Homebody is an old school survival game by the Game Grumps studio

The horror genre is vast, and includes everything from slasher movies with blood to campfire tales that are strangely cerebral. HomebodyRogue Games has published and developed a new game called. The Dad Dating Simulator Dream DaddyThe studio Game Grumps is more inclined to this latter. I assume the role of Emily, a young woman with agoraphobia — an isolating, suffocating fear of leaving one’s safe place and awkward, embarrassing, or uncomfortable experiences.

I’m in an isolated house full of friends, rented out over the years by an eccentric writer, when the power unexpectedly cuts out. After a few jokes about the horror movie atmosphere, I check the power box, which is weirdly empty — there are just two cords, one leading up to the attic and one to the cellar. These are also areas of the house that we’re forbidden from entering by the absent homeowner. Just as I resign myself to checking out the basement, I’m stabbed to death by a mysterious masked figure.

But then the clock reverses, and I’ve just arrived at the house again. I try to bring this experience up with my friends through dialogue trees when we chat, but it doesn’t matter how hard I try to warn them — it’s just filtered into banal small talk. Homebody mixes the primal fear for one’s life with the much less intense (but more relatable) fear of awkward conversations, strained friendships, and people being mad at you.

Image: Game Grumps/Rogue Games

HomebodyThe game is a survival horror game based on the PlayStation’s era, featuring fixed camera views and polygonal graphic. Emily isn’t gifted in combat, and as such, my best option for dealing with the killer is simply to hide in a closet or run away. The story is punctuated by flashbacks and cutscenes. Homebody, depicting Emily’s social anxiety. She has been isolating herself over the last year, and it’s a growing source of resentment for her friends.

The eccentric owner of the home that my friends rent is a further problem. The house is full of locks and keypads. There is a lock and keypad on every desk.

This puzzle chain is the ultimate challenge. HomebodyI must solve riddles and find clues while avoiding the masked killer. After I pass away, my clock resets to the first moment of the day. However, I still retain all my memories which have been sorted into a Memory Log. The time loop begins to unravel as I continue. Other characters give signs that they, too, are aware of the horrible fate they’re about to endure. Breaking the usual routine, the killer appears earlier than normal.

Image: Game Grumps/Rogue Games

Emily and her anxiety are heightened by the presence of a masked assailant and a creepy home. As such, Homebody isn’t about the immediate terror of being stabbed, but the slow decay and isolation brought on by her agoraphobia. This game is based on your anxiety about reuniting and interacting with someone who may be angry at you. Worse yet, they might have a valid reason for their anger. Emily must also deal with the pain of having to be honest about her hurtful words to friends.

Although the story is interesting, some of the mechanics may be a bit awkward. Because of the fixed camera and rather clunky controls, I found myself tripping over doors and accidentally moving between rooms. There’s also only one master volume bar in the settings, which is awkward when the sound effects are a little too loud. Half of Emily’s friend group feels a little unnecessary, like they’re just there to round out the cast. A couple of friends end up playing a major part in Emily’s past, and her catharsis comes from exploring those relationships. Other members of the household are there purely to comment on the important relationships, and then they get murdered in order to increase the tension. As such, it feels like there’s a little too much filler between the setup and the payoff of this particular story.

These small but persistent issues aren’t deal breakers, but they cut the tension. Homebody didn’t terrify me to my core, but I still found myself compelled to uncover its secrets, and it only takes a few hours to complete. The plot leaves key points up for interpretation, and as such, this is the sort of game that I’ll be digesting for quite some time. It’s not the same brand of horror as jump scares or gory deaths, but it’s unnerving all the same.

Homebody Released on Nintendo Switch on 1 June, as well as on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. Xbox One and Xbox Series X were also available. Rogue Games supplied a PC download code to review the game. Vox Media maintains affiliate relationships. Vox Media earns commissions from affiliate products, although this doesn’t influence the editorial content. Find out more about affiliate links. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.