No Longer Home
- July 30, 2021
- Hana Lee
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Get on Epic Games Store"No Longer Home" is a semi-auto-biographical point and click game, about two recent graduates preparing to move out of their flat.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique art style and beautiful visuals that create an immersive atmosphere.
- The writing is relatable and captures the struggles of young adults navigating life after university, resonating with many players.
- The game offers a deeply personal experience, with themes of identity, change, and emotional connection that many players find impactful.
- The gameplay is slow-paced and can feel tedious, with long dialogue sequences that may disengage players.
- Many players feel the game is overpriced for its short length and limited interactivity, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction.
- The characters and their dialogues can come off as self-indulgent and lacking depth, making it hard for some players to connect with their experiences.
- story88 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story of "No Longer Home" is a semi-autobiographical narrative that explores themes of change, discovery, and the emotional challenges of transitioning from university life to adulthood. While many players find the story relatable and beautifully told, others criticize it for being slow-paced, lacking character development, and not providing a compelling plot progression. Overall, the game resonates with those who have faced similar life transitions, but its impact may vary depending on individual experiences and expectations.
“No Longer Home is an authentic and often unsettling story about the process of moving out and moving on.”
“Portrayed through the lens of a single flat, the story shares a deeply relatable emotional journey one goes through after exiting the institutional boundaries of education and entering the overwhelming reality of adulthood.”
“It's a truly relatable coming-of-age story told in a very beautiful and theatrical way.”
“The story simply isn't interesting enough.”
“The characters begin the story facing both emotional and real-world problems and by the end they've made progress on...none of them.”
“It doesn't really have any concept of pacing, and although the story is relatable for many, relatability isn't enough to carry a story - it needs to be impactful.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and appealing art style, often described as low-poly and minimalist, which some players found beautiful and comforting. While the visuals are generally praised for their creativity and emotional resonance, a few reviewers noted that they can feel derivative or simplistic, with some animations not functioning properly during gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, though opinions vary on their depth and engagement.
“The game boasts a truly unique art style with beautiful visuals that reflect a clear and well-executed vision.”
“The visuals are stunning, the story is great.”
“The visuals are really cinematic and vibrant, and in many cases took my breath away.”
“Oh and the graphics are moderately decent to look at in a low-poly way.”
“Regional price too high for so little to offer besides some simple aesthetics and lackluster story.”
“Although the art style and narrative focus are unique, it feels like paying for someone's prototype student project.”
- music30 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful and unique soundtrack, often describing it as dreamy, shoegaze-inspired, and perfectly suited to the game's aesthetic. While some find the music minimal or subdued, it generally contributes positively to the emotional depth and engagement of the gameplay.
“With beautiful designs, excellent characters, and a great soundtrack, no longer home is well worth picking up.”
“Beautiful music, touching and expert dialogue, gorgeous environments.”
“The music is full of spacey drones and noodling.”
“The music is very calming and goes along with the quiet story; it was putting me to sleep.”
“Music is full of spacey drones and noodling.”
“The game was kinda boring at first, and I can't quite say why, but I had the impression the creators want me to care about the characters too fast... like, I only just started the game and there's already this disturbing sounding music and disturbing looking shapes floating in the bedroom, but I don't really know why I'm supposed to be disturbed, and I don't care.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses from players, with some finding it deeply relatable and beautifully crafted, while others criticize its pacing and lack of character development. Many appreciate the heartfelt art and music, which enhance the emotional journey, but some feel the story ultimately falls short of delivering a satisfying resolution. Overall, the game resonates with those who enjoy short, poignant narratives, though it may not connect with everyone.
“While janky, this emotionally charged game delivers a relatable story that feels beautiful to play.”
“Beautiful music, touching and expert dialogue, gorgeous environments.”
“Just as both characters had a long conversation at the start of the game, so does the game beautifully bookend with a 15-minute vulnerable and emotional conversation in bed, and it’s the first time we get to see Ao with their hair down literally and figuratively.”
“Graphically and stylistically too derivative of Kentucky Route Zero, and as such I had a difficult time investing in the extremely short and, unfortunately, boring story; two characters have finished university and now must move on with their lives.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as slow and mechanical, primarily involving exploration and dialogue choices, which some players found dull and lacking in engaging mechanics. While the artistic style and music received praise, many reviewers felt that the gameplay did not effectively support the narrative, leading to a disconnect with the characters and a sense of monotony. Overall, it resembles a visual novel more than a traditional game, with an emphasis on story over interactive elements.
“I did appreciate the vastness of the accessibility menu and how much they offered to make the gameplay easier on those with trouble hearing, seeing, and reading.”
“Gameplay-wise, you explore the flat and make choices during conversations, where you'll reply for either of the characters at times.”
“At some point, talking to the second protagonist turned them into the player character, which emphasized the unity of their relationship through gameplay quite nicely.”
“Gameplay tends to be on the dull side, mainly involves walking around the house, pointing, and clicking.”
“It's a fairly slow game and definitely way more about the story than any game mechanics.”
“The art is beautiful but the gameplay is boring and the story doesn't make up for it.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful art, masterful music, and immersive design, creating a warm and dreamlike experience. Reviewers highlight how the game's aesthetic captures the emotional weight of transitioning into new life chapters, blending existential themes with a sense of wonder. Overall, the combination of visuals and sound contributes to a moving and extraordinary atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.
“The colors, music, and design make this game nice, with a warming atmosphere.”
“The art is impeccable, the music is a masterpiece, and the way the level 'pieces' float and construct themselves is truly astonishing; it really adds this element of atmosphere and reality breaking down.”
“There is an existential, dreamlike mundanity to the game’s atmosphere where real-life worries about saying goodbye to others and moving out are made extraordinary.”
“There is an existential, dreamlike mundanity to the game’s atmosphere where these real-life worries about saying goodbye to others and moving out are made extraordinary.”
“The art is impeccable, the music is a masterpiece (it's my favorite kind of music), and the way the level 'pieces' float and construct themselves is truly astonishing (it really adds this element of atmosphere and reality breaking down).”
“The music, as recommended, goes in par with the game; it is very dreamy and suits the atmosphere created.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for its clever media references and relatable dialogue, which reflects social issues like gentrification without being preachy. Additionally, the characters' speech is noted for its Americanized style, adding to the comedic effect. Overall, the humor is seen as both entertaining and relevant.
“There's also some good ghoulies and funny media references, so A+ for that.”
“Finally, and quite hilariously, the way the characters speak in this game is as if it had been written by Americans - no slang such as 'quid' instead of 'pound' is used.”
“The discussions are often socially relevant and regularly humorous, such as gentrification in London, but never didactic, and the dialogue feels authentic to two progressive characters trying to make it out in a capitalist reality.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short story and few alternative paths, but it compensates with engaging and relatable dialogue that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“It has lots of replayability and lots of amazingly natural and relatable dialogue.”
“This is a very short story, with limited replay value to explore other paths.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly and providing a rewarding experience as players progress to unlock features that enhance gameplay.
“The game runs smoothly, and I like the fact that you have to play a little before you unlock what allows you to experience the game fully.”
“The optimization is impressive, making the gameplay fluid and enjoyable even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the mechanics, ensuring that every aspect of the game feels responsive and well-balanced.”
