Secret Little Haven

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 414 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 414 reviews
story38 positive mentions
stability11 negative mentions
  • The game tells a beautiful and relatable story about self-discovery and identity, particularly for those in the LGBTQ+ community.
  • The nostalgic 90s aesthetic and interface effectively immerse players in the experience of growing up online.
  • The characters are well-written and evoke strong emotions, making players feel deeply connected to 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 narrative may feel idealistic or overly neat in its resolutions, which could detract from the realism of the characters' struggles.
  • story128 mentions

    The story of "Secret Little Haven" is a heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age narrative centered on a young trans girl, Alex, navigating her identity in the late 90s through online interactions and fandom culture. Players resonate with the authentic portrayal of personal struggles, relationships, and the complexities of growing up queer, often finding the narrative both touching and nostalgic. While some gameplay mechanics may detract from the experience, the overall storytelling is praised for its emotional depth and connection to real-life experiences.

    • “As someone who figured herself out in her teens, living with a parent who had some major issues, finding some solace online in community, I can relate to Alex's story a lot.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “At various points in the story, your progress will be held up with the expectation that you complete some specific task using the game's 'mechanics' - namely, using the small suite of applications the game's desktop simulation can run.”
  • emotional105 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has resonated deeply with players, often leaving them in tears due to its heartfelt narrative and relatable themes, particularly around identity and self-acceptance. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from nostalgia to joy and sadness, making it a poignant experience for those who connect with its story. Overall, players describe it as a touching journey that offers both catharsis and a sense of hope, particularly for those navigating similar personal struggles.

    • “This game is wonderful, and hit me far more emotionally than I thought possible.”
    • “It's an amazing emotional journey and it really resonated with me as someone who's trans.”
    • “The story line is phenomenal and told in a really compelling way, the ending was especially perfect and made me cry.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their authentic 90s aesthetic, effectively capturing the nostalgia of early internet culture and retro computing. Players appreciate the colorful and cute visuals, which enhance the narrative of self-discovery, although some note minor graphical glitches. Overall, the aesthetic is described as beautifully crafted, resonating deeply with those familiar with the era, while also appealing to a broader audience through its engaging art style and emotional storytelling.

    • “This game nails the 90s aesthetic perfectly, despite me having not lived during that time, and also portrays one's journey of self-discovery very well.”
    • “The 90s aesthetic is amazing, the music is phenomenal, and the in-game anime universe is beautifully done.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its ability to immerse them in the protagonist's emotional journey through clever use of limited mechanics and nostalgic aesthetics, while others criticize it for being plagued by bugs, unclear instructions, and tedious tasks that disrupt the narrative flow. Although the visual novel format limits complexity, the integration of light puzzle elements and desktop simulation is seen as both charming and occasionally frustrating, leading to a varied experience among players. Overall, while the gameplay has its flaws, many appreciate how it supports the story and character development.

    • “It captures the feeling of texting with your high school friends very well and uses its limited mechanics perfectly to get you into the protagonist's headspace.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “So, mechanically, it's a hot mess.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • music16 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 emotional moments and keeps players engaged. Many express a desire to purchase the soundtrack, indicating its significant role in their overall experience.

    • “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, particularly in the user interface and achievement tracking. 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.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in "Secret Little Haven" is characterized by its dynamic characters and clever writing, which blend heartfelt moments with comedic exchanges. Players appreciate the game's eccentricity and the amusing interactions that arise from its unique chat interface, making for a fun and engaging experience. Overall, the humor is both earnest and entertaining, contributing significantly to the game's charm.

    • “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.”
    • “More than that, it does a lot of really awesome things with its interface, using the chat program conceit to have multiple conversations all meshing together, contrasting or complementing each other in ways that are sometimes heartwarming and sometimes hilarious and very occasionally, awful.”
    • “:p 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.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive music and well-crafted scenes that evoke a specific yet relatable mood. Reviewers appreciate how the atmosphere effectively communicates emotional depth and enhances the overall experience, making players wish for more time to fully engage with it.

    • “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.”
    • “In terms of the look and the atmosphere, this game nails the mood in each 'scene' and brings you to a place and time that feels very specific without being too specific, if that makes sense.”
    • “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.”
    • “In terms of the look and the atmosphere, this game nails the mood in each 'scene' (I guess you can call them scenes?), and brings you to a place and time that feels very specific without being too specific, if that makes sense.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players have expressed frustration with the grinding aspect, citing it as tedious and poorly explained, which detracts from the overall experience, particularly in relation to the game's ending.

  • replayability1 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's high 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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