Gone Home: Console Edition

 PlayStation 4
User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 493 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 143 out of 493
  2. Mixed: 115 out of 493
  3. Negative: 235 out of 493

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  1. Sugoihime
    Jun 26, 2016
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I am glad I got it for free on Ps plus. I believe the price is 20$ and I think that's very overpriced. The game is nice, it has a nice atmosphere to it, and it got me wondering at all times "is this a horror thing or what?". But it isn't, it's just a girl walking around her house, searching for clues and keys only to find out her young sister run away with another girl, cause they were in love. Being in the lgbt community, I thought it was cute, but it was very linear and I totally saw it coming. It's "new" cause it's 1995 and being gay wasn't well seen back then, so it dwells into that as well, but you only get to listen to some audio journal thing, and everything you see are letters, drawings and your house, or well, the characters house.

    It had a nice vibe, but it's not worth the money. If you can download it on pc for free or if you have ps plus, give it a go. It has an amazing ambiance and the details are amazing, but do not spend money on it.    … Expand
  2. krisz094
    Jun 29, 2016
    6
    I heard all sorts of bad stuff about this game, but it was free on PS+ so I gave it a try.

    You gotta admit that the play style's kinda unique, but that doesn't justify the short game. (You can finish it in 1-2 hours if you go in blind.) About the story, I would say the ending was kinda anticlimactic for me, although the presentation was not bad at all, also there are a lot of side    I heard all sorts of bad stuff about this game, but it was free on PS+ so I gave it a try.

    You gotta admit that the play style's kinda unique, but that doesn't justify the short game. (You can finish it in 1-2 hours if you go in blind.)

    About the story, I would say the ending was kinda anticlimactic for me, although the presentation was not bad at all, also there are a lot of side stuff going on beside the "main story".

    Another thing that's worth a mention is the music, which is pretty bad-ass in itself if you're into punk.

    The graphics/physics were alright, especially for this kind of game. Definitely worth checking out for free, I'd say this game is worth $5 at max.    … Expand
  3. mdelolmo
    Jun 9, 2016
    5
    The most basic game of the century?
    I managed to finish the game, in about an hour (I'm not especially quick when playing games), and while I got immersed in the atmosphere and I was kind of interested in the story, there is very little to play.
    Basically you have to explore the whole house, find two scraps of paper, a few keys, listen to the story, and you're done with it. Don't    The most basic game of the century?
    I managed to finish the game, in about an hour (I'm not especially quick when playing games), and while I got immersed in the atmosphere and I was kind of interested in the story, there is very little to play.

    Basically you have to explore the whole house, find two scraps of paper, a few keys, listen to the story, and you're done with it.

    Don't expect to see or interact with any character or find any sort of puzzle.    … Expand
  4. HunterSeeker
    Jun 22, 2016
    5
    This is a point and click adventure. So Katie, you, cum home after a long trip in Europe. The home is deserted and you must investigate the reason why your sister, Samantha, is gone. Most of the things you find here are absolutely useless and the story is fairly linear. In essence, it's a point and click adventure about lesbians.
  5. Andre00x
    Jan 12, 2016
    7
    I can't believe I just paid 20$ for a game that last 1 hour.....Story is good. I wish it was longer and maybe add more hidden things. Not really worth the price though...
  6. josesueiro
    Aug 6, 2016
    5
    Gone Home is a first-person adventure exploration video game developed and published by Fullbrigh.

    The player takes the role of Kaitlin in the first-person view, who can view objects in the game using the mouse and move using the keyboard. There are no set goals in the game; however, the game encourages and rewards the player when they explore new areas of the house and search for new    Gone Home is a first-person adventure exploration video game developed and published by Fullbrigh.

    The player takes the role of Kaitlin in the first-person view, who can view objects in the game using the mouse and move using the keyboard. There are no set goals in the game; however, the game encourages and rewards the player when they explore new areas of the house and search for new messages. Much of the interactivity rests upon looking at objects within the house. The player finds objects which open other areas of the house that contain additional objects to be looked at.    … Expand
  7. Spidor
    Feb 24, 2016
    7
    It's not that it's not interesting, because it is. It's also well written, and it meshes, and it's cohesive. It just all feels a little underwhelming at time, like using an advanced surgical laser to write your name on a grain of rice. I guess I'm okay with the lo-fi drama of it all, and I like the build-up. I just wish there was a little more plot meat on these bones. Maybe I'm just tooIt's not that it's not interesting, because it is. It's also well written, and it meshes, and it's cohesive. It just all feels a little underwhelming at time, like using an advanced surgical laser to write your name on a grain of rice. I guess I'm okay with the lo-fi drama of it all, and I like the build-up. I just wish there was a little more plot meat on these bones. Maybe I'm just too much of a jaded "gamer" for this everyday mortal drama. Maybe this is what Gone Home has taught me more than anything.… Expand
  8. ZekeThompson
    Jan 19, 2016
    6
    I am a little confused by what I just played. I have heard great things over and over about this game and was very much looking forward to playing it but after two hours I was left wanting more way more than what I paid for. First off I have no problem with "Walking Sims" Journey and Everyone Has Gone To The Rapture were great and Gone Home is too. But what I took from the other games andI am a little confused by what I just played. I have heard great things over and over about this game and was very much looking forward to playing it but after two hours I was left wanting more way more than what I paid for. First off I have no problem with "Walking Sims" Journey and Everyone Has Gone To The Rapture were great and Gone Home is too. But what I took from the other games and not this one was a sense of closure. You are literally walking through a house and while the mystery of being alone is intensifying, finding out why is not. Yes the story in enough to see you through the end but I feel like the back story about the Uncle was way more interesting and wasn't fully developed. I just feel like there wasn't enough. Why not walk the backyard or a shed something else I mean for 19.99 its just not enough. Which is a shame because this could have been a perfect game.… Expand
  9. Saikron
    Feb 25, 2016
    6
    I always feel like I'm in crazy town when I read reviews or press on this game. It's not the best or worst thing ever. It's not a revolutionary example of storytelling in games. It's not part of some secret liberal agenda to make us all gay.

    It's a one hour long, thesis project quality walking simulator with an emotional story. It's not worth $10.
  10. HalenFox
    Mar 17, 2016
    7
    Gone Home: Console Edition is a solid narrative experience that enjoys fun playing mind games with the audience. It's a short exploration game that focuses on alternative storytelling and player interaction. You largely get back what you put into the experience. The more you explore and investigate, the more intriguing things you'll discover.

    It is my personal opinion that the game is    Gone Home: Console Edition is a solid narrative experience that enjoys fun playing mind games with the audience. It's a short exploration game that focuses on alternative storytelling and player interaction. You largely get back what you put into the experience. The more you explore and investigate, the more intriguing things you'll discover.

    It is my personal opinion that the game is largely critically acclaimed because of the subject matter the complete narrative deals with. However, it is still a very good game for the less agenda driven and gives players a feeling of how video games may evolve interactive storytelling in the future.

    In summation, this is a largely player dependent experience. If you rush through to the end of the short game, you'll miss many of the things that make the game particularly unique. Yet, if you take full advantage of the exploration, collection marathon, and readable items, you'll discover a reasonably good story wrapped in a unusual and refreshing interactive narrative experience. I recommend picking up for a cheap sale price and sharing with friends.    … Expand
  11. gusto43
    Mar 4, 2016
    5
    Critics, professional ones at least, need some form of detachment. This seems to be sorely lacking in the case of Gone Home. Purchasing the Mac version on Steam, for research as much as anything else, I could see what they had tried to do with the story, but the graphics are pretty crude and there is no attempt to introduce meaningful interaction. Yet, on a numerical basis this is ratedCritics, professional ones at least, need some form of detachment. This seems to be sorely lacking in the case of Gone Home. Purchasing the Mac version on Steam, for research as much as anything else, I could see what they had tried to do with the story, but the graphics are pretty crude and there is no attempt to introduce meaningful interaction. Yet, on a numerical basis this is rated the best PS4 game on Metacritic. yes, it's an interesting story, but it's 3 years old, more ambitious projects like Everybody's Gone to The Rapture have superceded it in terms of design and implementation. In my view its overpriced and not sufficiently updated. It obviously doesn't deserve 0 but it clearly doesnt deserve 10.… Expand
  12. keanex
    Apr 15, 2017
    7
    I wanted to love Gone Home, hell I actually really enjoyed it, but I can understand why people did not like it. I went in blind, not knowing if it was a horror game or not, so I felt tense throughout unsure whether something was going to jump out or not. I like how the story unfolds. I feel that pacing is done well, I also think that the game length is perfect for the kind of storyI wanted to love Gone Home, hell I actually really enjoyed it, but I can understand why people did not like it. I went in blind, not knowing if it was a horror game or not, so I felt tense throughout unsure whether something was going to jump out or not. I like how the story unfolds. I feel that pacing is done well, I also think that the game length is perfect for the kind of story presented. If you're looking for an easy-going game of finding "clues" then give it a try if you find it on sale.… Expand
  13. Nel
    Dec 21, 2016
    5
    It's short, but sweet. It takes you through an non engaging story, and you walk around to find clues. The game might take you up to 2-3hours if you go in without knowing where to go. Story is mediocre, but the game gives of an old school vibe
  14. Allan_M16
    May 18, 2017
    7
    Gone Home is probably not a game for everyone, but if you can appreciate clever writing and storytelling mixed with an unsettling atmosphere then you will be able to enjoy this game.

    Gone Home allows you to explore an empty house on a dark stormy night, each room and item reveals information and secrets about the individuals who reside there. The main story slowly unfolds as you go    Gone Home is probably not a game for everyone, but if you can appreciate clever writing and storytelling mixed with an unsettling atmosphere then you will be able to enjoy this game.

    Gone Home allows you to explore an empty house on a dark stormy night, each room and item reveals information and secrets about the individuals who reside there. The main story slowly unfolds as you go through the house, it is not a scary game but there is a dark and unsettling tone throughout the house that creates little moments of tension.

    Overall it is a very solid and entertaining game.    … Expand
  15. j76goatboy
    Jun 8, 2016
    6
    Gone Home's great atmosphere and voice acting are unfortunately coupled with a contrived way of telling its ok story and an ending that leaves to many questions unanswered. There were 4-5 long letters written in very cramped curseve that I just could not read, making sections of the story completely cut off.
  16. Jaga-9403
    Dec 18, 2016
    5
    Una trama muy interesante, una historia que me gusto mucho, relatos argumentales de una adoscelente y su mejor amiga, lo disfrute hasta cierto punto, mas sin embargo es un juego muy vacio, una mansion con muchas habitaciones, entradas, o cuartos secretos vacios, es un unico personaje, lluvia, rayos y nada mas.
    Graficamente no es asombroso, muy lineal en su trama.
    Este juego lo obtuve por    Una trama muy interesante, una historia que me gusto mucho, relatos argumentales de una adoscelente y su mejor amiga, lo disfrute hasta cierto punto, mas sin embargo es un juego muy vacio, una mansion con muchas habitaciones, entradas, o cuartos secretos vacios, es un unico personaje, lluvia, rayos y nada mas.
    Graficamente no es asombroso, muy lineal en su trama.
    Este juego lo obtuve por mi suscripcuion mensual, entorno a 3 horas juegos, tratando de buscar y buscar algun secreto.
    En mi opinion la trama es muy buena los arcos argumentales son buenos, pero muy probre de contenido,.    … Expand
  17. XxJoseManuelxX
    Aug 16, 2016
    5
    Gone Home is a first-person adventure exploration video game developed and published by Fullbrigh.

    The player takes the role of Kaitlin in the first-person view, who can view objects in the game using the mouse and move using the keyboard. There are no set goals in the game; however, the game encourages and rewards the player when they explore new areas of the house and search for new    Gone Home is a first-person adventure exploration video game developed and published by Fullbrigh.

    The player takes the role of Kaitlin in the first-person view, who can view objects in the game using the mouse and move using the keyboard. There are no set goals in the game; however, the game encourages and rewards the player when they explore new areas of the house and search for new messages. Much of the interactivity rests upon looking at objects within the house. The player finds objects which open other areas of the house that contain additional objects to be looked at.    … Expand
  18. moranche
    Nov 1, 2016
    5
    Es fácil perderse en este juego... Le di una oportunidad a ciegas y es muy fácil perderse... Después lo jugué con una guía y es mucho más sencillo atrapar el hilo de la historia. Un juego rápido para los cazadores de trofeos.
  19. OBSTINATIO
    Mar 3, 2017
    7
    Gone Home is an beautiful piece of art you should not miss if you are into so called "walking simulators" or openminded enough for games far from the mainstream gaming industry in general. Gone Home tells a very thoughtful but also heartwarming story which is definitely the main reason for playing this game.
  20. CiNEMALi_92
    Apr 30, 2017
    6
    The game is actually not bad. The story is touching and good. BUT. THE FIRST F*CKING PART of the game. Basically, it's false advertisement and really bad art direction choices. The game starts off as a true ghost story. Almost horror. Then, slowly but surely, the narration throw that in the garbage and tells you a touching story, but that has nothing to do with the initial setup. I'mThe game is actually not bad. The story is touching and good. BUT. THE FIRST F*CKING PART of the game. Basically, it's false advertisement and really bad art direction choices. The game starts off as a true ghost story. Almost horror. Then, slowly but surely, the narration throw that in the garbage and tells you a touching story, but that has nothing to do with the initial setup. I'm sorry, but there's no excuse here. The setup is an abandoned house, in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm. Everything is spooky and boom, it's romantic. Wrong decisions has been made. The game could've been much better if the design choices were all working towards creating an environment that feels part of the actual story… Expand
  21. drlowdon
    Jun 25, 2018
    6
    Gone Home: Console Edition (PS4) - 6
    Gone Home is a unique 'gaming' experience, albeit one that will not appeal to everyone seeing as the whole game simply has you walking around an empty house piecing together clues as to where your family are. At little more than an hour in length and no reason to replay it the price tag of £15 I've seen can't really be justified either, but if you can    Gone Home: Console Edition (PS4) - 6
    Gone Home is a unique 'gaming' experience, albeit one that will not appeal to everyone seeing as the whole game simply has you walking around an empty house piecing together clues as to where your family are. At little more than an hour in length and no reason to replay it the price tag of £15 I've seen can't really be justified either, but if you can find it cheap (or free on PS+ as I did) it’s worth giving it a run through.    … Expand
  22. Underpants158
    Aug 15, 2016
    7
    Walk around, be in a 90s home, listen to riot girl music, read letters, listen to journal entries, slowly learn about peoples lives and why they aren't home to greet you and that's all you do. I liked it.

    Most people giving this game a bad review seem inherently opposed to the concept. Do they not read up on a game before purchase? Come on.
  23. PaleNielsen
    Jul 24, 2016
    5
    LOL i got this for free so i won't complain but i felt bad for the people who bought this at launch for 20$. Story is so simple. gameplay is simple. I felt it was a demo really. they should just have made a horror game where Oscar is the ghost lol.
  24. DeusXCom
    Jul 11, 2016
    7
    Definitely a unique experience. This game messes with your expectations quite a bit, it's playing with your imagination and despite being what it is, it can be actually pretty atmospheric, even reaching the horror genre in places. Yes, it's extremely short and in terms of gameplay, you don't really do all that much besides walking and interacting with objects, but not every game needs toDefinitely a unique experience. This game messes with your expectations quite a bit, it's playing with your imagination and despite being what it is, it can be actually pretty atmospheric, even reaching the horror genre in places. Yes, it's extremely short and in terms of gameplay, you don't really do all that much besides walking and interacting with objects, but not every game needs to be 100h long rpg masterpiece, this is just something different and every once in a while it's nice to play something like this. 7/10… Expand
  25. SuperkenGaming
    Oct 4, 2017
    7
    Gone Home
    A Nostalgia Trip
    Gone Home is a 2 hr long walking Simulator where you play as Kaitlynn return home from Europe after studying abroad.. you come home to find a note from your little sister sam and an empty house you spend these 2 hours finding out where everyone went… the game is set in the mid 90s, it does a decent job at setting the house with nostalgic items like board    Gone Home
    A Nostalgia Trip
    Gone Home is a 2 hr long walking Simulator where you play as Kaitlynn return home from Europe after studying abroad.. you come home to find a note from your little sister sam and an empty house
    you spend these 2 hours finding out where everyone went…
    the game is set in the mid 90s, it does a decent job at setting the house with nostalgic items like board games, answering machines, vhs tapes, cassettes and game cartridges, though as a 90s kid myself.. none of this really hit me and brought me back…
    the house didn’t really feel 90s to me as everything sortve felt like decoration, the house didn’t really feel lived in to me…
    You can interactive with practically everything in the game, rotate items to inspect them, and the occasional note and letter will give more insight into what exactly happened, and who her parents were and what they did and their own problems theyre dealing with..
    Im not going to spoil the story, ill just say its really touching and heartbreaking at times..
    listening to the occasional voiced dialog while you explore this house is the best part of the game…
    however I feel this game is a tad bit overrated and I cant really go into why without spoiling the story…
    But once you play it I think the reason for this game getting such high scores will be fairly apparent..
    as the experience isn’t really that special… youre just looking through things, and stumbling on the occasional secret until you’ve found what you needed for the end game…
    I didn’t find game progression to be clever, I just felt my heartstring pulled on a little bit here and there…
    Gone Home is a good experience..
    but it isn’t this masterpiece you’ve been hearing about for years
    I give Gone Home
    a 7/10    … Expand
  26. The_Garays
    Jun 18, 2016
    7
    So far I've played a few games of this genre and I think Gone Home, despite its short duration, gives a good fight upon epic titles such as Beyond: Two Souls, Heavy Rain or Life is Strange. Logically I'm not saying it's up to those great titles, but still it gives a fight.

    I'll focus on the story, because in these kind of games you don't have to measure the graphics, it's not the    So far I've played a few games of this genre and I think Gone Home, despite its short duration, gives a good fight upon epic titles such as Beyond: Two Souls, Heavy Rain or Life is Strange. Logically I'm not saying it's up to those great titles, but still it gives a fight.

    I'll focus on the story, because in these kind of games you don't have to measure the graphics, it's not the purpose. Gradually we discover the thoughts of our sister through notes or diaries that we find around the house with a very good narration and great voice actresses (not going to spoiler anything). The house itself was really spooky and the atmosphere was remarkable, which gave me and my girlfriend in our first walkthrough a sense of tension as if something terrible had happened, and that is certainly what I thanked most.

    Developers have managed to capture the essence of these games allowing us to interact with almost everything we see in the house, although it has no direct impact on the story in the vast majority of cases.

    I played it with my girlfriend as I said before, her taking the controls at all times, enjoying together the exploration, making assumptions of what had happened and discovering the sad story of our little sister. (Little spoiler ahead, go to last paragraph if you want to skip it) The score that I would've given it is a 6 considering that the end seemed a bit anticlimactic, but my girlfriend would've scored it with an 8 considering that at that time (1995) was almost a taboo and not socially accepted, so for her the end seemed right. It is thus a 7.

    If you really like these kind of games, sort of "story-telling", I suggest you try it out, it is short (about 2 or 3 hours of gameplay if you wander around picking up stuff) and you will enjoy it.    … Expand
  27. charlie_bespin
    Jul 26, 2016
    6
    This is a game made for people who care about a story. You walk, you read and you get to know the characters' feelings. There's no action, but still the atmosphere is so worked that keeps you in tension during all the experience. Also, the game is full of nice details, and I personally loved the sister's character.

    But wait, would I pay 20 dollars for that? Definitely not. Nice PSN game, tho.
  28. tanonero
    Jun 4, 2023
    5
    Considering the widespread critical acclaim this game has received, I genuinely had higher expectations. While there are a few intriguing sections and the overall atmosphere is mostly immersive, I can't help but feel underwhelmed. The game initially hints at a promising and eerie horror-like characterisation, but the atmosphere gradually dissipates when the core theme reveals itself to beConsidering the widespread critical acclaim this game has received, I genuinely had higher expectations. While there are a few intriguing sections and the overall atmosphere is mostly immersive, I can't help but feel underwhelmed. The game initially hints at a promising and eerie horror-like characterisation, but the atmosphere gradually dissipates when the core theme reveals itself to be a rather ordinary coming-of-age romance.… Expand
  29. Pino12528
    Sep 4, 2020
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you take the time to carefully explore the environment, the game tells a hidden, dark story that goes beyond a good, main plot (though it is very easy to miss, and this takes away from how you think of the game after your first and likely only playthrough).

    However, there are several factors holding this game back. There is almost no replayability because it is not the type of game you would want to play again. Nothing is really done with the horror element the game teases the whole game. The game is overpriced because the game's content is too short. I was surprised at how early the game ended. The gameplay could have been improved apart from being a walking simulator.    … Expand
  30. HuevoAlce
    Jun 27, 2022
    6
    If you're into walking simulators, you'll probably enjoy this game. Otherwise, pick something else.

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Best PS4 Game of 2016
31
#31 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
35
#35 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Gameblog.fr
    Apr 21, 2016
    80
    Gone home is a beautiful story told with talent. The total immersion and storytelling brings a sense of renewal in the world of video games. Unfortunately, its lifespan is too short: two hours are enough to see the end. This console port is, by the way, excellent.
    Read full review
  2. GameSpew
    Apr 9, 2016
    60
    It’s a shame that Gone Home is a bit of a non-starter. It has a lot of potential; the game is genuinely captivating whilst you’re playing it – it’s just unfortunate that it leaves you so disappointed once you’ve reached its conclusion. The human story it tries to tell is relatable, but it’s a story that’s so ordinary it’s barely even worth telling. By all means, play Gone Home for the exploration; for the 90’s nostalgia and for its down-to-Earth quirks, but don’t go into it expecting anything mindblowing. Expect a grounded story about a typical family and you won’t be disappointed, but anything else will leave you feeling rather underwhelmed.
    Read full review
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Mar 31, 2016
    70
    Don’t look at its brevity with a frown: Gone Home is a hugely important game with something meaningful to say. [April 2016, p74]
See all critic reviews »