Brendan Jacques
Connector Staff

For the longest time, movies have been trying to capitalize on the popularity of video games by adapting them to the big screen. This has almost always failed, either because those involved didn’t really care about what made the material popular or just couldn’t find anything interesting to do with the material that the game hadn’t already done. In my opinion, the reason video games will probably never get a proper adaptation to movie form comes down to how different telling a story in a game is. Players are immersed into the stories of video games because they have a role within the story being told, which is something that movies can never achieve. It’s that interactivity that allows games to, under the right circumstances, surpass film as the ultimate storytelling medium.

“Gone Home” is one of those games; it stands as a perfect example of a story that could only have been told by a video game. That’s not to say a movie couldn’t try and tell the same story, but I honestly can’t see the story leaving as much of an impact if I was simply watching it play out on the big screen. It’s a joyous and beautiful game that I consider to be one of “the best movies I have ever played.”

“Gone Home” was developed by up-and-coming studio Fullbright Games. It focuses on Kaitlyn Greenbriar, a college student who has come home from a year abroad to find her family’s home completely abandoned. This is especially troubling when Kaitlyn discovers a note on the front door from her younger sister, Sam, asking her not to come looking for her. It falls to the player to explore around the Greenbriar estate, looking for clues as to where your family is and what has happened in the house over the past year.

While this setup sounds like something coming straight out of a horror game and the atmosphere feels similar to what you would normally find in those games, “Gone Home” is as far from a horror game as you can get. As much as the game may want you to believe there is, there is no ghost lurking through the halls and there is no grand conspiracy within the house (not of the supernatural kind, at least). Instead, there’s a consistent feeling of calm that permeates every inch of the game’s world. It’s just you exploring an old house, trying to find the grand secrets it can tell.

And what a story the house tells. While Kaitlyn’s mother and father are both given their times to shine and have their own stories to tell, the main focus of the plot is on Sam, who’s fighting to fit in at school without her older sister to look out for her. The notes and audio diaries left by Sam are where the real story of “Gone Home” lies, and, while I won’t spoil the details, it’s surprisingly emotional and effective considering not a single actor appears on screen.

While the story could have very easily fallen apart if the game lacked personality and immersion, “Gone Home” is successful on that front as well. The Greenbriar estate feels convincingly lived-in, with an incredible attention to detail that really brings the house to life. There are so many little touches, from charming memorabilia to notes and essays left discarded by their writers. This attention to detail gives the game an air of nostalgia, as if I’m the one coming home from time away and am left to see how my family has lived without me, which only further connects the player’s feelings with Kaitlyn. A quick mention also goes to the music, which further emphasizes that nostalgia, from consistently calming background music to the occasional punk rock mix tape lying around on the floor.

“Gone Home” is tough to properly review because the entire game is built around a plot that I wouldn’t dare spoil, but at the same time it’s a game that deserves to be reviewed.

It’s an incredibly well thought-out and genuinely moving game that desperately needs any attention it can get. My only real problem with the game is that it’s only a 2-3 hour game which, at an asking price of $20, may be not be enough for some. With that in mind, if you can get it on sale, don’t hesitate: BUY THIS GAME.

Final Grade: A