Jen's Review
Tony Shoulders does it again.
I’ve played both Ethel and Claire, and I loved them—so when I saw he was releasing another game, I already knew I had to jump in as soon as possible.
And I’m glad I did.
The Butler absolutely delivers.
From the start, the atmosphere is thick and heavy in the best way. The sound design really pulls you in, creating that constant sense of unease that makes you feel like something is always just about to happen.
The story was another standout for me. Not only is it engaging on its own, but the way it ties back into Claire really helps round out the overall narrative. If you’ve played his previous games, that connection makes everything hit even harder.
The antique shop is such a great opening environment too. I mean… where else are you going to find shelves full of old, creepy artifacts that probably all have something attached to them? It sets the tone perfectly. And when the game transitions into the mansion, it feels smooth and natural—it never breaks immersion.
Gameplay-wise, everything felt solid. The mechanics work well, nothing feels clunky, and the experience flows the way you want it to. The jumpscares are also done right—well-timed, effective, and never overused.
Overall, this is just another great entry from Tony Shoulders.
It’s atmospheric, well-designed, and ties beautifully into his previous work. If you’ve played Ethel or Claire, this is an easy recommendation—and if you haven’t, this might be a great place to start.
Another homerun. 👀
Kayla's Review
I went into The Butler already fully aboard the hype train...and yes, it delivered.
If you’ve played Ethel and Claire, you already know Tony Shoulders doesn’t just make games, he builds atmospheric, layered, “wait…?” experiences. The Butler continues that streak as a direct follow-up to Claire, and honestly? The man stays winning in the storytelling department.
Right out of the gate, the graphics and sound design are chef’s kiss. You start in this old antique shop (which already feels cursed and creepy), then transition into the mansion and everything just looks and sounds so good. Smooth mechanics, clean movement, no jank to pull you out of the immersion. We love to see it.
But the real standout here is the storytelling. Not the hand-holdy, spoon-fed kind. I’m talking about the kind that makes you pause, think, question everything, and then immediately want to dig deeper. There are lore drops everywhere, and if you’re already invested in Ethel and Claire, it just makes the experience that much more exciting.
The game is broken into five chapters, each focused on exploration and piecing together clues. The pacing? Damn near perfect. Nothing felt rushed, nothing dragged. And the jumpscares, listen… they don’t spam you every five seconds like some games (thank you). But when they hit? They HIT. It’s all intentional, and it works.
Now, I do have one 1 singular, very small complaint. There were a couple moments where I was just… wandering. Specifically in the Basement section and the “Locate the Relic” part. A tiny bit more direction wouldn’t have hurt. I eventually figured it out, but not before doing laps like I was training for a marathon. That said, after speaking with Tony while Jen was streaming and playing this, he described the Basement and how to maneuver it, and it actually made sense. Now the lighthouse photo? I’m still side-eyeing that a little...I don’t fully know how I was supposed to connect those dots, but maybe that’s on me and my ADHD interfered somewhere along the line. If you know me you know that's VERY possible and likely probable.
That said, it didn’t ruin the experience at all. The story payoff and how everything ties together, especially that ending, completely made up for it. When I say my jaw dropped, I mean it was on the floor. Gone. Evaporated. I screamed OH MY GOD like 14 times while reading the final pieces of the story at the end.
For reference, it took me about 2.5 hours to complete while streaming and actively talking to chat, so it’s a solid experience without overstaying its welcome.
Final thoughts:
Mechanically smooth, visually polished, incredible sound and voice acting, smart puzzles, perfectly timed scares, and a story that actually sticks with you. If you’re into indie horror that blends atmosphere, lore, and meaningful storytelling (without relying on cheap scare spam), this is a must-play.
The Butler easily sits at the top of my favorites list and honestly, the entire trilogy (Ethel, Claire, and this) is something I’d recommend to anyone who takes their horror a little more thoughtfully unhinged.
