House Flipper 2 Review (PaiX)
After completing the main story in House Flipper 2 and reflecting on my experience with House Flipper 1,
I feel confident in highlighting what the game has improved and where it could still use some refinement for the future.
What Improved
Graphics
HF2 looks stunning! From detailed wood textures to beautifully designed neighborhoods, the visuals are a major upgrade. The game runs smoothly even on high settings, with vibrant architecture and lush environments that enhance immersion.
Building Mechanics
The building system is vastly improved. It’s smoother, faster, and more intuitive, making it easy to correct mistakes. New features like laying bricks and adding diverse roof styles give you creative freedom, whether you're recreating real-life designs or experimenting with imaginative builds. Even if building isn't your thing, HF2's user-friendly tools might win you over.
Sandbox Mode
This is a game-changer! Sandbox mode fills a gap from HF1, letting you experiment with builds, create custom jobs, and share them on MOD.io. The incredible community creations bring the game to life, fostering creativity and collaboration.
Adjustable Doors and Windows
The ability to reposition doors and windows is a welcome addition. Unlike HF1, where a misplaced item meant starting over, HF2 offers a smoother, less frustrating experience—especially helpful for large projects.
Improved Placement Systems
Grid snapping and precise object placement are fantastic. Aligning lights or furniture is now effortless, making decorating much more enjoyable than the trial-and-error process in HF1.
Wallpaper and Tile Application
HF2 handles this much better. It’s quicker, requires fewer resources, and covers larger areas. The only minor annoyance? Reaching high spots without scaffolding—though that’s more on me being lazy!
Store Navigation
Shopping in HF2 is a breeze. You don’t need to remember specific item names anymore. Categories and sub-categories simplify the search, whether you're looking for a coffee table or a nightstand.
Customization Options
The ability to choose colors and patterns for furniture is a game-changer. Want a zebra-print house? Go for it! HF2 makes it easy to create unique, personalized spaces.
Satisfying Cleaning
While cleaning now requires more precision and effort, it feels rewarding—especially with the new spray-and-wipe mechanics. The Flipper instinct ensures no dirt goes unnoticed.
Other Features
The new painting tool allows for creative wall patterns, including pixel art.
The Flipper tool makes duplicating styles easy—no need to rebuy items.
The wiring system adds depth, letting you control each light switch individually.
Gorgeous lighting and lush gardens further enhance the overall aesthetics.
Areas for Improvement:
Before/After Photos
The absence of before/after photos was disappointing, especially since this was a beloved feature in HF1 (albeit DLC). Including it in the base game would add so much satisfaction to completing projects.
Blinds and Curtains
Shockingly, these are missing from the base game. Even a handful of basic options with customization would be a welcome addition.
Limited Door Options
The current door selection is quite sparse. Adding more styles and types would greatly improve variety and creativity.
Exploration Restrictions
I was excited about the promised freedom to explore neighborhoods, but the reality fell short. Restricted borders limit exploration, and only in flight mode can you get a closer look at nearby homes. I hope future updates expand on this.
Asset Variety
While limited assets are understandable in early stages, HF2 quickly starts to feel repetitive. Even with customization, builds often look similar. Given the game’s price, a broader range of assets would provide better value.
Selling Houses
Selling houses feels underwhelming compared to HF1. In the first game, catering to specific buyers added depth and replayability. HF2 lacks this, and I expected more robust buyer interactions.
Lack of Paintings
It’s strange that picture frames exist, but no images are available to fill them. Even a few stock options would make a huge difference.
Conclusion
Overall, I’d recommend House Flipper 2 for its enjoyable story, beautiful graphics, and promising features. However, there’s definitely room for improvement, and some expected elements from HF1 feel like glaring omissions. While I understand the devs worked hard and deserve recognition for their efforts, the current price should offer more content and features. I’m excited to see future DLCs (hopefully including pets, farming, and luxury items) and look forward to updates that deepen the gameplay experience.
The game is fun and visually stunning, but it needs more assets and a richer storyline to fully realize its potential. Kudos to the devs for their hard work—I’m hopeful for great things in the updates to come!