Character House -Desktop Companion- is currently available on Steam as a free downloadable demo for Windows and macOS, developed and published by Yinengjie. The full commercial version is scheduled for release in 2026, and the developer has not yet announced an official price.
Players interested in trying the desktop companion can install the standalone demo directly through Steam without purchasing anything. The demo grants access to character creation, multiple screen display modes, keystroke synchronization, and idle collection systems.
How to Download Character House on Steam
The free demo operates on its own dedicated Steam listing alongside the main game page. Follow these steps to install it on your computer:
- Open your Steam client or visit the official Steam Store in your web browser.
- Search for "Character House -Desktop Companion- Demo" in the store search bar, or navigate to the main Character House store page and click the Download Demo button.
- On the demo product page, click the green Install Demo button.
- Select your preferred installation directory and wait for the download to finish. The install size requires around 512 MB to 1 GB of storage space.
- Launch the application from your Steam Library. The companion will initialize as a borderless desktop overlay sitting on top of your open windows.
According to an official announcement from developer Yinengjie, the team plans to carry over character customization data from the demo into the full release whenever possible.
System Requirements for Windows and macOS
Character House runs as a lightweight background application designed to stay active while you browse the web or play other games. Below are the official system requirements listed on the Steam store page.
| Requirement | Windows Minimum | Windows Recommended | macOS Minimum | macOS Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10/11 (64-bit) | macOS 10.15 Catalina | macOS 12 Monterey or later |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 / AMD equivalent | Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen or better | Apple M1 or Intel Core i5 | Apple M1 or Intel Core i7 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB | 8 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Graphics | DirectX 11 compatible GPU | DirectX 11 compatible GPU | Metal-capable GPU | Apple M1 GPU |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Storage Space | 512 MB available space | 1024 MB available space | 512 MB available space | 1024 MB available space |
| Network | Broadband Internet connection | Broadband Internet connection | Broadband Internet connection | Broadband Internet connection |
Key Gameplay Features and Desktop Modes
Character House blends avatar creation with an idle desktop pet simulation. The demo features several core mechanics:
- Deep Avatar Customization: Players can mix and match hundreds of components, including hair layers, dual-tone gradient palettes, ahoge strands, horns, tails, beast ears, facial expressions, and outfits.
- Sit-in-a-Row (Typing) Mode: The companion sits on your taskbar or workspace and mirrors your actions in real time, reacting and animating with every keyboard keystroke or mouse click.
- Standing and Corner Modes: In Standing Mode, the avatar wanders across your screen and idles on top of open applications. Corner Mode parks the character at the screen margin so it stays out of your field of view during work or gaming.
- Offline Idle Rewards: Companions passively generate resources over time. These materials can be spent on gacha pulls and crafting benches to unlock accessories, hats, furniture, and setting cards.
- Multi-Character Support: Players can spawn multiple custom avatars simultaneously. Dragging characters near each other triggers unique gaze and chat animations.
How to Fix Character House Steam Crashing and Launch Errors
If Character House crashes on launch or fails to render properly on your desktop, try the following verified troubleshooting steps:
- Force DirectX 11 in Launch Options: Right-click Character House in your Steam Library, select Properties, open the General tab, and type -dx11 into the Launch Options field.
- Verify Game File Integrity: In the game's Properties menu, click Installed Files and select Verify integrity of game files to redownload any corrupted assets.
- Install Redistributables: Ensure you download and install both the x86 and x64 installer packages, then restart your PC.
- Update Graphics Drivers: Use the official Nvidia App or AMD Software suite to install the latest GPU drivers.
- Run Steam as Administrator: Fully exit Steam, right-click the Steam desktop shortcut, select Run as administrator, and launch the game again.
Recent patches have also added a quick character reset toggle directly to the Windows taskbar icon. If your companion walks off-screen or gets stuck outside your visible display area, you can bring them back to the center of your screen with a single taskbar click. The settings menu also includes frame rate caps (30 FPS, 60 FPS, or unlimited) to help reduce GPU strain on low-spec hardware.
Privacy and Background Typing Clarifications
Some community members raised concerns regarding the game's keystroke tracking feature. In a developer response on the Steam community forums, Yinengjie clarified that the companion only counts the aggregate volume of mouse clicks and keystrokes locally on the device to drive progression counters.
The software does not record keystroke text, log private messages, or transmit personal input data externally. The developer confirmed that the application uses no network transmissions outside standard Unity and Steam SDK routines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Character House -Desktop Companion- free to play on Steam?
The demo is 100% free to install and play. The full version of the game is listed as a paid product, but the official price has not yet been announced on Steam.
When will the full version of Character House release?
The official Steam store page lists a planned release window of 2026. An exact launch date has not been confirmed by the developer.
Can you play Character House on Mac?
Yes. Character House natively supports macOS on both Apple Silicon (M1 chips and later) and Intel processors running macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer.
What should I do if my character disappears off-screen?
Click the Character House icon in your Windows system tray or taskbar to trigger the character reset function, which immediately teleports all active avatars back to the visible desktop.
