Homesickness

About

Homesickness is a single player survival survival game with a horror theme. It was developed by jnity and was released on May 26, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Homesickness is a single-player psychological horror point-and-click game where you guide Theo through the eerie, abandoned halls of CHILDREEF. Using the Kids' Multi-tool, explore, collect items, and uncover hidden exits while confronting nostalgia and unsettling changes with each game over. Expect a haunting atmosphere, good plot, engaging gameplay, and striking graphics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 57 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game effectively creates a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, drawing players into its nostalgic horror experience.
Gameplay is engaging and polished, with a unique resource management system that keeps the experience fresh through randomization.
The story is emotionally resonant, with well-executed themes of childhood and nostalgia that leave a lasting impact on players.

Some gameplay mechanics can feel tedious and repetitive, particularly in the early levels where tasks may seem unnecessarily drawn out.
The horror elements may not be as effective for everyone, with some players finding the game lacks genuine scares and can become overwhelming.
Certain aspects of the story and dialogue can feel convoluted or pretentious, potentially detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop that encourages player improvement and offers a fresh experience, despite some mechanical repetitiveness in early levels. Players appreciate the balance between challenge and accessibility, with many noting the game's unique mechanics and high replay value. Overall, the combination of enjoyable resource management and captivating audiovisual elements contributes to a memorable gameplay experience.
- “The randomization keeps failure from making the gameplay stale.”
- “I have a really hard time getting into new games, but Homesickness really hit the mark for me. It's a very simple but engaging game to play with extremely fun resource management and enjoyable gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay felt like a fresh breath of air to play through; it didn't bore me to the point where it makes it impossible for me to get into the game.”
- “My biggest gripe with the game is that the gameplay loop is beyond tedious.”
- “Where Homesickness falters is in the mechanical implementation of its art; surely every audiovisual element of the game contributes to the atmosphere and the themes, but mechanically, I don't see any reason why the first two levels needed to consist of finding the exact same items to unlock one door and play one mini-game on a computer in order to get a code for a door.”
- “Despite the jump in difficulty, some personal nitpicks voice acting wise, and annoying mechanics.”
story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
52%
11%
The game's story is described as intriguing and engaging, with a mix of ambiguity and emotional depth that resonates with players, particularly in its exploration of themes like homesickness and moving on from the past. While some players feel the main narrative lacks resolution and the game is too short for its ambitions, others appreciate the post-game content that expands on the story. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its innovative style and ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a standout in the point-and-click horror genre.
- “The game conveys its message, themes, and overall story fairly well.”
- “Homesickness is not afraid to gut-punch you with its beautifully executed story about the hardships of moving on from your past.”
- “This is a story that genuinely resonated with me, as I think it would with everyone else who plays this.”
- “There's a lot of stuff after the main story that may expand on things more, but I feel like there wasn't really a resolution to the story.”
- “This game is too short for the story it's trying to tell.”
- “The story is pretty ambiguous but definitely engaging; it doesn't spoon-feed it to you, which is a bonus.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and nostalgic early 2000s aesthetic, reminiscent of old websites and point-and-click adventures. Reviewers highlight the game's distinctive art style and atmospheric visuals, which effectively enhance the emotional experience and storytelling. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal, making it a standout feature for players who appreciate this artistic direction.
- “It has such a wonderful and unique art style.”
- “The aesthetics of this game are absolutely awesome.”
- “The graphics in this game are very interesting; I haven't seen anything like it, and with this game's theme of nostalgia, it fits perfectly.”
- “The graphic design reminds me of old, crappy 2000s websites you'd find, and when you find them nowadays, they look the exact same—if not even worse (in a positive way).”
- “Secondly, the graphics and style for this game... where do I begin?”
- “This is a point-and-click exploration game that has an early 2000s aesthetic with the main protagonist Theo going through a place called Childsreef. I'll not spoil anymore of the story, but needless to say, the game was a lot of fun to play and stream—though there were times where the game felt almost downright unfair. I believe due to the simplicity of the clay bodies that inhabit this world, I'd say that you can make it through by the skin of your teeth.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effectiveness in creating tension and immersion, with strong audiovisual elements that enhance the overall experience. While some critiques focus on repetitive gameplay mechanics, the game's style and writing contribute significantly to its haunting atmosphere, making it a standout in the indie horror genre. Many players appreciate that the atmosphere is more impactful than traditional jump scares, adding depth to the game's themes and story.
- “Very effective at achieving its intended atmosphere.”
- “If you enjoy strong atmosphere and tension over direct scares, then this game is fantastic.”
- “I love the style of this game with the graphics and its atmosphere; I love the writing of this game.”
- “Too many indie horror games nowadays rely on ear-piercing screams to make up for what the game lacks in atmosphere.”
- “If anything, the atmosphere in Homesickness, plus the overall theme and story of the game, is more terrifying than the scares themselves.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have praised the game for its strong emotional impact, often leading to tears and deep feelings of nostalgia reminiscent of early 2000s games. The poignant music and cutscenes, particularly the ending, evoke powerful emotions, leaving players feeling both empty and reflective about their past experiences. Overall, the game effectively taps into themes of homesickness and childhood, resonating deeply with many players.
- “This game is really good at what it does and hits that emotional nostalgic point-and-click aesthetic similar to most early 2000s games and online sites.”
- “This combined with the equally fantastic music made for a few poignant moments that legitimately made me shed a tear or two, and it's very rare for a game in general to do such a thing to me.”
- “God, that ending... I've never felt so empty yet so emotional from a game.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its emotional depth, contributing to poignant moments that resonate deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings such as tears. This level of impact is noted as a rare achievement in gaming.
- “This combined with the equally fantastic music made for a few poignant moments that legitimately made me shed a tear or two, and it's very rare for a game in general to do such a thing to me.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- “The audio quality of the music is subpar, and it often feels out of place within the game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and boring, with many expressing frustration over the repetitive gameplay loop that detracts from the overall experience.
- “Boring, not scary, tedious.”
- “My biggest gripe with the game is that the gameplay loop is beyond tedious.”