Gone Home is a beautifully crafted mystery that quietly sneaks up on you. It’s played in first person, there’s no running, no combat, and no hand holding just you, an empty house, and a whole lot of questions. The music can be a bit loud at times (as games tend to do), but it sets the mood well as you explore room by room, piecing together what happened.
What really shines is the story. It’s genuinely engaging and not at all what I expected going in. The narrative unfolds naturally through exploration, with a few twists that are both surprising and surprisingly heartfelt, without ever beating you over the head or spoiling the experience.
The puzzles are classic but satisfying: keys to hunt down, combinations to crack, secret passageways to uncover, and hidden panels that make you feel clever when you spot them. Watching the story reveal itself as you solve each puzzle is half the fun. Pro tip: the story nudges you away from the basement safe at one point, make sure you open it before heading into the attic if you want to see everything.
Don’t expect to unlock every Steam achievement in one playthrough, either, at least, I didn’t. This game rewards careful, thorough exploration. The visuals are well done, and almost every object feels like it could matter. In Gone Home, anything you pick up might be a clue… and that’s what makes exploring this house so compelling.
Don’t skip the secret Steam achievements, some of the best moments are tucked away in the side mysteries, like the unexpectedly adorable kitty one. Think of it as the game rewarding you for being nosy in the best possible way.
Do not skip the safes. They might reveal crucial story moments, send you down a different path… or contain absolutely nothing of value except the crushing realization that you tried. Worth it every time.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
The game’s quiet, emotional storytelling shines through environmental details and small side narratives that add charm and depth.
Thorough exploration is heavily rewarded, with hidden details and optional discoveries encouraging players to check every corner.
Beyond the main puzzles, there are clever and cute side mysteries, like the memorable kitty one, that add personality and fun. The main puzzle is the best one and reveals a cute couple story that may end up breaking your heart in the end.
Secret Steam achievements are very easy to miss on your first run, which means completionists will absolutely be snooping through this house more than once. If you’re aiming for 100%, plan on a couple of playthroughs and a whole lot of “wait, how did I miss that?” moments. The game itself is fairly short, and while that makes replays manageable, I couldn’t help but wish there was just a little more house to haunt.
PROS / CONS
- Visuals are well done and enhance immersion
- Exploration feels meaningful, almost every object could be a clue
- Satisfying classic puzzles: keys, combinations, secret passages, and hidden panels
- Strong, engaging story with unexpected and heartfelt twists
- Narrative unfolds naturally through exploration (no hand-holding)
- Music can be a bit too loud at times
- No running, which may feel limiting for some players
- Easy to miss content (and Steam achievements) in a single playthrough
- Subtle story nudges can unintentionally cause players to skip optional details
- Not long enough
