Frightence (Xbox One, 2022)

Frightence

Developed/Published by Playstige Interactive

Released for Xbox One (3/8/2022)

Also on PC/PS4/PS5/Switch

Enhanced for Xbox Series

 

Intro

I've always enjoyed a good horror movie or game, but over several decades of indulging in the genre I've found that you often have to encounter several poor products in order to find some of the overlooked gems. Frightence comes to us from Playstige Interactive, a developer that we've never played anything from yet. They're a mysterious group that have mostly released games for the Playstation and Switch platforms, but in 2022 they expanded their horizons and started releasing games on the Xbox, with Frightence being their 1st game on the platform. The game promises a short but intense first-person experience, so let's dig in and see if it can live up to its self-proclaimed intensity.

 

Story/Concept

In Frightence, you play as a janitor that is who works at an infamously nasty apartment. This is your last night working here as the building has been given an eviction notice. Your task is to search every resident's flat in order to make sure the building is empty. This is actually a good premise for a horror game and had me hoping for something along the lines of Condemned, but unfortunately this game can't even touch that classic but it was also produced by a small team with a fraction of the budget so we'll try to cut it some slack (and to be fair few games match up to Condemned's superb atmosphere). So Frightence has a solid premise, let's check out the rest of the package to see how it pulls it off...

Tacoma (Xbox One, 2017)

Tacoma
Developed/Published by The Fullbright Company
Released for Xbox One (8/2/2017)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4

Tacoma is a sci-fi walking simulator that was initially released in August 2017 for PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox One platforms and in May 2018 received a port to the PlayStation 4. Developed and published by the Fullbright Company, the same studio that brought us Gone Home,  Tacoma is similar to that title in gameplay but provides an entirely different environment to explore. We've looked at quite a few of these walking sims on the site, so let's see how Tacoma fares in this popular genre...

Tacoma has you exploring the high-tech space station named Tacoma in the somewhat distant future of 2088. You take control of a subcontractor named Amy Ferrier who has been sent to this space station to find out what happened to the crew members and retrieve the computer AI. As you explore the abandoned station, you'll learn about the crew that was on board via 3D recordings and hacking their devices to read their personal messages.

The story is revealed primarily through text, but the voice acting that's here is all very well delivered. The 3D recordings are presented via AR reconstruction, allowing you to rewind, pause and fast-forward (similar to the Batman Arkham games). The gameplay feels a bit like Gone Home in space, with the story being revealed to the player in a similar fashion, though it's hard to deny that Tacoma contains a much more interesting setting to explore. The overall narrative of the game feels much less personal than Gone Home, but like that title it explores the human reaction to adversity in several ways, particularly when faced with death..

The space station feels appropriately futuristic, containing lots of little details that make it feel as if it was inhabited and a healthy amount of objects within the environment you can interact with. Tacoma is a nice-looking game and the options allow you to switch over to 4K visuals at the expense of a lower framerate. Without the 4K enabled the game runs quite smooth, with only small stutters here and there which I assume is when the game loads new areas up. If you're into walking simulators I'd easily say this one's worth a look, especially if you dig the sci-fi setting. While the story might not be as impactful as Gone Home, Tacoma features an interesting environment to explore and finding out about the death of the space station's crew is a trip worth taking. Tacoma is a bit on the short side and will only last anywhere from 2-5 hours, so I'd recommend picking it up on sale or checking it out via Game Pass if it's still on there (it was as of April 2020).

Final Verdict: Tacoma is a sci-fi walking sim that has you exploring a space station in the future, attempting to find out how the crew died and retrieve the ship's computer AI. While a bit on the short side, this one's worth a play if you like these walking sims.

Purchase Links:
Buy Tacoma - Microsoft Store

Related Links:
Walking Simulators - Xbox Overview 
Gone Home - Xbox Overview
Fullbright - Official Site
Tacoma - Metacritic
Tacoma - GameFAQs
Tacoma - True Achievements
Tacoma Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements

Rememoried (Xbox One, 2017)

Rememoried
Developed by Vladimir Kudelka
Published by Hangonit Studio
Released for Xbox One (12/6/2017)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4

Rememoried is about as psychedelic as they come, with gameplay being a combination of a walking sim and abstract puzzle. The concept is that you are roaming within a virtual place where memories change to dreams and forgetting becomes a mechanism you'll have to use to solve the puzzles. The forgetting mechanic occurs by looking away and when turning back around things will be a bit different. Taking place from a first-person perspective, you'll use this technique to solve many of the game's platform-like puzzles.

There are 20 chapters in Rememoried, and if a guide is used while playing the game can easily be completed in under an hour. Even without a guide, the game will not likely last beyond 2 hours, but the short length is not necessarily a reason to dismiss this one. If you want a simulation of some kind of crazy psychedelic trip, this game is going to be of interest to you. While the visuals are mostly in black and white, the developer has done a fantastic job creating surreal landscapes and some of the levels are a real sight to behold. One standout level has you standing within a kaleidoscope, using the analog sticks to move about and rotate the image. I can't say I recall ever having experienced something like that in a game before.

The puzzles in Rememoried have a decent variety to them, with some definitely more challenging than others but overall they are rather easy to figure out and they heavily utilize the "forget" mechaninc. The controls use only the sticks for navigation and RB for jumping which all work well enough. The music isn't overbearing, but does a good job supplementing the surreal visuals you'll see. There's some narration that goes on as you play, but to be honest I was so wrapped up in the visuals I hardly even noticed the dialogue let alone paid attention to it. Those looking for some easy gamerscore and achievements will find something to like in Rememoried, as this is yet another one of those super-quick and easy completions. Rememoried is worth a look if you're into the psychedelic, but due to the incredibly short length I'd reccommend waiting for a sale before picking it up. The game has a tendency to induce motion sickness in those prone to it, so if that's you I'd advise staying away from this one.

Final Verdict: If you're looking for one of the most trippy and psychedelic games on the Xbox One, Rememoried definitely ranks high on that list. A surreal walking sim with puzzles that can be completed in only an hour or two, so wait for a sale first before picking it up.

Related Links:
Buy Rememoried - Microsoft Store
Vladimir Kudelka Interview - Keen Gamer
Rememoried - Metacritic
Rememoried - GameFAQs
Rememoried - True Achievements
Rememoried Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements

Fractured Minds (Xbox One, 2019)

Fractured Minds
Developed by Emily Mitchell
Published by Wired Productions
Released for Xbox One (11/14/2019)
Also on Mac/PC/PS4/Switch

Official description from Microsoft Store:

Fractured Minds is an immersive artistic short game, exploring anxiety and mental health issues.

Winner of the BAFTA Young Game Designers Award, Fractured Minds is a game created by Emily Mitchell, then 17-years-old, with the hope of aiding understanding and awareness of mental illness.

Embark on a  journey through the human psyche and experience six atmospheric and thought-provoking chapters, each symbolising a different aspect or challenge associated with mental health issues; from isolation to anxiety, with everyday situations being distorted beyond recognition.

Raw, emotive and earnest, Fractured Minds demonstrates that video games are capable of communicating vital messages in imaginative ways. It is a game that seeks to encourage empathy and champion support for the millions living with mental health issues.

Wired Productions is proud to support Safe In Our World, a gaming industry charity striving for mental health awareness. 80% of the proceeds will help fund Emily's career as well as future initiatives from Safe In Our World.

Xbox Overview Review:

Fractured Minds is a short game; one that you'll likely finish in under an hour. The $1.99 price point should be taken into account but to be honest I didn't mind the short length. The game's 6 chapters each provide a decent amount of variety and while the graphics are simple, they look nice enough. Each stage has a sort of puzzle you'll need to figure out in order to progress, but the solution is never too difficult after a little exploration. No two puzzles are alike; one stage will have you in a bedroom searching through drawers filled with keys trying to find the single right key, while another will take you out to the city streets where you trying to match symbols on the backs of strangers. Each puzzle serves as a way to open the door to the next area, showing how difficult something as simple as opening a door can be to one with anxiety.

One has to admire the fact that this is an award-winning indie title from a 17-year-old. Emily Mitchell, the game's creator, suffers from severe anxiety and wanted to express this affliction in video game form. While she created it under the influence of anxiety, the scenarios are general enough that those suffering from other illnesses will be able to relate as well. Fractured Minds is short, but conveys a powerful message and is well worth a look, especially for the super-cheap asking price. The game also contains a ridiculously easy achievement set that can be unlocked in under an hour, so achievement hunters will find something to like here as well.

Final Verdict: Fractured Minds is a short walking sim that tries to demonstrate what it's like living with anxiety and other mental illnesses. A very reasonable price point and a profound message make this one easy to recommend, and as a plus there's easy gamerscore too.

Related Links:
Buy Fractured Minds - Microsoft Store
Walking Simulators - Xbox Overview
Interview with Emily Mitchell - IGN
Safe in Our World - Official Site
Wired Productions - Official Site
Fractured Minds - Metacritic
Fractured Minds - GameFAQs
Fractured Minds - True Achievements

Elea (Xbox One, 2018)

Elea
Developed by Kyodai
Published by SODESCO
Released for Xbox One (9/6/2018)
Also on PC/PS4/Switch

Elea is a walking simulator with a sci-fi theme which was first released on PC in April 2018. In September that same year the game would release for the Xbox One, followed by a PlayStation 4 release in July 2019 and a Switch release in February 2020. The Switch version was released as Elea: Paradigm Shift, but from what I can tell is the same game with a new title.

Elea takes place in the future, where a pandemic has hit Earth and made it uninhabitable. A new planet with features similar to Earth has been located and an expedition has been launched via the ship named Pilgrimage. The Pilgrimage arrived on the foreign planet but shortly after landing all contact with the ship was lost. You take the role of space scientist River Elea Catherine Jones, one decade after contact with the Pilgrimage was lost. Your husband, Ethan, was among the crew on the Pilgrimage, and it's up to you to piece together the events of what happened.

Most of your time with Elea will be spent on the research ship named Recovery, though there are some virtual reality segments that will take you to other locations. At the start of the game you'll start off in some sort of virtual machine that messes with your memories, which will be seen several times throughout the game. You'll navigate the game from a first-person perspective and gameplay involves walking, interacting with objects and listening to the dialogue as you discover more about your missing husband. There are documents and PDA devices you can pick up along the way to read up on the lore if you so wish.

Elea is a good looking game in the visuals department, with some stand-out scenes that look great. The environments are detailed and some of the virtual reality segments are very psychedelic. There's lots of flashing lights and colors, so those prone to epilepsy from such things may want to avoid this one. While the graphics look nice, the voice acting leaves a bit to be desired. The low-budget aspect of the game shines through here, and while the voice actors read the lines competently they just didn't really seem all that into it.

Like any game in the walking simulator genre, Elea is not going to appeal to everybody. Those who like the laid-back style of these games may find something to enjoy, as well as those who just enjoy sci-fi in general. It's likely only going to last 3-5 hours, so if you decide to take the plunge you may want to hold out for a sale (I got it for under $2). It's not a bad game by any means, but certainly not really good either, just a bit above average. Those looking for some easy gamerscore will appreciate the fact that all achievements can be unlocked in such a short period of time, though beware that the achievement for getting out of the labyrinth in 15 seconds is very iffy and will likely require many, many attempts before you finally get it to unlock. Other than that one problematic achievement, unlocking everything else is incredibly easy.

Elea was billed as being the first episode in a series, but seeing as the 1st episode came out well over a year ago at the time of this writing and the 2nd episode still hasn't been announced, I wouldn't be surprised if it never sees the light of day. Elea was ported to the Switch in 2020 however, so perhaps if that version sells enough copies we'll see the next entry in the series.

Final Verdict: Elea is a provides some nice visuals and decent gameplay for those who enjoy sci-fi, walking sims or easy achievements.

Related Links:
Buy Elea - Microsoft Store
Project Elea - Official Site
SODESCO - Official Site
Elea - Metacritic
Elea - GameFAQs
Elea - True Achievements
Elea - Xbox Achievements

Blackwood Crossing (Xbox One, 2017)

Blackwood Crossing
Developed by PaperSeven
Published by Vision Games
Released for Xbox One (4/5/2017)
Also on PC/PS4

Blackwood Crossing is the first release on the Xbox One from Brighton, UK-based developer PaperSeven. The game is a walking-simulator with gameplay that consists of exploring, walking and interacting with various objects and items. Like most games of this type, the gameplay borrows a bit from old PC point & click adventure titles but with much simpler puzzles to avoid the player getting stuck. Let's take a look at how this one fares in this genre that is quite well represented on the Xbox One.

In Blackwood Crossing you'll take control of a young girl named Scarlett and the plot will explore her relationship with her little brother Finn. You'll start out aboard a moving train, chasing around your mischievous brother and engaging in a game of Simon Says. You'll have the impression you're in the real world for a minute or two, but it won't be long until you find out not all is what it seems. You'll spend the next hour or so exploring, while learning about your relationship with your brother along the way. The relationship between Finn and Scarlett is handled well and you'll never doubt that these two were siblings. There are supporting characters that are represented as static people wearing masks and only have a few lines of dialogue, so they are nowhere near as memorable as the primary two characters.

Games in the "walking simulator" genre tend to be on the short side and Blackwood Crossing is no exception. Being that the story is a big part of the attraction here, I'll spare you any spoilers but I will say the game will likely get you to feel something for the two central characters by the time it's over, which is impressive considering how short the whole experience is. The game will only take you about an hour or so to complete. The story is a bit confusing at times but by the time the game wrapped up I felt fulfilled enough. 

Gameplay in Blackwood Crossing consists mostly of simply walking around and interacting with stuff, but there are a few light puzzles to solve. Certain segments have masked people frozen in place, tasking you to piece together conversations by selecting the people in the correct order. Later on the game, Scarlett will be able to manipulate objects using magic. None of these are difficult, so you likely won't get stuck anywhere along the way.

The controls are simple, utilizing the sticks to move and control the camera like your standard first-person game. Inventory is easy to use, with the Y button used to pull up or put items away and the shoulder buttons used to cycle through. Lining up to objects can be a bit tedious at times, with the game sometimes requiring you to be at a particular spot to get the option to interact with stuff. There was one point in the game when I could only speak to Finn when standing on his right side at a certain spot. It's not a game-breaker since the game never requires to do anything quickly, but it is a bit annoying at times.

The sound design is solid overall, with appropriate sounds where needed and well-delivered voice samples. My only minor gripe is that they seemed to forget to insert a sound effect while climbing a ladder, but other than that there's not much to complain about. The music comes in at appropriate times and coveys the mood while staying in the background. Graphically, the game looks nice with characters rendered in a cartoon-like fashion and the environments you'll explored are detailed.

Blackwood Crossing is a good effort from PaperSeven, but there are a few things worth griping about. Scarlett's movement is quite slow and there is no way to sprint or dash, which comes across as an effort to pad the game out at some points. As already mentioned, interacting with objects is a bit annoying and the story is a bit confusing at times. Blackwood Crossing, while on the short side, delivers some solid visuals and a nice story about a brother and sister. If you like these walking simulator types of games or just want some easy gamerscore, this one's worth a shot. Due to the short length of the game I'd recommend waiting for it to go on sale first (the initial price is a bit high) or check it out if it ever pops up on Game Pass.

Final Verdict: Blackwood Crossing is a short walking-sim game with some issues, but the characters, graphics and story make it an experience worth having if you're a fan of the genre.

Related Links:
Buy Blackwood Crossing - Microsoft Store
PaperSeven - Official Site
Vision Games - Official Site
Blackwood Crossing - GameFAQs
Blackwood Crossing - True Achievements
Blackwood Crossing Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements

The Town of Light (Xbox One, 2017)

The Town of Light
Developed by LKA
Published by Wired Productions
Released for Xbox One (6/6/2017)
Also on PC/PS4

Originally released for PC in February 2016, the Town of Light was ported to both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One in June 2017. Powered by the Unity Engine, the game has players navigating an abandoned mental hospital in Tuscany, Italy. The developers state that it's based on extensive research and inspired by real events.

In the Town of Light, the player assumes the role of a 16-year-old girl named Renée,  who was a former patient at the hospital back in the 1940's. As Renée you'll explore the now abandoned hospital, searching for answers from the past and recollecting several memories of where she spent her youth. Sometimes these pop up as images, but mostly it is described in narrative. The hospital is a large facility, so there's a lot of ground to explore making it easy to get confused as to where or what you're supposed to do next. Luckily, guides are easy to find out there but it shows that the Town of Light is a bit more open-ended than your average walking simulator. There are a couple points in the story where your decisions will branch the story off a different path, helping to add a little replay value for those who want to play again.

Graphically, the Town of Light presents a detailed environment for you to explore with a decent amount of interactivity, but there are some issues here for sure. There's a filter over the screen at all times during the game that makes it look as if you're looking through some lenses that could use some cleaning. This definitely made me double-take on several occasions to make sure my TV wasn't dirty. It really stands out in the bright outdoor segments and is something I would've liked an option to turn off. There's also quite a bit of graphic pop-in that occurs, particularly noticeable when walking around in the large outdoor areas. The framerate struggles to maintain in quite a few areas, even while playing on an Xbox One X. The game definitely doesn't keep any kind of consistent frame-rate, but with this being a simple walking simulator it's not game-breaking, just a bit annoying. These issues aside, the environment looks good with lots of detail.

While the Town of Light is not your traditional horror game, some of the events that Renée experienced while locked up in the hospital are indeed quite horrific. In particular, the methods used to lobotomize patients back in the '40's were quite disturbing, involving shoving a tool up into the brain through the patient's eye. There are also some sexual themes as our character recalls her lesbian relationship with one of her fellow patients throughout the story. It's nothing too explicit, but I know how people are sensitive to this kind of thing so just a heads up. Sexual themes in general have always had a strange reception in America, but that's a different rabbit-hole to jump into another time. If you want a darker walking-simulator game, particularly one that deals with psychology in the old days, give the Town of Light a go. I'd recommend waiting for a sale due to the short length of the game, but it's worth a shot.

Final Verdict: Those into psychology, especially the history of it, will definitely find something to like with the Town of Light. It's dark and emotional, as a game about one afflicted with a mental illness should be.

Purchase Links:
Buy the Town of Light - Microsoft Store

Related Links:
The Town of Light - Official Site
LKA - Official Site
Wired Productions - Official Site
The Town of Light - GameFAQs
The Town of Light - Wikipedia
The Town of Light - True Achievements

Beyond Eyes (Xbox One, 2015)

Beyond Eyes
Developed by Tiger & Squid
Published by Team 17
Released for Xbox One (8/4/2015)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4

> Beyond Eyes was developed by Netherland-based Tiger & Squid, the company's first and (at the time of this writing) only release. Beyond Eyes hit the Xbox One first, releasing on August 4, 2015. Shortly after, on August 11, the game would release for PC, Mac and Linux. The game's final port (as of August 2019 at least) would be for the PlayStation 4 on September 8, 2015.

Beyond Eyes places the player in the shoes of a 10-year-old girl named Rae. It's revealed in the opening cutscene that Rae lost her vision as a toddler in an accident involving fireworks. As a result of the accident, Rae became a bit reclusive and sensitive to loud noises. Rae did manage to acquire a best friend in the form of a fat cat named Nani. Nani has unfortunately turned up missing and now Rae has to brave the unknown to venture out and search for her. In Beyond Eyes you'll guide Rae out into the mysterious world in an attempt to find Nani.

Beyond Eyes is a walking simulator, meaning that the core gameplay consists of walking around and occasionally interacting with an object. Beyond Eyes sets itself apart from similar games with its unique blind premise, where the environment reveals itself as you approach and also through sounds. While Rae might hear an object and interpret what it is in her imagination, a closer inspection might reveal it to be something completely different. These moments are a nice touch though they serve more as collectibles rather than having much impact on the actual story. The sound design is well-implemented, mostly filled with ambience that helps set the tone of the current location. Graphically, Beyond Eyes is a pretty game, with the default backdrop being bright-white while the environment fills itself in around you as you navigate through it. The colors are bright and vibrant and there's a nice watercolor look that works quite well in portraying how Rae might imagine her surroundings.

The first thing most players will likely notice in regards to the controls is that Rae moves slow. She has only one speed of walking and impatient players will likely put the game down quickly due to this. With Rae being blind it makes sense why she'd want to slowly navigate her environment and areas tend to be small enough that the slow movement speed isn't as big of a deal as you might initially think. While navigating the environments, Rae will occasionally encounter something blocking her way. These sequences act as sort of puzzles, where you'll have to search around to find an object that will help you get by. These help add a little diversity to the gameplay, rather than just having you strictly walk around. Don't be mistaken though, a large majority of the gameplay is slowly walking around.

This will be spoiler-free review, especially since the game is a rather brief experience. but I would like to note that there is a nice tale involving a vulnerable young girl confronting her fears in search of a lost friendship. While there's not really a whole lot of dialogue to hear or read, Beyond Eyes does a good job conveying how Rae feels by her animations. Let's just say that by the end of the game I was a bit involved emotionally, which is an accomplishment considering how short the game is.

As you progress through the game's 6 chapters, you'll walk through several areas in search of your dear friend Nani. Beyond Eyes is a short game and the 6 chapters can be completed in 2-3 hours, depending on how thoroughly you explore and whether or not you get lost along the way. The story is easy to relate to if you've ever had pets (especially cats), the visuals are pretty and the game really makes you contemplate what it would be like without your vision sense. It's definitely not for everybody and due to the short length it's hard to recommend Beyond Eyes at it's suggested $14.99 price, but if you catch it on sale I'd say it's worth a look if you enjoy a good walking simulator.

Final Verdict: Beyond Eyes is a walking simulator where you assume the role a young blind girl as she searches for her cat in a world unknown to her. While on the short side, the pretty visuals and original premise make this one worth checking out if you like walking simulators.

Related Links:
Buy Beyond Eyes - Microsoft Store
Walking Simulators - Xbox Overview
Beyond Eyes Launch Trailer - YouTube
Tiger and Squid - Official Website
Team 17 - Official Website
Beyond Eyes - GameFAQs
Beyond Eyes Achievement Guide - Xbox Achievements
Beyond Eyes - True Achievements

Gone Home: Console Edition (Xbox One, 2016)

Gone Home: Console Edition
Developed by The Fullbright Company
Published by Midnight City
Released for Xbox One (1/2016)
Also on Linux/Mac/PC/PS4

Gone Home, originally released for PC in 2013, was a pioneer in the genre we know today as the "walking simulator." Gameplay basically consists of walking around, interacting with stuff (like doors, drawers and cabinets) and listening to the story unfold through narration.  While the environment is quite detailed, gameplay compared to most other games is a bit limited and I can imagine this will turn off a large majority of players out there. Just looking at a sampling of the user reviews on the Microsoft Store (link below) I saw nothing but one-star reviews and a bunch of disappointed players. I came into Gone Home with zero expectations and downloaded the game for free as one of the Games with Gold offerings at some point, and I'll tell you now I didn't really think it was all that bad...but at the same time it wasn't really great either.

Presentation-wise, Gone Home: Console Edition is basic and to-the-point, and the game is easy for anyone to get right into and start exploring. There are a couple of options such as adjusting your brightness, field of view or inverting your directions. Before starting a game, you have the option to enable modifiers. There are several different modifiers, some of which allow you to start with all lights on, all doors unlocked or even listen to developer commentary. They're definitely a nice addition and help to add a little replay value for anybody who wants to play through the game again. The house you'll explore isn't quite a mansion, but it's definitely a bit more spacious than anything most of us regular folks will ever inhabit. The house has two floors, a basement and an attic for you to rummage around in. The attention to detail throughout the house is impressive, and you have the ability to pick up and examine many of the objects scattered about. Examining most of the items will do nothing to progress the story, but it does help add to the immersion. You're also able to turn on light switches and lamps you'll find throughout the house. 

As you explore the house you'll find several notes from a journal, several of which when read will activate a voice memory, where your character will narrate the story of two young ladies falling in love. You'll find maps which reveal some secret spots and a few areas can't be accessed until you've found the proper key to unlock the doors. Some of the journals, of which there are twenty-three, are a bit hidden but can be found if you search diligently. One of the journals is a secret but again, if you search around thoroughly you might figure it out (or just look it up on the webs). Playing this game as an old male did feel a bit creepy at times snooping through a young girl's drawers and searching through their private belongings, like you're some kind of peeping tom or something.

Gone Home is a rather brief experience. Even without using a guide, most players will complete the game within an hour on a first playthrough. There's even an achievement for beating the game in under one minute, so obviously once you know where you're going the game can be completed in a hurry. Gone Home is cool for what it is and narrates a story to the player effectively, though the experience is a bit forgettable mostly just due to the game's incredibly short length. The game tells a competent story of a young woman discovering her sexuality (it's very tame so if you're expecting any naughty details you'll be let down), though I imagine the same-sex relationship and the fact it's from a girl's perspective will be enough to deter a large majority of the male player base. The voice acting is excellent and the content well delivered, however as stated before the short length and super-simple gameplay prevent the title from making much of an impact. You'll be finished with the game and moving on to the next so quick you'll barely remember it even happened! If the story content, simplistic nature and super-short length of the game doesn't bother you then you may want to give Gone Home a shot, at the very least it's a super-easy & quick 1000 gamerscore.

Gone Home was also slated to release for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and the Wii U, but these versions were all cancelled before they saw the light of day, presumably due to underwhelming sales of the PS4 & Xbox One releases.

Final Verdict: Gone Home is the original "walking simulator" game where you walk around and explore a decent sized house while uncovering a love story. The game is simple and very brief, but does a good job executing what it sets out to do.

Related Links:
The Fullbright Company Developer Website
Buy Gone Home: Console Edition - Microsoft Store
Gone Home: Console Edition - GameFAQs
Gone Home: Console Edition Achievement Guide - XboxAchievements
Gone Home: Console Edition - True Achievements