere in the tall grass. If you step in one, you have to mash a button to get out, and the noise is basically a dinner bell for the Butcher.
Actionable Survival Steps
- Prioritize the Screwdriver: It is the single most important tool for movement. Focus on the kitchen and the small workshop off the garage first.
- Map the Vents: Once you have the screwdriver, spend ten minutes just learning where the vents lead. They are your "safe highways."
- Conserve the Flashlight: Batteries die fast. Use it only in the attic or the basement tunnels. Use the ambient glow of the house lights whenever possible.
- Learn the "Loop": If the Butcher sees you, run to a room with two exits. Break line of sight, crouch, and move to a different floor. Never hide in the first room you run into; he will check it.
- Listen for the Music: The soundtrack shifts when he’s nearby. Use those audio cues to know when to stop moving entirely.