The Definitive Way To Build Your Dream Property Portfolio?
Changing Rooms was a UK reality TV show that ran during the mid-1990’s for around a decade or so. And it was one of the few reality TV shows that I genuinely looked forward to watching. The premise was that an unsuspecting wife, husband, or partner would be whisked away for the weekend. Unbeknownst to them, a team of builders, a TV crew, and a leather-trouser-wearing designer would completely transform their home. When they returned to see the results, they would either cry with happiness or horror at what had happened.
I like to imagine I’m taking part in that TV show while playing House Flipper Remastered Collection – just without the leather trousers.
The original House Flipper launched a good few years back and quickly became one of the biggest success stories in the simulation genre. Renovating homes, painting, decorating, and building up your own property business all combined to make something hugely addictive. Over the years, it received plenty of DLC packs, followed by a sequel – House Flipper 2. Now though we get a remastered collection that celebrates the success by bundling together the original game, all of the major DLC packs, improved visuals, and some new story content to keep things fresh.
New Story Content Gives Every Job More Personality
One of the biggest new additions is the extra story content. Here, each job comes with its own title and a small narrative that explains the situation and gives context to what you’re doing. Whether it’s installing radiators for someone who can’t stand the cold or building a new nursery for an excited mother-to-be, these little stories add a welcome layer to the gameplay. The added voice-over work also helps bring the jobs to life. Some stories even continue over multiple chapters, allowing you to follow a family’s renovation journey. Don’t expect Shakespeare, but for what it is, it works well.
Renovate, Decorate And Build A Property Empire
There are two main modes of play: Campaign and Free Roam. The latter allows you to clean, design, and renovate however you like. Campaign mode gives you a map divided into districts, with each area containing a range of clients who need work done on their homes. Starting from your tiny office – which is little more than a run-down shed – you browse jobs on your laptop and choose your next contract.
A Relaxing Gameplay Loop That Rarely Gets Old
The gameplay loop is then presented with some narrative context. At first, the jobs are very simple, perhaps just cleaning a house and clearing away rubbish. You enter the property in first person, and each room displays a checklist on your tablet showing everything that needs to be completed. Collecting rubbish is as easy as clicking on items to remove them, while a percentage bar tracks your progress. Cleaning involves selecting your mop from the tool wheel and scrubbing away the dirt. Once you’ve completed enough of the work, you receive your payment.
As you continue, more tasks become available, including painting rooms in specific colours, repairing electrical sockets, installing new fixtures, and buying furniture. One of the game’s biggest strengths is the variety of jobs, meaning things rarely become repetitive. Your tablet acts as a catalogue where you can purchase everything from sofas to different shades of paint. There is also a skill tree that lets you unlock useful upgrades, such as painting faster or completing multiple tasks more efficiently.
So, what do you do with all the money you earn? Well, you can start buying your own portfolio of properties, renovating them using everything you’ve learnt along the way. You can then sell them for a tidy profit or rent them out for a steady income. There is an enormous amount to do here, and it’s easy to lose hours if you get hooked. I did find the controls a little fiddly at times, though, and the loading screens between jobs feel like something from a bygone era.
The Best Way To Play House Flipper!
House Flipper Remastered Collection benefits from a nice visual upgrade, with everything looking fresher and cleaner than before. There’s also a new top-down view that lets you see the entire house at once, which is pretty useful when planning your renovations. However, the audio isn’t especially memorable, but it’s nice to hear the new voice cast bringing the story elements to life.
I’ve always found games like House Flipper to be wonderfully relaxing, and this remastered collection is no exception. Sometimes the gameplay loop can become repetitive, but with so much content included in House Flipper Remastered Collection, you rarely have time to become bored. The controls can occasionally be frustrating, and the loading screens feel longer than they probably should be. But overall, if you’re looking for the definitive way to experience House Flipper, this remastered collection is well worth picking up.]
Important Links
House Flipper Remastered Collection Makes Renovation Better Than Ever – https://www.thexboxhub.com/house-flipper-remastered-collection-makes-renovation-better-than-ever/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/house-flipper-remastered-collection/9NMSV6NZLGHF/0010
