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Closer To Home

Closer To Home Game Cover
98%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, atmosphere
98% User Score Based on 57 reviews

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PCMac OSWindows
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Closer To Home Game Cover

About

Closer To Home is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by isthisamug and was released on October 19, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Closer To Home" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you play as a young author returning to their hometown after a long absence. The game explores themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of small-town life as you reconnect with old friends and confront the ghosts of your past. As you navigate the town and its inhabitants, your choices will shape the outcome of your story, making for a unique and personalized experience.

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Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
Closer To Home screenshot
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews
story4 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and surreal narrative experience that effectively evokes a range of emotions, particularly loneliness and confusion.
  • The lo-fi pixel art style and innovative mechanics, such as using death as a tool for progression, create a compelling atmosphere that enhances the gameplay.
  • Exploration and interaction with bizarre characters and environments provide a rich, immersive experience that rewards patience and curiosity.
  • The intentionally convoluted navigation and lack of clear objectives can lead to frustration and aimlessness, making it difficult for some players to progress.
  • Technical issues, such as frame drops and a clunky interface, detract from the overall experience and can hinder immersion.
  • The game's abstract storytelling and disjointed nature may leave players feeling confused and unsatisfied, particularly if they prefer more traditional narratives.
  • story
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is a complex and disjointed narrative that encourages players to piece together its meaning through exploration, reflecting the surreal nature of dreams. While some find the lack of a clear quest log and tedious backtracking frustrating, others appreciate the immersive experience and the thought-provoking themes about reality and existence. Overall, the game's unique storytelling, combined with its artistic visuals and engaging puzzles, creates a captivating atmosphere that leaves players pondering long after their playthrough.

    • “Players who enjoy getting lost in a narrative and appreciate experimental horror that requires you to piece together the story yourself.”
    • “The story is inherently connected to how you navigate said spaces - getting lost in them, trapped in them, seduced by their morbidity.”
    • “Its gripping story will leave you wondering even after you've seen all it has to offer.”
    • “Some backtracking is tedious, and the lack of a quest log demands intense player focus.”
    • “But I don't understand the story at all; maybe that's intentional, I don't know.”
    • “The interface in itself is pretty unfriendly; just interacting with this game can be a point of confusion, let alone trying to make progress following quest lines that don't make sense.”
  • graphics
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics feature a distinctive lo-fi pixel art style that effectively employs visual distortion, reminiscent of a corrupted VHS tape, which enhances the sense of isolation and contributes to its psychological horror atmosphere. While the visuals are praised for their coherence and ability to evoke a chilling yet quirky tone, some players noted that clearer design could improve navigation. Overall, the unique art style and immersive visuals are highlighted as standout elements that complement the game's narrative and gameplay experience.

    • “The art style is coherent and perfect for a chilling, grotesque setting that also got many laughs out of me.”
    • “The original visuals alone make it worth it, but you'll get much more in the story and puzzles.”
    • “Visually, it utilizes a lo-fi, distorted pixel art style that feels like a corrupted VHS tape.”
    • “This aesthetic, combined with the lack of clear direction, creates a palpable sense of isolation.”
    • “I just think you could have cleaned up the areas a bit so it's a bit easier to see the points of interest.”
  • gameplay
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by innovative mechanics, particularly the use of death as a tool for progression rather than a fail state, which recontextualizes horror elements and encourages exploration. Players engage with unique puzzles and movement mechanics, including a notable "skate" mechanic and a method of transitioning between realities, creating an immersive and sometimes terrifying experience. While the game lacks traditional objectives and conflict, it offers a rich narrative and engaging gameplay that rewards players who appreciate unconventional design.

    • “The standout mechanic is the use of death; rather than a fail state, dying is often a necessary tool to transition between layers of the world or reset a scenario, recontextualizing the horror tropes it employs.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging, had me squealing like a girl many times, sometimes out of fun and sometimes out of terror.”
    • “Genuinely disturbing and scary at times with fun movement mechanics and interesting spaces.”
    • “Anyone who needs clear objectives, map markers, or traditional gameplay loops; if you dislike 'walking simulators' with vague goals, stay away.”
    • “The gameplay is stripped of traditional conflict, but it isn't just walking.”
    • “Death, particularly suicide, is a prominent and required mechanic to progress through the full game.”
  • music
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance the abstract and dreamlike atmosphere, contributing significantly to the overall experience. While the soundtrack is described as fantastic and fitting, some players feel that additional music could further enrich the ambiance. Overall, the game's unique art style and compelling story complement its standout musical elements.

    • “The maps, sketches, and notes in the game have a really cool style that fits the more abstract and dreamlike atmosphere the game is going for, plus the music is genuinely so good.”
    • “Really interesting little quirky psychological horror game with some great music and super interesting visuals.”
    • “I could not recommend this game enough; the story is amazing, the art style is unique and really cool, and the soundtrack is fantastic.”
    • “The overall tone of the game is all over the place; it has a certain ambiance to it, but sometimes I feel like it needed more music.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers a haunting exploration of grief that deeply resonates with players, rewarding those who engage with its complex narrative. Reviewers express a profound emotional connection, likening the experience to reading an intimate diary, and describe it as unforgettable despite its deliberately confusing nature. Overall, it evokes a sense of longing and mystery that lingers long after the experience.

    • “It is a haunting, deliberately confusing journey through grief that rewards patience with genuine emotional depth.”
    • “Made me feel like I was reading the diary of a person that I will never meet.”
    • “Throughout the whole experience, I felt like there was something greater I was missing, or a secret that I was always this close to finding; regardless, the way this game made me feel is unforgettable.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to excessive backtracking and the absence of a quest log, which requires heightened focus and can lead to frustration.

    • “Some backtracking is tedious, and the lack of a quest log demands intense player focus.”
    • “The grinding feels endless, making progress feel more like a chore than an achievement.”
    • “Repetitive tasks with little reward make the grinding experience frustrating and unfulfilling.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is a unique blend of creepy and hilariously funny elements, ensuring that even the comedic moments feel distinct and unconventional.

    • “The topics this game brings are creepy sometimes, but they are also hilariously funny, and even then, they never feel ordinary.”
    • “The humor in this game is brilliantly absurd, making even the darkest moments light-hearted and entertaining.”
    • “I love how the game balances humor with serious themes, creating a unique experience that keeps me laughing.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique blend of abstract and dreamlike elements, enhanced by stylish maps, sketches, and an excellent soundtrack. It evokes a sense of melancholy and suppressed darkness, balancing lighthearted moments with disturbing undertones, reminiscent of titles like Yume Nikki and The Purgo Box, ultimately leading to a descent into madness.

    • “The game gives me off-brand Yume Nikki vibes, although the themes I am getting from the atmosphere are very different, somewhere between melancholy and suppressed darkness -- the narrative having both lighthearted moments and very disturbing undertones, similar to a game such as The Purgo Box, eventually degrading into complete madness.”
    • “The game gives me off-brand Yume Nikki vibes, although the themes I am getting from the atmosphere are very different, somewhere between melancholy and suppressed darkness. The narrative has both lighthearted moments and very disturbing undertones, similar to a game such as The Purgo Box, eventually degrading into complete madness.”
    • “The maps, sketches, and notes in the game have a really cool style that fits the more abstract and dreamlike atmosphere the game is going for, plus the music is genuinely so good.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is characterized by a mix of intentional design choices and occasional bugs, which some players find intriguing. While the rough edges may deter those seeking a polished experience, fans of obscure exploration games may appreciate the unique atmosphere created by these glitches.

    • “The mix is quite interesting, and for those who like it obscure and don't mind rough edges and a few bugs, it gets a curious recommendation!”
    • “To be fair, this type of game deconstruction is an intentional element in these exploration games. You are meant to be lost and go around hugging walls; sometimes it's not very clear if the glitches are accidental or just part of the scenery.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is highlighted by unique and engaging character designs, particularly noting the appeal of characters like Ribbit. The game features a variety of strange enemies and collectibles that enhance the overall experience, contributing to a fun and interactive environment.

    • “Very cool character design (I love Ribbit).”
    • “Very strange and unique enemies and character design with a lot of fun collectibles and interactables.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Closer To Home is a action game with horror theme.

Closer To Home is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

Closer To Home was released on October 19, 2022.

Closer To Home was developed by isthisamug.

Closer To Home has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Closer To Home is a single player game.

Similar games include Dreaming Sarah, Strangeland, Who's Lila?, The Night is Grey, Hypnagogia 催眠術 and others.