The House of the Dead is a "rail shooter" - a kind of game I have not seen before on a PC platform although it is well known for arcade fans.
For those of you who aren't familiar with the expression "rail shooter": unlike the usual first-person shooters such as Quake, Doom and so on, in House of the Dead you are not able to choose the directions yourself, only where the game wants you to go. So all that is left to you is shooting on anything that moves :-) Think Rebel Assault on foot, and you'll have a good idea of what HOTD is about.
The story is rather simple. Your girlfriend Sarah leaves a message on your answering machine, telling you she has been captured by a guy called Curien. You, being the chip of the Hero, want to rush out to the place in order to free her. That is where the game begins. As you are 'led' by the game around a place overcrowded with zombies and monsters of all kind, you will constantly be busy shooting, no more, no less. Even though the only weapon you have is a plain 9mm-pistol, that thing obviously leaves holes in bodies in gory manners that are definitely not suitable for kids. Let me say this way: "losing your head" gets a whole new meaning when playing The House of the Dead ;-)
There are quite a few options to toggle. The game plays as well with or without Direct-X support, depending on the options you select. The graphics will remind you of Alone in the dark and similar games, but with more detail. German Authorities (and most likely other as well) will be glad to hear that you can alter the color of blood in the game (yellow, blue, green, red). You can also choose from several gameplay modes, chiefly "arcade" which gives you fixed settings you cannot alter, and "PC mode" where you can choose your avatar, and along with him alter the damage he does as well as the chamber-size of the pistol. The "Reload" option of the gun can be switched on and off, and the lives you have can be set from 1 to 5. The game also features the "Boss-Mode" where you can train only the bosses at the end of each stage.
You have to fight your way through 4 stages, at the end of each awaits some sort of boss ...so nothing really surprising here either. While fighting the bosses of the first 3 stages you get a firm information sheet where to shoot to harm your opponents. The 4th (and last one) just offers you an "unknown type" so you have to find out how to defeat this one yourself.
As you can tell by now, its a rather common and 'uninteresting' implementation of an usual setting. What makes HOTD more challenging and unique compared to other shooters is the fact that you have to be careful not to shoot innocent civilians. If you accidentally shoot them, it will cost you a life. On the other hand, rescuing them (by shooting the monsters around them) will get you an extra-live as well as increase your score, or can open up optional paths. Therefore, although HOTD is a rail shooter, it offers a certain amount of nonlinear gameplay. Some of the directions you can alter are quite obvious, while others are hidden behind trapdoors. Also bonus-gems (why these had to be frogs only SEGA will know) can be found hidden within the game.
I hate shooters. Especially FPS's. Perhaps it's really not my kind of game, on the other hand maybe perhaps I am just hopeless at them ;-). But in some sick way I enjoyed HOTD for the 4 hours it lasted. Most probably because you can toggle the settings in such a way that it makes the game easier :-) And that is the problem with this game in my opinion: I think it won't be suitable for hardcore shooter-fans out there due to limited gameplay and weapons.
On the other hand I cannot think of anybody else for whom it might be suitable. But if you (like myself two days ago) just want to 'let off steam', lack classics like Space Invaders, and you are not too sensitive about "bloody" gameplay, you may want to try HOTD.
If you want a rail shooter with a more varied and longer gameplay, try the sequel The House of the Dead 2 instead. Recommended, but with reservations.
Review By HOTUD
English 
Comments and reviews
first give me a demo the i will give review
cały dps pozdrawia zajebista gra
Finnally working windows 10 . Worked with deamon tools , creating IDE virtual drive , you need to install STD driver and install it and restart windows. after that mount the disk in it , then open the game from .bat file in the ripped version , I'll say no disc , then unmount it , then open again the ripped version it will open. there's some protection update for virtual disk from windows in 2019 that prevent vertiual disk to work , So you need to install STD driver , deamons tools will install it when you choose IDE virtual disk driver.
*** open it with .bat file , if you open it with .exe file and gave a problem , you should mount the disk again then open it , then unmount the disk again and open it.
*** if nothing happen , doesn't work , or nothing happen , sign out or restart , and do again mount - unmount method , -- the problem there's some files working in background that do this , sign out or restart solve all that
*** only open it from .bat file , not the .exe
Finnally working windows 10 . Worked with deamon tools , creating IDE virtual drive , you need to install STD driver and install it and restart windows. after that mount the disk in it , then open the game from .bat file in the ripped version , I'll say no disc , then unmount it , then open again the ripped version it will open. there's some protection update for virtual disk from windows in 2019 that prevent vertiual disk to work , So you need to install STD driver , deamons tools will install it when you choose IDE virtual disk driver.
راسي صباحي يلمع مثل الساحر الاخير بطلع منه ريحه طخ عينه الزومبي فقعهم يا لعيب
So i got the game to run using the PowerISO method, but there is like emulated crt lines that overlap the actual textures.
PLz help
the game doesnt run.
I need a solution
I tried to make this game work for hours under Linux (Mint 22.3) to no avail :(
However, i finally found a version that simply works! Here's the link:
https://archive.org/details/thehouseofthedead1996
Here is a step by step Linux (Mint 22.3) procedure that worked for me:
1) Make sure you have Wine installed (im using wine-staging)
2) Download the game, extract it and install it (right click on the "House of the Dead.exe" and select "Open with Wine Windows Program Loader". You can install it wherever you want ( i installed it on a usb ssd)
3) Once finished installing go to the installation folder
4) Open the "DxWnd" folder
5) Look for the "dxwnd.exe" file
6) Right click on it and select "Open with" - "Wine Windows Program Loader"
7) You should now see a small window with a "House of the Dead" icon inside
8) Double click on that icon and thats it! You can now play the game with music too! :D
I completed this when I was 7 years old.I can feel the achievement.
i play this game that i was 7 yrsl
Many thanks
great particles
I LOVE SHOOTING'
I have been playing this PC game for over 20 years now. and I lost the CD so I cannot install it in Windows. I was able to run it in Window 7,
We are kids and we trained like a hacker .We download the game we have no money for support .Your work is impressive, Thankyou,
A childhood game I loved playing with my brother, relatives, and old friends I was also afraid of the walking dead in it, Thank you so much for preserving this beautiful game :3
I am more concerned how the hell did @Nowhereman found this way
The game is working and worth downloading.
no working - saying please insert CD
it require to input the cd
NoCD: https://pixeldrain.com/u/v6RaPrPd
Simplified Chinese :
https://archive.org/details/HOTD1Chs
i was born 2012 but games like house of the dead, max payne,gta games are m childhood
Alright everyone who’s having problems to run the game, I’ve discovered a way after spending 3 hours of trial and error.
I am able to play the game on windows 10 (pretty sure would also work on Win 11).
Now, there are 2 files to be downloaded under Windows 98 header, one is the RIP (10.4 MB File) file from which you will Install the game, second is the ROM File (320.3 MB File) which basically contain the disc ROM (CD ROM) in the form of “HOTD.bin” file which you’re gonna have to mount to your system using a software like PowerISO or Demon Tools. I did by using PowerISO (it’s a free to use software).
First install the game by extracting files from RIP Zip file. Then go to extracted folder and file the exe (should be thotd.exe) file which is supposed to run the game. Now create a shortcut of “thotd.exe” on the desktop. Now right click on the shortcut and go to properties, there should be a dialoge box named “Target” with installed file location written in front of it.
Just add a single space and copy paste “-d3d -d3d_setup” after .exe
Your modified target address should look like, “.exe” -d3d -d3d_setup (remember use single space only after .exe)
Mine Target Address looks exactly like:
Win_RIP_EN\Game Files\thotd.exe” -d3d -d3d_setup
Now, when you’ll try to run the game, first a dialog box will open with some graphics setting for the game (I just leave the options to default settings) and afterwards, an error would prompt saying cd rom not found. Here’s where the ROM file will be used! Use PowerISO and open “HOTD.bin” file in it. Then after opening file in PowerISO, click the mount button on it’s taskbar /menu-bar and select mount then select “mount image to drive E”, a dialog box will appear in which again select the same “HOTD.bin” file.
This will create a virtual Drive E in your system with HOTD Disc (CD).
Now if you’ll double click this Drive E it will open HOTD Setup but it will not run the setup saying it don’t support 64 bit version etc, don’t worry about it, we just wanted to make sure the cd rom has been mounted.
Finally, now if you’ll try to run the game from our desktop shortcut, for some people (including myself) it will still prompt the same error that cd rom not found after the graphics setting dialog box.
For this final step, just open the PowerISO and select the “Unmount drive E” option. Yes, unmount your disc drive E, then click on the CD Drive E icon in your “This PC (File Explorer/ My Computer)” and en error message will appear saying “Applicatin Not Found” (meaning there is no disc drive found).
Now run the game from our created shortcut again and it will finally run after the graphics setting dialog box! For some reason, game runs when you unmount the CD ROM/Drive after mounting it! (should’ve been the other way around, I know).
This is a magic trick I found that worked on my computer for some reason. I hope this could help all you guys too who are having similar issues running the game. Lastly, apology if you found my English not up to the mark or confusing, it’s not my first language.
Thanks and Enjoy Everyone!
best game in mars
its a good one
Hi. I am Nasif Sarker. I am play with you.
one of my childhood favs
how to install this one on pc windows 11
i recommended this game for 90;s
It is the best childhood game ever i would not be able to download it from anymore but thanks to this best website i easily install it.I hope this app gets to top
French version works, even with music.
BUT:
Mouse isn't really responsive, and cutscenes sometimes are skipped automatically I think, and shots are fired after those cutscenes without me pressing anything.
At least it kind of works.
Just follow what RAINSTORM's comment says and activate low res graphics when booting it up if the game plays nothing but audio.
On older windows 9x versions the "Please insert CD" problem is not there. So it might have to do with the compatibility between modern windows systems and how the virtual drive is setup. Very difficult game to get working you have to use the RIP version to play the game but you still miss alot of things of the original.
no music how do I fix this
No more source code pitty.
In the sega saturn rom,it shows black screen and does nothing.Please help me run this.
this is a very beautifull and hard game
What is that you are supposed to download to download house of the dead, and I was wondering if there was some tutorial or something for this?
Does anyone know how I can play the music in this game? I extracted the game files from Track 01 and succeeded in running it, but I don’t know what to do with the rest of the files to add music to this game. Can anyone help me?
nice game play joye fully
I used to play the game during my childhood. In order to recall my sweet memories, I want to play this game again.
Hey a screen opens and closes automatically every time I open my PC. Is there virus in your file?
I've uninstalled the game still that happens
Se abre una ventana de windows32 y se queda un rato luego pide CD ROOM no encontrado
AYUUDAAAA
Finally, I found a strange way.
When I tried to run the RIP version, I also get the "CD-ROM..." problem then I tried to download the Disk Image version, and because the file was ".img" so I had to install an application such as DAEMON TOOLS but instead found a problem with the game not can be installed, and when I try to run the RIP version again, and HORAAYYY, THE GAME CAN RUN WELL.
and when I tried to uninstall the DAEMON TOOLS application, the "CD-ROM..." problem appeared again when I tried to run the RIP version.
I don't understand what causes this to happen, but hopefully this method can help all of you
Could the download be updated to contain the music? Both verisons are missing the music...
it worked. thank you so much
hello
i have downloaded the game but there gives error when i run it
error is cant find CD to install
anyone please help me fix it
It's still being downloaded.
Hi I want to play into the dead
i cant boot it up
even with ISO mounted, It still asking me for CD
it was great entertainment with task , kindly make it possible to download easily for PC
Anyone found a way to fix the music?
Anyone know how to rip CD Music from iso and make it work on windows 10?
legendary game
el juego esta re bueno y te da un hambre ver los fiambres ahi en el piso
Cool game okay
MISS GOOD OLD DAYS\
tried to run de rip version using the batch file but I can only change some graphics parameters...
I tried the CD version the I applied a nocd crack found on gamecopy world. The crack worked so the .exe doesn't ask for the cd, but the game doesn't start.
I found a better solution on a site called Abandonware France. They uploaded a modified version that works on modern Windows: https://www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php?id=2056&fic=liens
Just click on "Version Automatique. (187'012 Ko )" link.
how to solve CD problem in house of the dead
i love this game but 3 stage boos i gone to dai
thanks bro give me this game in free
best game i played in my childhood
This says to check your os, and how to run 16-bit games on a 64-bit operating system, doesn't work with DOSBox either.
Game won't run if no CD-rom hardware device is connected to the system. A virtual cd-rom might work
I remember this from my gaming shed in Rotterdam. If anyone is having problem, hit the bricks kid and try again
How to install this one on my laptop
MWHAHAHHAHA lab se comment karha hu
is this a joke or what huh let me tell u some this game must work orrr u gonna be dead right now with ur mom and this tuid chrome Lol
vary good games
wow! se tutto fosse cosi' in rete. 2 minuti e tutto gia' funziona su win10 pochi mega di puro retro divertimento.e con varie modalita'.
its so cooooooooooooool wow its OMGGGG
Thenk you for dounlod
Cool game of my childhood, so fuck you all!
I love this game very much
damn boi,i didnt know this game available on pc,ah rememmbering my childhood play this game at arcade station
Can anyone explain to me step by step how to install this game properly? Also which version is the most preferred?
How do I install the ISO I bought the game on disc but can't get it to work, I wanted to use the disc for the soundtrack
the weak spot for the magicians is the leak spot
Sega model 2 version runs better and has music. Look it up.
this game is my childhood game
How do i use the iso version ?
I love this game the favorite thing about this game is the 2 player mode I play it with my auntie
I have to play these game
How do i use the iso version ?
oh yeah good game love it
Thank you.
I love this game so much
Why is there no music?
I love this game is very much
@SHAHA MUKDUM Your mom is best for MY kids, you fruitcake
Although the repetitive, linear aspects of this game can become a little daunting, such games give the player the opportunity to continually improve - rather like those scenarios used by law enforcement. The more you play, the more you'll progress - the lack of random events guarantees this. If nothing else, this and similar games give us an opportunity to continually improve our accuracy and other skills, which come In very handy for other shooters of all kinds. Keep at It - you'll get there soon enough!
this game is best for kids
how to download the game?
How to downioad game of house of dead
It is FUCKING HARD!
Listen up gais.
How to access THOTD Rip Version:
Ok I downloaded the rip version alone but any methods that you guys do doesn't work and it needs CD Rom but its quick and easy without needing Daemon Tools or applying DirectX 9.0 (mine is 32-bit Windows 7 and I already installed during the DMC 4 setup package)
You just download two files: One is rip version and one is ISO (the ISO Version tends to be a CD Rom of actual game)
Then extract both rip and ISO (you noticed the ISO has two files of hotd.bin and hotd.cue) and its either you drag, move, and copy the two ISO files and insert it to rip version.
Then click the hotd.bat and you're ready to go.
Those who are struggled installing the game, don't download the rip version alone. It needs an actual ISO to prevent "noCD Insert" issues.
Mine looks good (I attempt to speedrun) but the problem is no music applied. I reinstall the game from the another source with music.
Iam going to install this game on my soon to be sky tech gaming pc now that iam 28 years old
i like this game very much i used to play this game in my computer lab while im workin g in NIIT 1000 schools program .
i made this tutorial for those who want to play in windowed mode
1. download and install dxwnd
2. once installed extract the files and put them to a folder of your choice
3. run dxwnd
4. right click on the white screen and click add
5. you'll be greeted with a panel showing name of the game, and path of the executable, and a launch option. launch is not needed.
6. enter the name of the game (i.e. The House of the Dead) in the text bar and click a ... (3 dots) icon next to the text bar
7. find game executable in the directory (thotd.exe)
8. click the "video" bar on the top
9. switch the window style to "default" and check the "lock win style" below the modal style
10. find the window size & position section in the video settings, once you found them, change them to "anchored"
11. find screen resolution (in video section) and change "svga" to "all"
12. in the screen resolution section, turn on limit resolution and click 800x600
13. next click the "DirectX" bar on the top
14. change the renderer from "primary buffer" to "SDL2"
15. click "Try" and launch the game. it will have little problems with the mouse positioning in the menu, but overall works fine. if you have a bigger resolution click the "Main" bar on the top and go to the "Position" section and change the size to a size suitable for your monitor (i.e. w(idth) 1280 h(eight) 1024) enjoy!
I tried to run de rip version using the batch file but I can only change some graphics parameters...
I tried the CD version the I applied a nocd crack found on gamecopy world. The crack worked so the .exe doesn't ask for the cd, but the game doesn't start.
I found a better solution on a site called Abandonware France. They uploaded a modified version that works on modern Windows: https://www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_jeu.php?id=2056&fic=liens
Just click on "Version Automatique. (187'012 Ko )" link.
Amidst this COVID19 Pandemic, one fine morning my parents out of nowhere asked me to download THOD. I am a Doctor and a gamer.
I FEEELLLL PROOOUUUUUDDDD!
In the rip version there is thotd.exe . Right click it and choose create shortcut. Now Right click thotd.exe - shortcut and choose properties.
Go to the Target box and click in it.
Now move your cursor to the end of thotd.exe"
Press space bar once and then type -d3d -d3d_setup
So it should now read thotd.exe" -d3d -d3d_setup
Press ok
Now just double click that thotd.exe shortcut and it will load .
Or you could just skip all that and double click on thotd3d.bat to load the game.
No comment nor review for this game at the moment.