Approx Playtime: 1.5 – 3 hrs | Game Type: Walking Simulator, Narrative | CW: some homophobia (no slurs, briefly mentioned), infidelity, mental health
The experience I had playing Gone Home was unexpectedly heartwarming, and a reminder of why coming of age stories can be so important and impactful.
It’s 1995. You are Katie, eldest daughter in a family of four, who has just returned from a European backpacking trip only to find her family’s home empty. As you wander the house interacting with different items and uncovering messages from your sister, Sam, the larger tale of what occurred during your time abroad unfolds.
*this review will contain some spoilers, please skip to the final verdict at the end of the article for final spoiler-free thoughts.
Gone Home is an epistolary narrative experience. There is no action or combat, there isn’t even traditional puzzle-solving. You are simply walking the family home, finding notes and artifacts, looking at photographs, and listening to cassette tapes. Slowly forming a picture of what happened over the year you were gone.
Despite the game being on my radar since its release in 2013, I managed to go into this completely blind. Something I recommend as the coming of age themes, while not uncommon, are revealed so naturally. Sam’s journey to discovering her interests and desires is portrayed authentically and with great care. Her story made me emotional in a way many contemporary stories often fail to.
Faced with a new school, preoccupied parents, and a sister she has no way of contacting, Sam is struggling. She finds an outlet through writing, and the player will find snippets of her stories scattered throughout the home.
These were my favorite items in the game. I loved watching Sam’s writing grow in strength and maturity, and reflect her own life as she learned more about herself. The pirate plot had me wishing for an irl novel, and the story where the first mate changed gender and the pirate captain declared she loved her still made my heart sing!
I know it was written as a reflection of Sam realizing her attraction to women, but I couldn’t help but see it as a moment of transgender joy as well! That declaration had me tearing up.
Her journey from discovery to love to heartbreak to…well, I won’t spoil everything, had me bursting with joy. Historical queer stories (and yes, it does sound strange to be saying ‘historical’ regarding the year I was born) are so important, reminding us that even though the support might not have been there, many were still able to find happiness.
The glimpses we get of the girls’ parents are interesting, but take a backseat to the story of Sam. Serving more as reasons for her thoughts and behavior changes, than stories as complex as her own.
The big exception is the mysterious uncle from whom they inherited the house. Not much is revealed about Uncle Oscar, and what little there is has been left intentionally vague.
It’s clear something bad occurred with the uncle sometime in 1963, and whatever it was led the girls’ father, Terrance, to become obsessed with that year. There are clues throughout the manor hinting that whatever it was caused Oscar to be shunned by his family and ultimately isolate himself in his home. Based on what little evidence there is, fan theorists have different explanations such as he was gay, he was caught crossdressing, or he abused Terrance. Since Gone Home is about drawing conclusions based on secondhand information, I’m inclined to believe any of these is possible based on the limited information the player has.
Edit: the developer seems to have indicated via Twitter that the abuse theory is correct. I wasn’t able to find the source but will link it if I find it.
Visually the game is an impressive sight! While it may not be on the same graphical level as more recent games, I still found myself impressed even 10 years after Gone Home’s initial release. It ran perfectly without sacrificing appearance. I did have to tweak some settings to make things a bit brighter and turn off the motion blur, but who doesn’t adjust visuals to their preferences?
The sound design was impressive as well. The soundtrack and Sam’s voiceovers were crisp and full of emotion. My one criticism regarding the sound might be the sound of the story raging outside. No matter how long I played you could not convince me that the jarring sound that kept repeating was lightning. I think a simple rain soundtrack would have honestly worked just as well, if not better.
I also liked the addition of text overlays. I’ve been playing a few too many games lately that expect you to read a character’s messy handwriting and having the addition of a plain font option is a thoughtful accessibility feature.
Verdict
A game perfect for a quiet night in, Gone Home holds a special spot in my heart. From the beautiful visuals to the bubbling feeling of queer joy I felt, and continue to feel whenever I think about it, this game should be considered a classic in the genre of narrative gaming.
Reminiscent of the young adult novels I loved as a teen, Gone Home brings players a nostalgic experience. All the messy feelings that come from figuring yourself out are presented in such an honest and relatable way. For those missing the 90s and the discovery phase of young adulthood, you’ll find an immersive, authentic walk down memory lane.
☆☆☆10/10☆☆☆
Reviewed on PC | Available on PC, Mac, Playstation, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Fictional Wanderings 