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Home is Where One Starts...

Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux • 2015

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Quick resume

Home is Where One Starts... is a short, first-person exploration game in the same vein as Dear Esther or Gone Home. It’s a story about childhood, hope, and the miracle of memory. You play as a little girl from a broken home somewhere in the American South.

Global score

77/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie

Pros

  • Beautiful and melancholic narrative
  • Relaxing atmosphere and music
  • Free exploration with non-linear storytelling
  • Good voice acting
  • Affordable price especially on sale

Cons

  • Very short gameplay duration
  • Minimal interactivity and challenge
  • Invisible walls limit exploration
  • Lack of subtitles for non-english speakers
  • Low replay value beyond achievement hunting

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players freely explore the environment in any order with no explicit goals or time pressure, embodying personal freedom of action."

  • Competence
    -3

    "Gameplay involves simple exploration and interaction with objects, with minimal skill or challenge."

  • Competition
    -5

    "No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal experience and narrative."

  • Continuation
    1

    "Short game with limited replay value, but some players engage in multiple runs to find all achievements."

  • Cooperation
    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer components."

  • Creativity
    2

    "Players can explore and interpret the story in their own way, but no creation or modification mechanics."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No elements of exerting control or superiority over others; experience is personal and equal."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, nostalgic escape from real life, immersing in memories and atmosphere."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest in narrative and exploration, not obligation."

  • Experimenting
    3

    "Encourages exploration and discovery of story fragments in non-linear order, inviting curiosity."

  • Exploration
    5

    "Core gameplay is free exploration of a detailed environment to uncover memories and narrative pieces."

  • Expression
    -4

    "No character customization or environmental modification; presentation is fixed by the developer."

  • Fantasy
    -5

    "Grounded in realistic, autobiographical themes and settings without fantasy or improbable elements."

  • Fellowship
    -5

    "Solo experience with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

  • Growth
    2

    "Players gain insight and emotional understanding through narrative exploration, though no skill growth."

  • Health
    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related mechanics."

  • Idle
    3

    "Can be played in short sessions; some players use it as a relaxing break or background experience."

  • Intimacy
    1

    "Emotional connection to the narrator's story but limited social or relational interaction."

  • Leadership
    -5

    "No leadership or management roles; player follows a personal narrative without directing others."

  • Progression
    2

    "Progression through unlocking story fragments and achievements, but no power or item accumulation."

  • Relaxation
    5

    "Strong emphasis on calm, soothing atmosphere, music, and slow-paced exploration for relaxation."

  • Sensation
    3

    "Enjoyable visual and auditory aesthetics create pleasant sensory experiences."

  • Status
    -5

    "No social recognition or status systems; experience is private and personal."

  • Story
    5

    "Narrative immersion is central, with voiceover storytelling and environmental clues driving the experience."

  • Strategy
    -4

    "Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; gameplay is straightforward exploration."

  • Thrill
    -5

    "No suspense, risk, or tension; experience is peaceful and contemplative."

  • Value
    3

    "Generally considered good value for its price, especially on sale, given its artistic and narrative quality."

  • Violence
    -5

    "No combat or destructive gameplay; focus is on exploration and reflection."

  • Survival
    -5

    "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics; environment is safe and stable."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026