Secret Little Haven

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 346 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • graphics
Secret Little Haven Game Cover
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"Secret Little Haven" is a narrative-driven game set in 1999, following Alex Cole, a teenage trans girl on her journey of self-discovery. Players can explore the early internet using SanctuaryOS, an in-game operating system, and engage in activities such as browsing a fan forum, chatting with friends, and creating content. The game features flashing visuals and addresses themes of parental conflict and gaslighting.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 346 reviews
story33 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • The game offers a deeply emotional and relatable narrative, particularly for those exploring their gender identity.
  • The 90s aesthetic and nostalgic elements create an immersive experience that resonates with players who grew up during that time.
  • The characters are well-written and their interactions feel genuine, making players emotionally invested in their journeys.
  • The game has several bugs and technical issues that can disrupt the gameplay experience.
  • Some players may find the puzzles and mechanics unintuitive, leading to frustration during key moments.
  • The ending may feel rushed or overly idealistic, which could detract from the overall impact of the story.
  • story116 mentions

    The story of "Secret Little Haven" is a deeply personal and touching coming-of-age narrative centered around a young transgender girl navigating her identity in the late 1990s internet culture. Players resonate with the themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the complexities of growing up queer, often finding their own experiences reflected in the protagonist's journey. While the storytelling is praised for its emotional depth and relatability, some players noted minor gameplay issues that occasionally detracted from the immersive experience.

    • “This game is beautifully written, well designed, and tells an amazing story in an amazing way.”
    • “The story is heartwarming and incredibly well written; I loved every single second of it.”
    • “Secret Little Haven is a story about a young trans girl in 1999 in the midst of figuring out who she is.”
    • “I was busier trying to figure out what I was supposed to do than trying to focus on the story, as the story stopped progressing during this.”
    • “The fan community you are supposed to be interested in is just awful, and as a plot device, demanding the player be enthused about some nonsense franchise without context is just lazy writing.”
    • “At a few points in the story my progress fumbled because of glitches that would make it difficult to use the game's UI.”
  • emotional89 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has resonated deeply with players, often leading to tears and profound personal reflections. Many describe it as a touching journey that captures the complexities of identity, particularly for trans individuals, while also evoking nostalgia and heartfelt connections to their own experiences. Overall, players find the narrative to be a powerful exploration of emotions, making it a memorable and cathartic experience.

    • “It's an amazing emotional journey and it really resonated with me as someone who's trans.”
    • “I was absolutely blindsided by a heartwarming narrative that felt true to my own lived experiences, and a really good soundtrack!”
    • “This game made me cry a bunch, but in the good way where I felt like there was goodness in the world and life is worth living for the sake of that goodness.”
  • graphics31 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and nostalgic 90s aesthetic, effectively immersing players in a retro computing experience reminiscent of that era. Many reviewers highlight the game's cute and colorful visuals, which complement its themes of self-discovery and identity, although some note minor graphical glitches. Overall, the art style is considered beautifully crafted and resonates strongly with those familiar with the late 90s internet culture.

    • “The 90s aesthetic is amazing, the music is phenomenal, and the in-game anime universe is beautifully done.”
    • “This was so incredibly beautiful and relatable, and has one of the most beautiful aesthetics/art styles I've ever seen.”
    • “The graphics are so cute and completely send you back in time; it felt like I was genuinely playing on a computer from 1999.”
    • “Be warned that there are sections of glitchy and flickering graphics, that can be mostly turned off from the menu at the bottom left.”
    • “The graphics are colorful and cute, but not particularly amazing.”
    • “It's a beautifully realized narrative, leveraging its 1999 aesthetic for so much more than empty nostalgia; honesty compels me to admit that I think I ran into two bugs (one where friendly reminder wouldn't close and one more serious one where the 'is' command in the terminal stopped working, which I had to circumvent with mild cheating), but so powerful is the story and the method of its presentation that I can't say that took away from the experience at all.”
  • gameplay20 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and immersive, particularly in how it integrates narrative elements through clever mechanics. However, many users have reported significant issues with bugs and unclear instructions that can disrupt the experience, making certain tasks feel tedious or confusing. Overall, while the game offers a unique approach to storytelling, its gameplay mechanics may frustrate some players due to their awkwardness and the need for prior knowledge of 90s computer hacking.

    • “Real people with real problems and real feelings, and I found myself so completely immersed in their stories and Alex's relationships with them - not to mention the immensely satisfying way that the gameplay and design itself supported those themes by using the IM chats in clever ways to tell the story, and how even the fact that role-plays were a common subject of discussion, and here we are literally role-playing as Alex.”
    • “Amazing and adorable little game with a great story and some clever gameplay.”
    • “The OS can be a little wonky at times with very minor bugs, but this type of gameplay was a perfect fit given the content of the narrative, and it helps to create a more personal connection with the protagonist and her struggles mentally grasping all of the changes in her life as they happen.”
    • “Not because of the narrative or gameplay mechanics, or even the characters, but because this game is unplayable half the time due to bugs or you need to have some knowledge of what old computer hacking is like from the 1990s.”
    • “My biggest problem with it was the abrupt/slightly lackluster ending and the coding mechanics which I found tedious and poorly explained.”
    • “I've had an issue with the gameplay on two separate occasions, where the game expected me to do something but I just couldn't figure out what.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and calming qualities, effectively enhancing the narrative and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the nostalgic 90s aesthetic and the limited yet impactful soundtrack, which complements key moments and keeps players engaged. Many express a desire to purchase the soundtrack, indicating its significant role in their overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The 90s aesthetic is amazing, the music is phenomenal, and the in-game anime universe is beautifully done.”
    • “Music sets the atmosphere of the game perfectly, never gets boring either.”
    • “The music was a joy and complemented the mood of the current scenes very well.”
    • “The game only has a few music tracks, with the primary one you'll be hearing throughout the game being a rather upbeat and chill tune.”
    • “Not via the layout, or the music - all that has flair, but there is not really a lot of different aspects.”
    • “The music was a joy and complimented the mood of the current scenes very well.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game is frequently described as buggy, with numerous technical glitches affecting gameplay and user interface, particularly regarding achievements and navigation. While these issues can lead to frustration and hinder progress, many players still find the overall experience enjoyable and worth playing despite the instability.

    • “Again though, I had fun with it, I cannot finish the game due to the frustration of the game being buggy and honestly a pretty annoying hacking segment.”
    • “It has some weird technical glitches, I think in regards to closing out and moving windows sometimes. Every achievement except the one you get for beating the game seems to be glitched, and I never would have figured out the final section of the game if there weren't a guide to help me figure it out.”
    • “At a few points in the story, my progress fumbled because of glitches that would make it difficult to use the game's UI.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The game's humor is highlighted by its dynamic characters and clever writing, which blend heartfelt moments with laugh-out-loud dialogue. Players appreciate the innovative use of a chat program interface that allows for multiple, intertwining conversations, creating a mix of warmth and hilarity. Overall, the humor is both engaging and memorable, contributing significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The game is fun; the conversations can be both really funny and really hard, but in the end, she'll figure it out, and her friends will be there for her, and hopefully yours for you too.”
    • “The characters are so dynamic and complex, the writing is incredible (and hilarious), and the narrative will certainly be staying with me for a long time.”
    • “There is something really earnest and hilarious about clicking through all of the text buttons in rapid succession, knowing that Alex is just bombarding her friends with excited message after message.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with the music enhancing the experience and keeping it engaging throughout. Players feel deeply immersed in the game's world, appreciating the effective communication of emotions and themes, though some express a desire for a longer experience to fully explore this captivating environment. Overall, the intricate storytelling and diverse characters contribute significantly to the game's unique atmosphere.

    • “Music sets the atmosphere of the game perfectly; it never gets boring either.”
    • “My only true critique of this game is that it feels just a bit too short - I'd have loved a little more time to lose myself in this atmosphere, to be this age again.”
    • “You don't even need to have a bad dad—the wrongness is so well communicated, and the atmosphere absolutely puts you in that situation.”
    • “I can only imagine how much time it took to come up with and write so many different personas and juggle them around in a fake forum storytelling atmosphere like this.”
    • “The atmosphere is something else that really adds to the game.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and poorly explained, contributing to a lackluster experience, particularly highlighted by an abrupt ending.

  • replayability1 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's strong replayability due to its well-crafted design and numerous hidden easter eggs, encouraging multiple playthroughs to discover all its secrets.

    • “The game is well made and contains lots of hidden easter eggs and replay value.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new challenges and surprises, making it hard to put down.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two runs are ever the same.”
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