Gone Home
A story told through exploration
Gone Home pioneered the environmental storytelling genre, letting players piece together a family's story by exploring an empty house.
Overview
Gone Home (2013) is an exploration game developed by The Fullbright Company. Players return to their family home in 1995 to find it empty, discovering the story of their younger sister through letters, journals, and environmental details.
Design Innovation
Gone Home popularised what critics would call the “walking simulator” genre:
- Environmental storytelling: No cutscenes; story told through objects
- Non-linear discovery: Players choose what to examine
- Intimate scale: One house, one story
- Period detail: 1990s setting recreated with cassette tapes, zines, VHS
Critical Reception
The game received praise for its narrative craft and intimate storytelling, though some questioned whether it qualified as a “game.” Its success opened doors for similar narrative-focused exploration games.