Neighbours from Hell
DeveloperJoWooD Vienna
Big Moon Entertainment (iOS, Android)
Farbworks (Back from Hell compilation)
PublisherEU: JoWooD Productions; NA: Encore Software; WW: THQ Nordic[a]
PlatformsWindows, GameCube, Xbox, Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
ReleasedWindows
PAL: June 20, 2003; NA: September 22, 2003GameCube & Xbox
PAL: March 4, 2005iOS, Android
WW: May 25, 2017macOS
WW: June 22, 2017Switch, PS4, Xbox One
WW: October 8, 2020
EngineUnity (remastered)
GenrePuzzle, strategy
ModesSingle-player
DirectorMichael Paeck
ProducerMichael Paeck
Jurie Horneman
DesignerMichael Paeck
Gerhard E. Kodys
ProgrammerAndreas Meissl
Bernhard Gruber
ArtistStefan M. Halegger
WriterGerhard E. Kodys
ComposerWolfgang Tockner
Robbie Ost

Neighbours from Hell[b] is a puzzle strategy game developed and published by JoWood Productions. It was originally released for Windows in 2003, with later releases for GameCube, Xbox, Android and iOS.

A remastered compilation of the first two games titled Neighbours Back from Hell was released on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android and iOS by THQ Nordic in October 2020. It features increased frame rate and HD visuals.

Gameplay

In Neighbours from Hell, the player takes control of Woody, an average man who seeks revenge on his neighbour Mr. Rottweiler by performing tricks on him, all of which is secretly caught on camera for a reality TV show of the same name. In each level, the aim is to complete a set amount of pranks on Rottweiler, whilst keep out of sight of him; if Rottweiler spots and catches Woody, the level ends in failure and the player must restart it. The game itself sees players moving between various rooms in the house, such as the kitchen and hallway, via their doors, with levels grouped into "seasons"; as the player progresses to new seasons, the player gains access to more rooms with more challenging prank puzzles to complete.

In order to prank Rottweiler, the player must interact with objects, some of which Woody will sabotage, while others require him to find items that are appropriate for the object (i.e. using a saw to sabotage a chair). While moving around the house, players must observe the routine that Rottweiler undertakes between various objects in the level and the path he uses, in order to plan how to avoid being seen and when to set up a prank. His routine can be disrupted in different ways; two of these involve his pets, a parrot and a guard dog, which will make noise if Woody fails to sneak around them and cause Rottweiler to check on them. To hide out of sight, players can make use of a wardrobe, and later slip under a bed to avoid being seen by Rottweiler.

Once a level's required number of pranks is completed, the player can continue to complete any additional pranks available, and eventually they must finish the level by bringing Woody to the neighbour's front door, whereupon they are scored on their performance.

Plot

Woody is an average man who has a happy life, until his neighbor Mr. Rottweiler makes his life miserable. Woody decides to take full revenge on Mr. Rottweiler and calls up a TV crew, which produces the self-titled reality show that shows the neighbor's relations from worst sight.

Reception

The PC version received "average" reviews, while the GameCube and Xbox versions received "generally unfavorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[1][2][3]

Legacy

Ports and re-releases

On 4 March 2005, JoWooD released the game for the GameCube and Xbox exclusively in European territories. These versions of the game are not straight ports of the original and feature a selection of levels from the original game and its sequel.[4]

A Nintendo DS port of the game, titled Neighbours from Hell, was announced in 2007.[5][6] It was released exclusively in Europe on June 30, 2009.[7] While the cover art and title imply that the game is a port of the original game, the game only contains the sequel.[7] A North American release by DreamCatcher Interactive under the name of Prank'd - Pranking Your Way Around the World was planned and was even rated by the ESRB, but was never released.[8]

The original Microsoft Windows version was digitally re-released on GOG.com with its sequel by JoWood on June 9, 2009.[9] It was released on Steam by Nordic Games on November 7, 2013 after successfully getting Greenlit by the community.[10][11]

A mobile port of the game was released worldwide by THQ Nordic for iOS and Android on May 25, 2017 on the App Store and Google Play, respectively.[12] A port for macOS was released on the App Store on June 22 of the same year.[13]

Neighbours Back from Hell

A remaster, named Neighbours back From Hell, was released on October 8, 2020 for consoles and PC by Vienna-based developer FarbWorks and HandyGames (a publishing division owned by THQ Nordic), and contains both the first game and the sequel, remastered and reworked in HD and at high framerates. It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and fans.[14][15]

Sequel

Main article: Neighbours from Hell 2: On Vacation

In 2004 a sequel was released, called Neighbours from Hell 2: On Vacation. In this game, instead of being in a house, the player travels to various locations around the world. This time the player must have their caution turned to the mom of the Neighbour as well, if they do not want to be caught.

Notes

  1. ^ Android, iOS, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and Back from Hell
  2. ^ German: Böse Nachbarn. Known in the United States as Neighbors from Hell

References

  1. ^ "Neighbors From Hell for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  2. ^ "Neighbors from Hell for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  3. ^ "Neighbours From Hell (xbx: 2005): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET. Archived September 13, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  4. ^ Contributor, GamesIndustry biz (2005-01-17). "JoWooD Releases 'Neighbours From Hell' On Console". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  5. ^ Boyes, Emma (2007-06-05). "Pinnacle to distribute JoWood in UK". GameSpot. Archived 2019-10-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  6. ^ "JoWooD Productions Sign With Pinnacle". GamesIndustry.biz. 2007-01-10. Archived 2024-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
  7. ^ "Neighbours From Hell - DS version coming June 2009.". GamesIndustry.biz. 2009-05-28. Archived 2026-01-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  8. ^ "Prank’d: Pranking Your Way Around the World - ESRB". ESRB. Retrieved 2025-12-11.
  9. ^ "New release: Neighbours From Hell Compilation". GOG.com. CD Projekt. 9 June 2009. Archived 14 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Now Available on Steam - Neighbours from Hell Compilation, 25% off!". Steam. Valve Corporation. 7 November 2013. Archived 9 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  11. ^ Sykes, Tom (17 October 2013). "Steam Greenlight approves 37 more titles, including Ikaruga, TowerClimb, Steam Marines". PC Gamer. Future plc. Archived 17 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  12. ^ Hodapp, Eli (May 30, 2017). "THQ Releases a Free 'Neighbours from Hell' Port on the App Store". TouchArcade. MacRumors.com, LLC. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  13. ^ "Neighbors from Hell 1 and 2 out now on Mac App Store". THQ Nordic. 22 June 2017. Archived 28 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Neighbours Back from Hell - PS4 Review". 25 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Neighbours back from Hell". Metacritic