Freebie Feelers... Gone Home

Freebie Feelers is a series where we download the free monthly console-specific or newly released free-to-play games to test their worth.This series will contain some useful information as well as plenty of personal opinion. While these articles may not be reviews, we hope that you will be able to use them to help decide whether that free download is worth it.

What is it?

Gone Home is the self-proclaimed “Story Exploration Video Game” that sees players take control of a young woman in the ‘90s that returns home only to find the house empty. Since there is no one to greet her, she finds her way in and begins looking around for clues about the events that happened while she was travelling abroad. By exploring the house and examining important items you come across, many things will be explained by the end.

What did you think?

I quite enjoyed my short time with Gone Home. Whilst the game wasn’t terribly long, even with the agonizingly slow walk speed, I did enjoy seeing how much detail was put into the house you’re meant to look around. Between the light switches in sensible locations and the board games with water damage on the box, I couldn’t help but smile when I noticed another of these little details. The story the game has to offer is fairly engaging and not only demands your attention but is nearly omnipresent as you make your way through the house. Whether it be a picture of an important character or a flyer for an event with some chicken scratch on it, there is always something near you trying to tell you a story about someone from the household.

Is it worth downloading?

Even if this kind of game isn’t your thing, it may not be a bad idea to grab it. It makes for an easy completion and can take the place of a movie on a slow, quiet night. Despite being easily classified as a ‘walking simulator’, Gone Home does a wonderful job of making the player feel connected due to how well it recreates real-life things such as secret shames and how hard it can be to make tough choices. Don’t misunderstand though, this title does have a few unusual secrets to discover. If you’re interested in looking around the surprisingly engaging house, grab this title on Xbox One before the end of October.