Recent reviews by Groovytrons

According to its indie developer, Fullbright, Gone Home is a story-exploration video game. To me, Gone Home is an experience not to be missed. The careful consideration and grace in which the story unfolds can only be understood through playing it; the image of richly detailed pages of a picture book, scattered and woven into the game’s environment, the only description that comes close. It stands tall, on an even playing field with AAA titles, The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite in terms of it contribution to the art form of video games and story-telling. Anything less wouldn’t be doing justice to the importance of Gone Home, which delivers an emotive and thought provoking journey in only a couple of hours of game time.


I feel in agreement with other critics that this game is best experienced with little to no understanding or expectation of the story or genre of the game. Rest assured, this game is likely to transcend any pre-existing idea of the confinements of a game’s story, or genre. It challenges the medium, each player receiving a unique experience that will no doubt leave a lasting impression, perhaps even broadening your horizons… But I’m saying too much already, and perhaps approaching the stage of overdoing the praise I promise you this downloadable gem deserves. All that you need to know is that it is easily completed in the one session, only $20 (Steam Australia) and is a super strong contender for game of the year.

Yet something holds me back from giving it a perfect score. To say this game is surprising would be an understatement, but I overestimated some of the challenges it presents. It focuses more on exploration without many difficult obstacles or puzzles which I felt lessened the achievement of discovering something new. The story however, is far more rewarding then the pointless ego-boost of solving a riddle, and the depth of stories upon side-stories will leave the curious hungry for more. After all that is the game’s intention, to place you in this world and discover it’s secrets at your own pace. Hence, I’m torn. I love this game, but it’s one of those cases where you can question whether or not it really is a ‘game’? Honestly, I couldn’t care less, but I’m aware that it will not appeal to everyone, which is truly sad for the people not interested enough to play it.

Gone Home is remarkable. It is at the forefront of a new wave of games re-defining the industry and pushing it into the realms of story-telling previously only associated with film, books and television. And yet, Fullbright stand out from other developers leading this charge, such as Naughty Dog and Irrational. They have done so independently, on a far stricter budget with far less game time. Gone Home is simple, frightening, beautiful and touching. It is so many things, and often all at the same time. Regardless of what you perceive Gone Home to be, play it. It is one you will not doubt remember forever.

9.5/10