Before 2010, Japan was the center of horror games, with masterpieces like Silent Hill or Fatal Frame. In the last years, this rule started to shift, moving toward South-East Asia. Games such as Detention or Dreadout created a new flow of horror game, mostly innovative and surreal, but also specifically rooted in the folklore, the traditions, and the history of their countries (if you want to know other horror games inspired by Asian folklore, you can check my complete analysis: Horror games based on traditional Asian folklore). Thai folklore was still not truly explored, and very few games used it to create a horror environment. Home Sweet Home is here to fill this gap, bringing to life a creepy survival horror based on Thai myths and traditions.
The plot is twisted and surreal, played between nightmares and reality. The main character is a husband, suddenly awakening trapped in a creepy reality somehow connected to his house and his life. Something happened to his wife, and the only way to find her and to discover what happened is to explore this hostile reality, surviving to the nightmares lurking in these empty corridors. There is a dense feeling of dread and mystery, a red thread to follow between nightmare and reality, both literally and metaphorically. There are many collectables scattered around the game, in the form of diary pages, pictures, or newspapers. Collecting these items will reveal more details about the plot, the lore, and also the enemies.
The gameplay is simple and immediate, probably every player will quickly feel at home. There is first person exploration, puzzle solving, and a torchlight to cleave the darkness. Stealth is the only option to avoid the enemies: lockers and shadows will soon become your best friends in the task to survive. This is not a walking simulator and the chances of dying are really high, especially toward the second half of the game.
The atmosphere is truly unique, disturbing, and immersive. Wandering around empty corridors or messed up rooms will always create a feeling of dread, a constant sense that something horrible will happen… or already happened. The nightmarish reality is connected to the life of the protagonist, but in a weird and twisted way. There is something really “wrong” in how much the environment is ordinary, but being so much out of the ordinary. Silent corridors, small rooms in total disorder, there is nothing apparently wrong about this, but something will anyway feel wrong and unpleasant, a direct sign of a nightmarish reality. The attention for the details will give life to the obscure environment. In every room there are so many things to watch, so many ordinary objects scattered around like pieces of a puzzle. The disorder inside the rooms is a cryptic message of what maybe happened. Who was living there? Why there are scratched paintings around?
The Thai environment is reflected in every object and detail. It is really interesting how the aesthetic and the lore of the environment are rooted in Thai folklore, and how they bend in the personal history of the main character. As foreigner, I find truly fascinating to be so absorbed in a complex and different culture while playing a horror game. From scratched paintings to pictures on the walls, every object is rooted in Thailand culture, creating a novel and interesting environment. Small shrines, colorful ropes, dolls, traditional paintings, flyers, different objects related to a different culture will enrich the environment, satisfying the curiosity of the players who will dedicate time to analyze the settings. The quality of the graphical engine will also help in this task, creating a believable environment full of details.
Travelling through the nightmarish world is a disorienting experience, but in a positive way. The surreal corridors are like a living creature, which will change its anatomy to confuse the player. Sometimes after hiding in a locker, the player will get out in another reality, or an old door will now lead to a wall. Some areas will change directly under the influence of the player. For example, lighting off different candles will teleport the player in a different reality.
The puzzles are simple but well integrated, and they are always a nice break from the stealth gameplay and the obsessive atmosphere. The majority of them are based in finding a specific item or to decode a complex code to open a padlock or a safe. Often they are also interestingly rooted in the Thai folklore, with rituals to complete, for example on how to feed a hungry ghost.
The enemies are disturbing and creepy, with new foes at every new chapter. If the major enemy is a ghostly woman holding a knife, the following creatures will soon start to get more weird… and colossal! The change of enemy will be linked to an important change in the stealth dynamics. When spotted, some enemies will call for help, while others can be avoided by hiding. The giant enemies will instead kill the player instantly, if aware of his presence. Specific ghosts can be distracted by lighting incense in another room, to alter their patrol. The enemies are able to create a terrifying atmosphere, and the boss battle against them are always tough, different and well integrated. Hiding under a table praying that a giant monster will not decide to lift exactly that table is a unique and terrifying experience. The creatures are also rooted in Thai folklore and traditions, like for example the Preta, a ghoul cursed to be hungry forever.
Home Sweet Home can be a difficult game, especially after the second half. Dyeing will be quite common, but luckily the checkpoints are well structured and rarely it will be necessary to play again long sessions, generating a good balance between tension and frustration.
The sounds are effective, always able to amplify the scary atmosphere. For example, the lament of the ghoulish woman will get louder when she is closer. You will listen to her crying behind the walls or the doors, knowing that just a thin barrier is between you and your death. The sound of her knife will be a constant element of tension, especially while hiding after a chase. Every sound is integrated in the context and focused on creating a scary and believable environment.
Home Sweet Home is an interesting stealth-horror experience with a unique and oppressive atmosphere. The Thai folklore and the attention to the details create a unique environment that is a pleasure to explore, thanks also to a great use of the sound effects. If you are looking for a challenging and scary game, which will also explain you something about a different culture and where you are not simply shooting to meaningless zombies around, Home Sweet Home is a game that worth to try.
Version played: PS4
Surreal and Creepy 