Gone Home

I had downloaded this game a few weeks back and wanted to check it out when i got a chance to sit and chill ...after a long day of killing zombies with friends.. i poured a glass of vodka with red orange and raspberry and decided to play it for a soft change .. and it was better than i expected . I did not look for reviews or any trailers ,just played it up straight forward and it was if not exactly or better than i had anticipated . After playing it, i was curious of the cast names and came looking for them and saw poor reviews and said to myself .. i should write one down .

It started quiet and then as the story progressed , finding clues and venturing through the house with that mild ambiance , i realized it start revolving around her sister . I liked how it branch out to her cute little affair through her notes. There were hints of it turning out to be a horror twist but it grew out more emotionally towards the sister " Sam " And as the story came to a close , i was quite pleased since i was looking for a short story . It triggered different emotions and i was quite happy for the girl in a way .

All in all , its a game to be played straight forward without much expectations and it should give you a nice vibe at the end of it .

It's basically just a walking-sim where you go around the house and read notes. And I loved it. This was one of the first games I ever played and what really sparked my love for games in general.

I think the game perfectly nailed the eerie and lonely atmosphere around the house. It's not a horror game and doesn't hint at it, but it sure as hell made me very uncomfortable and frightened at several points in the game.

It was also incredibly intriguing and interesting to slowly unravel the lives and stories of the characters by just simply reading notes and observing the rooms around the house. The house is also very well designed and was very fun to explore, but I guess that's a must when the whole game is centered around this one area.

If you like slow/easy progression and figuring out "stories" by yourself through exploring an immersive environment, I'd definitely recommend this game.

Gone Home is a unique bizarre little creature that can be completed in less than 60 seconds, that's right the whole story finished in less than a minute.

You play the role of a girl who returns to her home to discover her sister isn't in, you wander around the house seeking clues regarding her disappearance and these come in the form of narrated journal entries and notes.

Truth is wandering around this house is scarier than many survival horror games but the beautifully written/read journal entries make the game remarkably warm and undeniably memorable.

The game (If you can call it that) is tasteful, poignant, thought provoking and a brilliant story though it's more of an experience than an actual video game.

Well worth picking up, but don't expect much replay value.

The Good:

Looks great

Powerful emotional message

Deeply creepy (Even if it's not meant to be)

Wonderfully written

The Bad:

Very short

Not much content

The story is interesting, but all too predictable. I loved the eerie atmosphere created, but personally for me there was not much to do apart from going A to B, listening and reading stuff, figuring out hidden spaces et al.

I'd compare it to something like Limbo, which is a very different game, yet gives one the wholesome experience despite not giving out any detail in spoken narrative. Here on the other hand we get a wholesome narrative, but not much going it's way otherwise.

Gone Home is one of those indie gems that left me with a lot to think about long after I stopped playing. This first-person exploration game drops you into an eerily empty house in 1995 as Katie, who just returns from overseas. Right off the bat, the atmosphere hooks you-dim lighting, creaking floorboards, and the ever-present feeling that you're not quite alone in this spacious, yet intimate home. What really stands out in Gone Home is its environmental storytelling. Instead of flashy graphics or complex mechanics, it relies on the location to unfold the narrative. As you rummage through drawers, read notes, and piece together the lives of Katie's family, you start to feel a genuine connection with their struggles and triumphs. The characters, especially Katie's younger sister, Sam, feel real and relatable, making the emotional weight hit harder as the story develops.

The gameplay is pretty straightforward-there are no puzzles or overwhelming challenges, just a lot of exploration. This simplicity allows you to soak in the little details and understand the family dynamics. I found myself lingering over photos and letters, really getting immersed in the story being told. Gone Home is a well crafted experience that champions narrative over action. It's a poignant reminder of how strong storytelling can be in video games.