Fears to Fathom: Home Alone

About

Fears to Fathom: Home Alone is a single player survival survival game with a horror theme. It was developed by Rayll and was released on July 2, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

In "Fears to Fathom: Home Alone," players step into the shoes of Miles, a 14-year-old home alone as his parents are away for work. The psychological horror game presents a chilling short story, with the first episode available for free. The episode uses atmospheric environment, photo-realistic graphics, and a VHS film aesthetic to immerse players in Miles' nerve-wracking ordeal.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,213 reviews

story124 positive mentions

stability72 negative mentions

The game effectively builds tension and creates a genuinely creepy atmosphere.
It's a short but engaging experience, perfect for fans of psychological horror.
The retro VHS-style graphics and sound design enhance the overall horror experience.

The game is very short, taking only about 20 minutes to complete.
There are bugs and glitches, particularly with movement and interactions, which can disrupt gameplay.
The game closes completely upon death, requiring players to restart from the beginning.

story
434 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The game's story is a short, immersive horror experience inspired by true events, effectively utilizing a retro aesthetic and atmospheric tension to enhance its chilling narrative. While some players appreciate the simplicity and relatability of the plot, others find it lacking in depth and coherence, with a few noting bugs that hinder progression. Overall, the storytelling is engaging, though many express a desire for longer, more developed narratives in future episodes.
- “The story is interesting, the VHS-style graphics and the noise effects really keep the horror atmosphere alive, and the jump scares are well done.”
- “The retro-style visuals and VHS effects perfectly complement the slow-burn tension, and the storytelling through in-game messages and subtle clues makes it feel like you're living through an actual found-footage moment.”
- “What makes this game even scarier for me is that it's based on a real story sent in to the developer, so throughout the whole thing I thought 'this actually happened to someone.'”
- “The storyline is vague with the overall content of the game being paper thin and clunky; it made no sense at times.”
- “The story is predictable and uninspired, with little suspense beyond sudden loud noises.”
- “The game teaches you that the story won't progress unless specific actions are taken and then completely backtracks on this point in the last 5 minutes because you are expected to know that this is the one and only time in which you can hide and progress with the game.”
atmosphere
271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its ability to create a tense and immersive experience, often described as creepy and unsettling. Players appreciate the effective use of VHS-style graphics, sound design, and subtle storytelling that enhance the overall sense of dread, making even mundane tasks feel fraught with tension. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and reliance on jump scares, the game's atmospheric qualities are consistently highlighted as its strongest feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of horror.
- “The vhs-style graphics and eerie atmosphere make even simple tasks feel tense, and the story builds up perfectly to a scary finale.”
- “Fears to fathom: home alone is a tense, atmospheric indie horror game that masterfully builds suspense without relying on jump scares.”
- “The atmosphere does a solid job at building tension and unease.”
- “It fell flat in both atmosphere and execution.”
- “Rather than building tension and suspense through clever use of atmosphere and sound design, the game relies heavily on cheap jump scares and predictable tropes.”
graphics
271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic VHS aesthetic that effectively enhances the horror atmosphere, drawing comparisons to retro titles from the PS1 era. While many players appreciate the unique charm and simplicity of the visuals, some criticize them for being outdated or poorly optimized, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, making it a standout in the indie horror genre.
- “The vhs-style graphics and eerie atmosphere make even simple tasks feel tense, and the story builds up perfectly to a scary finale.”
- “The graphics are made to look like an old camera video tape which is really creative and brings out the horror feeling before anything even happens.”
- “The art style and visuals are absolutely stunning, drawing you into the world in a way few games can.”
- “The graphics are terrible; my character was constantly jumping around, I could see above the walls, etc., and the story is weak.”
- “Disappointing game with lackluster graphics and repetitive gameplay.”
- “The graphics are poor and outdated, and there are some flickering texture lines and frame rate issues.”
gameplay
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
75%
7%
The gameplay of "Fears to Fathom" is generally described as simple and straightforward, often leaning towards a walking simulator with minimal mechanics and a focus on atmosphere rather than complex interactions. While some players appreciate the immersive experience and retro visuals, many criticize the short playtime (around 10-20 minutes) and repetitive tasks, with technical issues and clunky mechanics detracting from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game is considered a decent introduction to the series, especially given its free price point, and effectively creates a sense of tension and fear.
- “The gameplay is straightforward but immersive, making it a must-play for anyone who likes a grounded, realistic thriller.”
- “The graphics and gameplay are very fun, and the little details are very interesting if you catch them.”
- “Through immersive gameplay and VHS style visuals, you try to figure out what's happening and survive the night.”
- “The gameplay is a boring walking sim, and the horror is made from expected jump scares.”
- “Gameplay relies too heavily on jump scares and repetitive tasks.”
- “The gameplay is excruciatingly slow, and the default button mapping for controls feels like it was designed by someone who has never used a mouse & keyboard.”
stability
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, particularly when navigating stairs and during character movement. While some users appreciate the overall experience and graphics, the pervasive instability and performance issues detract from the enjoyment, leading many to describe it as "buggy" and "unpolished." Overall, the game's technical shortcomings are a major concern, making it difficult for some players to fully engage with the content.
- “I have already lowered the resolution or quality settings, but the glitches still appear everywhere.”
- “This game is so buggy it's almost unplayable. I made it work, but it took me 3 tries and uninstalling and reinstalling the game several times. I kept falling through the 2nd floor to the first, couldn't get back up stairs, and would have to try to glitch up through the stairs from floor 1 to floor 2.”
- “From start to end, there are many glitches and bugs. I can't even move my character at the staircase and can't run. Fix this game.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The music in the game is a polarizing aspect, with many players praising its ability to create tension and enhance the eerie atmosphere, effectively contributing to the horror experience. However, some reviewers criticize the audio mixing and overuse of intense music, which can disrupt immersion and feel excessive at times. Overall, while the soundtrack is noted for its effectiveness in building suspense, it also faces criticism for being distracting and poorly timed in certain moments.
- “The game is great at making you uncomfortable with its eerie soundtrack.”
- “Eerie sounds, soft footsteps, and tense background music create a multi-dimensional soundscape that keeps players on edge.”
- “The music and sound effects are really creepy, and the 80s-ish camera filter look it has really adds to the whole vibe.”
- “The audio mixing is also bad to the point where a key moment in the game literally just came across like a weird musical sting, and that was almost certainly not intentional.”
- “The darkness, the art style, and the music work together to make it spooky at times, but not enough to save the experience. Speaking of the soundtrack, you can clearly feel its trigger points, which breaks whatever immersion you had and borders on comical as you can just walk back and forth past that point and hear the soundtrack playing and stopping as if you're pressing pause.”
- “I will say that I feel like the creepy score builds up way too soon; there's creepy music playing constantly even when there's nothing scary happening. It should have been spaced out a bit, but other than that, it really helped raise the intensity once you realize something is going to happen.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
61%
27%
Players find the grinding in the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort to progress. The lack of a main menu and quick reload options exacerbates the frustration, as players must repeatedly redo tasks after dying. Overall, the grinding experience is described as a major drawback, with many feeling it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “No main menu, no way to quickly reload from your previous checkpoint upon death, no pause menu; this game is so tedious to work with.”
- “The main issues I have are that the game either tells you exactly what to do and is tedious, and then out of nowhere gives you no instruction as to what is next.”
- “Not to mention that the game crashes every time you lose, meaning you have to launch it and start all over doing the tedious tasks you did before you died.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
54%
33%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many reviewers noting its short duration and lack of varied outcomes or story changes. While some players mention minor elements like easter eggs or different endings that provide slight replay value, the consensus is that the game does not offer enough incentive for multiple playthroughs. Suggestions for improvement include merging episodes into a single game to enhance the experience.
- “Good game, surprisingly replayable!”
- “The easter eggs add replayability to the already short episode and they're pretty fun to go back and try to do, especially trying to experiment around with them.”
- “As mentioned, there are some events that you'd only notice or make more sense of in a second playthrough.”
- “On the other hand, the game lacks in a few areas - the lack of replayability and a very short story overall.”
- “Good game, however it is quite short, only taking about 30 minutes to complete and it doesn't offer much replayability.”
- “There’s a lack of replayability, as the story doesn’t change, and once you’ve experienced the horror, there’s not much else to discover.”
emotional
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke intense feelings such as fear, tension, and sadness. Many reviewers mention crying during gameplay, emphasizing the game's rich storytelling and character development that enhance the emotional experience. The atmosphere and psychological horror elements contribute to a sense of unease, making players feel personally invested in the narrative and their decisions.
- “The story is engaging, presenting an intricate mystery that challenges your perceptions of reality, and the richly developed characters lend the experience a memorable emotional depth.”
- “This episode was a nice terror game, most of the scare was mental and emotional instead of jumpscare stimulating and horror scares.”
- “When you go outside, absolutely nobody is out there, this entire game gave me chills, and the waiting game at the end made me feel the tension, knowing somebody is here, but if I run fast enough I can make it to the door. The doorbell was taunting me when I was under the bed, and even the premise was the worst fear I could ever fathom.”
- “The game crashes every time you make a wrong move, which is pretty annoying to have to start the boring storyline from the very beginning.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the character's voice, quirky glitches, and absurd scenarios—like drinking water loudly or unrealistic cooking mechanics—hilariously entertaining. Many reviews highlight the comedic writing and the amusing bugs that enhance the overall experience, making it a memorable and funny adventure despite some moments of confusion. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its gameplay, providing a lighthearted contrast to its horror elements.
- “The character's sounds were kinda funny since you're playing as a 14-year-old but with a grown man's voice lol.”
- “The writing had me laughing the whole time.”
- “I found it funny that more people have read all the texts than have completed the game :'d”
- “Some funny bugs.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
28%
36%
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting choppy performance, high GPU temperatures, and severe frame rate drops even on high-end hardware. While some appreciate the low-poly visual style, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience with bugs and rendering issues. Many players hope for future updates to address these performance problems.
- “Optimization 10/10”
- “The game has a low-poly visual style that could work well if it were well optimized.”
- “Now on to the mild complaints: the game does not feel like it is optimized well for laptops.”
- “Performance is a tad choppy, and the mechanics can be buggy, but I'd gladly overlook that due to the quality of work presented here.”
- “Oh, and let's not forget the great jet-engine sound from my PC fans that indicates a terribly optimized game!”
- “Literally unplayable, I have an RTX 3080, set the game to use the highest performance graphics card, and even on the lowest settings it doesn't go beyond 5 fps.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no in-app purchases, offering players a single free two-hour story experience.
- “The game offers a complete experience without any additional costs.”
- “I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, making it accessible for everyone.”
- “No in-app purchases, just one free 2-hour story.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the full experience.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending.”

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9h Median play time

30h Average play time

0h Main story

1h Completionist

1-80h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Fears to Fathom: Home Alone is a survival survival game with horror theme.

Fears to Fathom: Home Alone is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 30 hours playing Fears to Fathom: Home Alone.

Fears to Fathom: Home Alone was released on July 2, 2021.

Fears to Fathom: Home Alone was developed by Rayll.

Fears to Fathom: Home Alone has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Fears to Fathom: Home Alone is a single player game.

Similar games include Fears to Fathom: Norwood Hitchhike, Fears to Fathom: Ironbark Lookout, [Nightmare Files] Clap Clap, Fears to Fathom: Carson House, Missing Hiker and others.

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