Horace (video game)

Not to be confused with Horace (video game series).
Horace
Developer(s)Paul Helman
Sean Scaplehorn
Publisher(s)505 Games
EngineUnity Engine
Platform(s)
Release
  • Microsoft Windows
  • WW: July 19, 2019
  • Nintendo Switch
  • WW: October 21, 2020
  • PS4, Xbox One
  • WW: February 28, 2023
Genre(s)Platform, Metroidvania
Mode(s)Single-player

Horace is a 2019 platform video game developed by British indie developers Paul Helman and Sean Scaplehorn, and published by 505 Games. The game was originally launched for Microsoft Windows on July 19, 2019, with a Nintendo Switch port released on October 21, 2020. The game also released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 28, 2023. Players control the titular Horace, a sentient robot who is adopted by a wealthy British family. Following a period of dormancy, Horace is reactivated and finds himself searching for a sense of purpose in a war-torn post-apocalyptic world.

The gameplay of Horace primarily features action-adventure and platform game elements, with guided non-linearity as well as utility-gated exploration and progression typical of the Metroidvania subgenre. Certain segments switch between several video game genres, with elements ranging from racing games to fighting games. Horace was met with a generally positive critical reception for both PC and console platforms.