Man of the House Cheats: Phone Console, Ren'Py Commands, and Save Editing
Man of the House runs on the Ren'Py visual novel engine, which means its entire state — money, character stats, time of day, and unlocked content — is stored in plain Python variables. The developer built a native cheat menu into the in-game phone, hid a full debug console behind a keyboard shortcut, and left the save files completely exposed. Players who know where to look can rewrite their progress in seconds without touching a single third-party tool.
The In-Game Phone Cheat Menu
The cheat console is not available from the start. The player must first complete the Day 1 tutorial. After that, a new icon appears on the in-game phone — a man wearing a black hat. Tapping it opens the cheat menu.
From this menu, the player can:
- Modify character stats and the protagonist's mood.
- Edit the current money balance.
- Change the time of day or jump to a specific day.
- Unlock all gallery entries instantly.
The gallery unlock is a one-way toggle. Once activated, every entry becomes visible, which makes it difficult for community members to troubleshoot missing scenes later. Players who plan to ask for walkthrough help on forums should avoid this option until they have finished their first playthrough.
Ren'Py Debug Console: The Nuclear Option
Because the game is built on Ren'Py, the engine's built-in developer console is fully accessible. It accepts raw Python and Ren'Py script commands that can alter any variable in the game state.
How to Open the Console
Press Shift + O at any time during gameplay. The console slides down from the top of the screen. Type the command and press Enter. Press Shift + O again to close it. The console is case-sensitive and uses standard Python syntax.
Verified Console Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| renpy.jump("unlock_all_mem") | Unlocks every entry in the main gallery. |
| renpy.jump("lock_all_mem") | Locks all gallery entries, effectively resetting collection progress. |
| $ player_name = "Example" | Changes the protagonist's display name to the specified string. |
Additional variables can be manipulated directly if the player knows their internal names. Ren'Py stores most stats as standard Python variables prefixed with $. For example, if the internal money variable is named money or cash, the command $ money = 9999 would set the balance instantly. The exact variable names vary by game version and are not documented officially. Trial and error on a backup save is the only reliable method to discover them.
Save File Location and Backup
Ren'Py games store saves in two locations simultaneously: a local copy inside the game folder and the active copy in the user's profile. The active copy is what the game reads.
Windows
C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\RenPy\[GameFolder]Alternatively, paste %appdata%\RenPy into the Windows search bar or Run dialog.
macOS
~/Library/RenPy/Linux
~/.renpy/Android
Documents/RenPy_Saves/The save files themselves are compressed archives with the extension .save (for example, 1-1.save for page 1, slot 1). Ren'Py also maintains a persistent file that stores cross-save data such as gallery unlocks and achievement flags. Deleting or editing the persistent file resets gallery progress across all save slots.
Before experimenting with console commands or file edits, the player should copy the entire RenPy/[GameFolder] directory to a backup location. A malformed console command or corrupted persistent file can wipe hours of progress with no recovery option.
Cheat Engine and External Tools
For players who prefer a graphical interface, the OpenCheatTables community hosts a Cheat Engine table for Man of the House. The table uses standardized hotkeys and memory pointers to modify money, stats, and other values in real time. It requires Cheat Engine 7.0 or newer and attachment to the game's process.
Because Ren'Py games compile to bytecode, pointer paths are relatively stable between minor updates. However, major version bumps can shift memory addresses and render the table non-functional until the community releases an update.
Steam Achievements
The game includes a full achievement set on Steam. Notable achievements include:
| Achievement | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Man of the House | Complete every ending, including the hidden bonus ending. |
| A different kind of therapy. | Complete Diane's ending. |
| A trip to remember. | Complete Emma's ending. |
| Best friends share everything. | Complete Sophia's ending. |
| Business or pleasure? | Complete Claire's first ending. |
| Just the three of us. | Complete Amy's ending. |
| One lucky guy. | Complete Veronica's first ending. |
| Payback time! | Complete Debby's ending. |
| Taser-boy | Complete Angel's ending. |
| The perfect appetizer. | Complete Ashley's first ending. |
Using the in-game cheat menu, the Ren'Py console, or Cheat Engine does not disable Steam achievements. The game has no anti-cheat layer. Players can unlock every achievement while using cheats, though the Man of the House achievement requires viewing every ending, which still demands playing through the relevant routes even with shortcuts.
Common Issues and Warnings
- The phone cheat menu disappears if the tutorial is skipped. Players who use save files from community uploads or jump ahead via console commands may never see the black-hat icon. The only fix is to start a new game and play through Day 1 normally.
- Gallery unlock commands are permanent. renpy.jump("unlock_all_mem") writes directly to the persistent file. Even starting a new game will not re-lock entries unless the player runs renpy.jump("lock_all_mem") or manually deletes the persistent file.
- Variable names are not documented. The exact internal names for money, relationship stats, and mood vary by patch. Community spreadsheets exist but are often outdated. Testing on a dummy save is mandatory.
- Console commands are case-sensitive. renpy.jump("unlock_all_mem") works; Renpy.jump("unlock_all_mem") does not. The dollar sign ($) is required for Python variable assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the cheat icon missing from the phone?
The Day 1 tutorial must be completed first. The icon will not appear on imported saves or new games where the tutorial was skipped via console commands.
Can the console give money directly?
Yes, if the player knows the internal variable name. The syntax is $ [variable_name] = [value]. The exact variable name is not officially documented and changes between versions. The phone cheat menu is the safer alternative for editing money.
Do cheats work on the Android version?
The in-game phone cheat menu works on Android. The Shift + O console does not, as most Android keyboards lack a physical Shift key mapped to Ren'Py's console trigger. Save editing on Android requires rooting the device or using a file manager with access to Documents/RenPy_Saves.
Will deleting save files reset the gallery?
No. Gallery data lives in the persistent file, not in individual saves. To reset the gallery, the player must delete or edit the persistent file specifically.
Is there a way to re-lock specific gallery entries?
Not individually. The console offers only two commands: unlock all or lock all. There is no granular control over single entries without manually editing the persistent file's binary data, which is not practical.
Bottom Line
Man of the House hands players three separate cheat systems: a phone menu for casual editing, a Ren'Py console for deep variable manipulation, and exposed save files for brute-force resets. The phone menu is the safest entry point. The console is the most powerful but requires Python literacy. And the persistent file is the final arbiter of gallery progress — delete it, and the collection slate wipes clean. Back up before experimenting, stick to the phone menu for simple edits, and remember that unlocking everything at once removes the ability to ask the community which scene was missed.
