After expanding their audience with a series of videos directed by their friend Mark Eshleman, Twenty One Pilots grew and captured the attention of the major record labels.

In 2012, once they signed to the Atlantic subsidiary label Fueled by Ramen, the band released their Three Songs EP and began working with record producer Greg Wells on their debut studio album, Vessel.

[11] "House of Gold" is composed in the key of C Major while Tyler Joseph's vocal range spans one octave and five notes, from a low of F3 to a high of C5.

[12][8] As one of their slower numbers, "House of Gold" exhibits an acoustic accompaniment driven by ukulele while Joseph's sings with dreary emo pop-like vocal stylings.

[8] It was among several songs taken from their previous EPs to be augmented, included and re-released in 2013 on the track-listing of their major-label debut studio album Vessel on the record label Fueled by Ramen.

"[2] Graham Clark from The Yorkshire Times remarked, "Things really get into gear with House of Gold, if you like the group Train, then this track will make sense.

"[16] Comparing Joseph's vocal stylings to that of the band Bright Eyes, AllMusic's Fred Thomas described "House of Gold" as "uncharacteristically folky.

"[14] Jason Pettigrew for Alternative Press claimed, "This song is crucial to the band's creative resilience because it's more Grand Ole Opry than wild dance party.

It was these elements, including the defiance of seemingly all rules of radio and mainstream aesthetics, that made Vessel a fan-favorite persisting among the Top 40 charts to this day.

[24] On July 7, 2017, "House of Gold" was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of one million paid digital downloads.

[25] The single's accompanying music video was directed by Warren Kommers, and features extensive cinematography, a peculiar storyline and the usage of green screen effects.

After the last verse and prechorus finishes, Dun disappears, and Tyler plays the final, softer chorus, and his severed top half falls to the ground, which is seen from the window of the yellow house.

[26] She stated, "The cinematography of this one is the most impressive of their music videos, but the bizarre yet intriguing storyline and usage of a green screen mutilation really make it stick out from the bunch.

"[12] Twenty One Pilots performed "House of Gold" at TSB Area in Wellington, New Zealand before 3,000 fans during the first concert on the Oceania leg of their Emotional Roadshow World Tour.

[5] A once-off supergroup composed of musicians Chris Martin, Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers and E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan formed in October 2016 to cover songs from Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd and the Beach Boys during a benefit concert in Malibu, California for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, had covered the song during one of their concerts.