Fears to Fathom – Home Alone Spiel
The second season of Fears to Fathom series is already underway, and I thought to come back to the series as it is slowly being released on other platforms. Currently, only the fourth episode is available on the PlayStation with DualSense support. Fears to Fathom is an anthology; the episodes are not connected from one another, as of yet. Home Alone, the one this piece is about, was the debut title of the series and also available for free.
As an anthology, Home Alone follows the formula realistic horror in retro VHS art style. The actual gameplay, therefore, is fundamentally limited to a walking sim. Playing as Miles, the protagonist, who allegedly has survived the encounter and submitted the story on Reddit, the player can pivot to explore what was otherwise ignored from the perspective of Miles: the hint of home invasion, the warning signs before the break-in, and sensory overload in the face of malice. Though it is a walking sim, I believe the game has well utilized what it means to be on the linear path.
While the art style brings back the memories from VHS era, think of Goosebumps or Are You Afraid of the Dark?. But Home Alone, the story of young boy Miles, is set in the age of smartphones. The art direction toward retro horror, while it does invoke fear in the minds of those who lived through the VHS era, is anachronistic; I do not know if it works with younger generations or anyone who does not associate retro tech with horror. Think of live action horrors from the 90s; I haven’t played them when they were popular, and whey see the footage of them now, it has limited effects on me, on modern audience.
Last, but not least, the game is still bug-ridden and felt unfinished even after 4 years since release. During my 20 minutes long playthrough, my game crashed twice. I understand its indie status with no price tag should lend itself some leg rooms, but this is the first installment of Fears to Fathom franchise. And the entire first season, all 5 episodes combined, comes at about $29.96. It’s not the best first introduction to an IP I have seen.
Conclusions: True to Its Name and Free
Fears to Fathom is a cheesy name. If it isn’t from the 90s horror TV shows, it should be. And it is designed to mimic the horror of the old too — the analog, the raw nature of invasion. The game is a short walking sim, but it is economical with its storytelling. On the flip side, I do not believe it will sell with everyone. There are certain nuances each players are expected to understand, such as the VHS static effect. Overall, this is a great first introduction for any gamers looking for a new horror IP, and it is free; if it is to your liking, the franchise has four more episodes and another season in development.