House Thief

HOUSE THIEF

A Dark-Comedy Sandbox Heist Simulation

By happystoner5420 Games

CORE CONCEPT

HOUSE THIEF is a single-player, browser-based crime simulation where you play as a burglar casing and robbing residential homes in a procedurally generated neighborhood. The game features a retro, film-noir aesthetic with CRT scanline overlays and a gritty color palette, mixing tactical heist gameplay with dark humor and consequence management.

GAME LOOP

1. THE MAP (Neighborhood View)

20 procedurally generated houses across three tiers:

Modest homes: Lower value ($80-$260), weaker security

Mid-tier homes: Medium value ($200-$600), moderate security

Luxury homes: High value ($600-$1,800), advanced security systems

Each house displays:

Case number (e.g., "CASE FILE 104")

Street address (randomized: "945 Cedar Hollow Rd")

Resident name (20 unique NPCs with portraits)

Estimated loot value

Security rating (1-8 scale)

Occupancy status (home or away)

Flavor text about the residents

2. THE TRUNK (Equipment Shop)

Before breaking in, you can purchase single-use gear across 4 categories:

DISGUISES (consumed after each heist):

Ski Mask ($60) - reduces ID risk by 25%

Gloves ($45) - slower suspicion buildup

Dark Hoodie ($30) - minor ID protection

RESTRAINTS (one-time use):

Handcuffs ($80) - 90% restraint success

Zip Ties ($35) - 65% success rate

Rope ($25) - 55% success rate

Duct Tape ($15) - muffles resident's 911 calls

WEAPONS (one-time use):

Shotgun ($600) - massive intimidation, very loud

Handgun ($350) - strong intimidation, loud

Stun Gun ($150) - good intimidation, quiet

Aluminum Bat ($70) - basic intimidation

TOOLS (one-time use):

Signal Jammer ($280) - delays 911 calls

Lockpick Set ($90) - 35% safe-cracking chance

Pry Bar ($55) - 20% safe-cracking, noisy

3. THE HEIST (Inside the House)

Once you break in, you face a real-time pressure cooker:

Two Critical Meters:

SUSPICION (0-100%): Rises from noise, time spent, security systems, and alarms

Security alarms trigger immediately and cause 2.5x faster suspicion buildup

If it hits 100%, police respond immediately

RESIDENT NERVE (100-0%): Only applies if someone's home

Drops when you threaten or strike them

If it hits 0%, they call 911 → instant police response

Loot Collection:

Houses contain 3-6 items: TVs, laptops, jewelry, safes, cash, designer goods

Click items to grab them (each increases suspicion)

Locked safes require tools (lockpick or pry bar) with failure risk

Resident Management (if occupied):

States: Unaware → Aware → Restrained

Actions:

Threaten: Weapon intimidation (drops nerve 45-70%)

Strike: Physical violence (drops nerve 32%, increases suspicion)

Restrain: Cuff/tie them (removes threat if successful)

Talk Down: Calm them (+22% nerve)

Escape Trigger:

You choose when to flee back to the van

Or you're forced out when suspicion hits 100%

4. POLICE STANDOFF

If police arrive (suspicion = 100% or alarm triggered), you face a tactical mini-game:

Two Meters:

ESCAPE PROGRESS (0-100%): Reach 100% to get away

OFFICER ALERT (starts 35-50%): Hits 100% = arrested

Actions:

Run: Big escape gain, increases alert

Hide: Gamble - 60% chance to reduce alert, 40% to spike it

Stand Your Ground: Armed? Huge escape boost but max alert spike. Unarmed? You lose.

Surrender: Instant arrest, but cooperative bonus in court

5. POLICE REPORTS

If a resident sees you during the heist (no mask = higher ID risk), they file a report after you escape:

Shows witness statements, suspect descriptions, stolen items

Increases Heat (0-100% persistent threat level)

Higher heat = more frequent police encounters

No mask + violence = massive heat spikes

6. COURTROOM (If Arrested)

You face arraignment with dynamically calculated odds:

Factors Affecting Your Case:

Loot value stolen (more = worse)

Violence used (-20% odds)

Weapons used (-12% odds)

Cooperated with police (+10% odds)

Hire an attorney ($400) → +22% odds

Plea Options:

Plead Guilty: Judge decides probation vs. jail

Fight the Case: Roll for acquittal, probation, or jail

Outcomes:

Acquitted: Walk free, -20% heat, continue playing

Probation: Fine ($250+), conviction on record, -35% heat, continue playing

Jail Time: Heavy fine ($500+), heat reset, game over

UNIQUE MECHANICS

No Save System

"START NEW HEIST" wipes everything: cash, heat, inventory, houses

Every run is permadeath once you're convicted or quit

Footer: "NO SAVE · NO CONTINUE · EVERY HEIST IS A NEW FILE"

End Day Feature

Button lets you "end the day" to restore all houses and loot

Keeps your cash, heat, and inventory

Allows continued robbery spree without starting over

All Items Are Consumable

Disguises burn after each heist (get dirty/identified)

Restraints break during use

Weapons discharge in confrontations

Tools wear out on safe-cracking attempts

Forces strategic spending between heists

Persistent Heat System

Global 0-100% "wanted level" across the run

Increases from: violence, no disguise, witness reports, alarms

Higher heat = tougher police, higher arrest odds

Only resets on new game or jail time

VISUAL STYLE

Film noir / 70s crime drama aesthetic

CRT scanlines, vignette effects, retro grain overlays

Muted color palette: grays, greens, amber highlights

SVG-based procedural graphics for houses, rooms, loot

20 unique NPC portrait photos (10 male, 10 female)

Dossier-style UI with case file numbers and police stamps

AUDIO DESIGN

References to a sound system (audio.js) with:

SFX: footsteps, gunshots, cash, alarms, sirens, gavel

Ambient tension during heists

Retro menu beeps

THEMES & TONE

Dark comedy: Absurdist crime, procedural bureaucracy

Consequence simulation: Every action has cascading risks

Anti-hero power fantasy tempered by realistic failure states

Roguelike tension: No saves, permadeath on conviction

Tagline: "EVERY ADDRESS IS A CASE FILE. EVERY WINDOW IS UNLOCKED."

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Pure HTML5/CSS/JavaScript (no frameworks)

Runs 100% offline, no servers/analytics

Mobile-responsive design

Modular code: main.js, heist.js, police.js, court.js, shop.js, map.js, graphics.js, audio.js, data.js

Procedural world generation on each new run

HOUSE THIEF is a tightly designed, high-stakes crime sandbox that mixes tactical decision-making, resource management, and dark humor into a replayable heist experience where every job could be your last.