It's not the first game of its ilk but Home Safety Hotline makes pretty good use of its Windows 95 concept, and translates a niche concept into an enjoyable experience. Reading the unlockable art book after reaching the credits, the game's creator spells out his intent on basing an analog game around a Dungeons and Dragons style bestiary. Framing that around a pest control hotline works surprisingly well and I think will really please a certain blend of horror fans.
The gameplay is fairly simple as most of what you will be doing is reading about various creatures and phenomena, which start pretty grounded but grow increasingly fantastical as you go. It can go a little tiresome to pore over these descriptions and try to match the occasionally vague clues the callers will give with a guess to whatever pest is invading their house. It kind of feels like studying, and it could be a little frustrating and stressful when it feels like multiple descriptions match up with the caller's dialogue. I only hit the fail state once, though, so it isn't too obtuse and at least you're treated with a freaky cutscene if you do mess up an in-game day. The writing is pretty good and I don't have any doubt some of the more inventive pests drawing from everything from fairytale folklore horror to modern liminal horror is going to stick in my mind. From a gameplay perspective, I wish that the calls came in a little bit faster as sometimes I felt like I was just waiting around for the next call with nothing to do (and I get that's probably what they were going for but it slowed things down a bit).
I did enjoy the freaky surreal elements of the game that oozes through the bonus videos you can watch, and you're rewarded for your hard work with a wacky inexplicable narrative that goes totally off the rails in an entertaining way by the climax.
Home Safety Hotline is a little brief for its asking price but was a charming time that kept my interest and I could see its moments of unsettling writing will get into my dreams.
The gameplay is fairly simple as most of what you will be doing is reading about various creatures and phenomena, which start pretty grounded but grow increasingly fantastical as you go. It can go a little tiresome to pore over these descriptions and try to match the occasionally vague clues the callers will give with a guess to whatever pest is invading their house. It kind of feels like studying, and it could be a little frustrating and stressful when it feels like multiple descriptions match up with the caller's dialogue. I only hit the fail state once, though, so it isn't too obtuse and at least you're treated with a freaky cutscene if you do mess up an in-game day. The writing is pretty good and I don't have any doubt some of the more inventive pests drawing from everything from fairytale folklore horror to modern liminal horror is going to stick in my mind. From a gameplay perspective, I wish that the calls came in a little bit faster as sometimes I felt like I was just waiting around for the next call with nothing to do (and I get that's probably what they were going for but it slowed things down a bit).
I did enjoy the freaky surreal elements of the game that oozes through the bonus videos you can watch, and you're rewarded for your hard work with a wacky inexplicable narrative that goes totally off the rails in an entertaining way by the climax.
Home Safety Hotline is a little brief for its asking price but was a charming time that kept my interest and I could see its moments of unsettling writing will get into my dreams.
This is a good puzzle game. You get calls from people describing what problem they are having, and you find the correct cause from a list to send to the people. As you progress through the days, more causes get unlocked for you to use. These causes get more fantastical and disturbing. It's not a scary game, but it's a silly, amusing one.
This is really fucking good, man. I love it when otherworldly creatures are just animals/pests in everyday life and you'll just have to deal with. I would love to see more media like this in the future. I wish it was longer though.
It's a cute, short game, but the experience didn't come without frustrations.
Firstly, the price is a HUGE detriment when considering the length and quality of the game. Only takes about 2-3 hours maximum with very, VERY little replay value, but prices itself at $15. Compare that to Hollow Knight, a game with the same price, but 3x the development time, over 10x the playtime, and infinitely more replayability-- it's easy to see why this could seem a bit greedy.
The gameplay itself was engaging, but turned frustrating when you found out that the only way to get additional content in the form of follow-up calls was by FAILING to provide an accurate answer. This really disincentivizes players from trying their best, as even when they get 100% accuracy all they receive is a joke coupon for a joke item that doesn't exist. You get a less enriching experience by doing well, which to me felt extremely counterintuitive.
All this wrapped up with an ending that gives the player almost zero closure or answers about the HSH organization, it ended up making me feel very dissatisfied. While this was a fun game to try and I don't regret my time spent (as it wasn't much time at all), I do regret the money spent and would not recommend others to spend theirs on this experience either, unless you can purchase on a DEEP, DEEP sale.
Firstly, the price is a HUGE detriment when considering the length and quality of the game. Only takes about 2-3 hours maximum with very, VERY little replay value, but prices itself at $15. Compare that to Hollow Knight, a game with the same price, but 3x the development time, over 10x the playtime, and infinitely more replayability-- it's easy to see why this could seem a bit greedy.
The gameplay itself was engaging, but turned frustrating when you found out that the only way to get additional content in the form of follow-up calls was by FAILING to provide an accurate answer. This really disincentivizes players from trying their best, as even when they get 100% accuracy all they receive is a joke coupon for a joke item that doesn't exist. You get a less enriching experience by doing well, which to me felt extremely counterintuitive.
All this wrapped up with an ending that gives the player almost zero closure or answers about the HSH organization, it ended up making me feel very dissatisfied. While this was a fun game to try and I don't regret my time spent (as it wasn't much time at all), I do regret the money spent and would not recommend others to spend theirs on this experience either, unless you can purchase on a DEEP, DEEP sale.
I feel like this game was designed to appeal directly to me. A journal filled with weird monsters and blurbs about what they do? Analog horror? A horrible 9-5 job dealing with the public? I love it! I legitimately cant wait for more from this dev.
Wow. Never have I been so compelled by an idea and so let down by the execution. Home Safety Hotline should be applauded for its creativity and spooky playfulness but I hate to say it, it's not fun or interesting to play. If you've done the first two days that's it. That's the game. No spoilers but the underlying mystery, and short runtime, is the only thing that made me see it through and god did it amount to nothing. This game starts out as "oh okay this is kinda cool!" and by the halfway point its at "i don't hate it!"
Analog horror is a huge fascination for me. After exploring this idea on YouTube and seeing Local 58 and Gemini Home Entertainment, I became hooked. It's a mix of 90's nostalgia, analog media, and that feeling of older technology being unclear and playing tricks on your senses. Home Safety Hotline tries its best to be the next analog horror viral sensation, but it doesn't quite hit the nail on the head like the above-mentioned videos. While this is a video game and not a series of videos, I will say that it captures the atmosphere well.
You are an employee, plopped down in front of a 90's beige box, and you are presented with a desktop. You will see exclamation marks on items that have new information. There are videos you can watch on the desktop as well as check your email, and then the main program is where you will spend most of your time. Once you launch this program, you clock in and are presented with a series of informational links. You are answering calls and have to prescribe the correct Home Safety Hotline information package to the caller regarding their problem. Entries are locked until you progress through the days of the week and give the correct answers.
It's incredibly important to read every single entry thoroughly and actually remember it. You want to remember the symptoms and signs these things cause people. At the beginning, you get basic information about things like ants, bats, moles, and flies. As the days move on, the analog horror part starts to come into play. Stranger and stranger entries for things like Spriggans, Hobbs, Cellar Grottos, and Reanimations. The artwork is superb and accompanies these entires as well as some audio entires. It's creepy for sure, but never quite the same. Turn on the lights and get goosebumps vibes. There's some cheese added to this game that takes away from the realism factor. Analog horror is so great because it seems like it could be real. Some of the drawings, while good, don't look like they were captured on video or with a crappy digital camera. They look drawn-in. The videos on the desktop are some of the best parts of the game that capture that analog horror atmosphere.
This is a riddle or puzzle game, so you have to guess the correct answers or get fired and have to restart the day. After each call, there is a ten-second pause until the phone rings again, but when you put the caller on hold, there is no time limit or penalty. You can take your time, read all of the entries, and make your decision. Some calls are obvious, while others are vague, and they can get quite tricky towards the end. There are anamalies and disturbances that accompany analog horror, such as weird phone calls, network interruptions, and strange messages. While I would have liked more of this, what's here is fine for a short horror game.
Overall, Home Safety Hotline starts out pretty disturbing and odd, but slowly evolves into cheese, and it kind of ruins the whole vibe. Being an employee at a mysterious hotline is fun, and there is a lot of potential for a sequel or something more. Solving the riddles is fun, and the artwork and entries created give a slow trickle of "what the hell is going on here?" vibes, but it never quite peaks like some of the classics in the genre.
You are an employee, plopped down in front of a 90's beige box, and you are presented with a desktop. You will see exclamation marks on items that have new information. There are videos you can watch on the desktop as well as check your email, and then the main program is where you will spend most of your time. Once you launch this program, you clock in and are presented with a series of informational links. You are answering calls and have to prescribe the correct Home Safety Hotline information package to the caller regarding their problem. Entries are locked until you progress through the days of the week and give the correct answers.
It's incredibly important to read every single entry thoroughly and actually remember it. You want to remember the symptoms and signs these things cause people. At the beginning, you get basic information about things like ants, bats, moles, and flies. As the days move on, the analog horror part starts to come into play. Stranger and stranger entries for things like Spriggans, Hobbs, Cellar Grottos, and Reanimations. The artwork is superb and accompanies these entires as well as some audio entires. It's creepy for sure, but never quite the same. Turn on the lights and get goosebumps vibes. There's some cheese added to this game that takes away from the realism factor. Analog horror is so great because it seems like it could be real. Some of the drawings, while good, don't look like they were captured on video or with a crappy digital camera. They look drawn-in. The videos on the desktop are some of the best parts of the game that capture that analog horror atmosphere.
This is a riddle or puzzle game, so you have to guess the correct answers or get fired and have to restart the day. After each call, there is a ten-second pause until the phone rings again, but when you put the caller on hold, there is no time limit or penalty. You can take your time, read all of the entries, and make your decision. Some calls are obvious, while others are vague, and they can get quite tricky towards the end. There are anamalies and disturbances that accompany analog horror, such as weird phone calls, network interruptions, and strange messages. While I would have liked more of this, what's here is fine for a short horror game.
Overall, Home Safety Hotline starts out pretty disturbing and odd, but slowly evolves into cheese, and it kind of ruins the whole vibe. Being an employee at a mysterious hotline is fun, and there is a lot of potential for a sequel or something more. Solving the riddles is fun, and the artwork and entries created give a slow trickle of "what the hell is going on here?" vibes, but it never quite peaks like some of the classics in the genre.
If you crave anything analog horror like Local58 or Gemni Home Entertainment, you'll love Home Safety Hotline. It starts with you picking up calls about a deceptively mundane collection of household critters and issues we're used to, but as each day passes you get introduced to the more occult, creepy, otherworldly, folklorical and sometimes whimsical "pests" that could potentially inhabit our home.
I, however would have loved an even bigger collection of creatures and phenomena to identify. As the game approaches its last day (disappointingly quickly, keep in mind), I'm left with a feeling of wanting more, especially since most of the entries are only featured once in calls and some of them are very straightforward.
The best calls are undoubtedly those where you're wondering if the customer is being plagued by an eldritch metamorphic being, a neat freak fairy that hides in your drain... or just a frozen pipe.
I can see where the dev was going with the ending, but the last riddles "puzzle" was just... terrible, both thematically and from a gameplay perspective.
I, however would have loved an even bigger collection of creatures and phenomena to identify. As the game approaches its last day (disappointingly quickly, keep in mind), I'm left with a feeling of wanting more, especially since most of the entries are only featured once in calls and some of them are very straightforward.
The best calls are undoubtedly those where you're wondering if the customer is being plagued by an eldritch metamorphic being, a neat freak fairy that hides in your drain... or just a frozen pipe.
I can see where the dev was going with the ending, but the last riddles "puzzle" was just... terrible, both thematically and from a gameplay perspective.
An interesting short (3-4 hours) horror-ish game, you work as a Home Safety Hotline who needs to answer people’s calls asking for help about trouble in their home and your job is to give them info about what is troubling them and how to solve it. So the gameplay is just listening to people’s calls, then picking whatever is bothering them from a list.
The main draw of this game for me is the disturbance entry itself, they are fun to read, especially when you’re trying to deduce what is bothering the person calling. Some are a bit obtuse though.
The disturbance ranges from the everyday stuff like mice, house fire, spider, etc, to something more fantastical like boggart, hobb, gnome, etc. Each entry will describe what the disturbance is, what danger it will (or won’t) do to the homeowner, and how to handle it.
But what’s even more fun is how some entries are connected to each other, like how Hobb has a lot of variation, or how some disturbance is a continuation from other disturbance if left alone, or my favorite, the spider entry seems to be mundane but it is actually connected to something else later on.
The main draw of this game for me is the disturbance entry itself, they are fun to read, especially when you’re trying to deduce what is bothering the person calling. Some are a bit obtuse though.
The disturbance ranges from the everyday stuff like mice, house fire, spider, etc, to something more fantastical like boggart, hobb, gnome, etc. Each entry will describe what the disturbance is, what danger it will (or won’t) do to the homeowner, and how to handle it.
But what’s even more fun is how some entries are connected to each other, like how Hobb has a lot of variation, or how some disturbance is a continuation from other disturbance if left alone, or my favorite, the spider entry seems to be mundane but it is actually connected to something else later on.
it's fine enough i guess? it's a cute concept that kind of gets dull by the end, though it's not long enough to really be anything more than a little tedious and mildly disappointing. very cheesy and campy.
Pretty much Observation Duty x Hypnospace Outlaw. Pretty cool little game but not much to it.
A man died because he turned off his lamp and it's my fault
i really wanted to love this game but, it just doesn't go far enough with it's ideas, it had so much potential for world building and it really just didn't hit, the monsters are cool and gameplay loop is ok, but man, this game just feels so underdeveloped.
Cool and eerie little indie game <3
I tried this totally on a whim and was pleasantly surprised with how incredibly well put together it was! There's about nothing more I could really ask from this. I'd like to say more but honestly I'd have to recommend picking it up with as little knowledge as possible.
A fun, mechanically simple creepypasta-themed horror game. The systems slightly outstay their welcome by the end, but the worldbuilding and writing is top notch and I can't wait for the inevitable follow-up in the same bestiary.
Very short and sweet little game. I feel like it's at its best when not taken seriously due to the fact that while there are some creepy instances, there's lots of other silly fantastical occurrences as well to offset it. The aesthetic of the game is very nice too.
The art book available at the end is what really pulled it all together for me. I love seeing what creative processes go on behind the scenes and especially adored seeing creature concepts!
It's cited in the art book that inspiration was taken from the webseries gemini home entertainment, which I suspected from the very beginning! The hiking video makes that inspiration very clear (and was also one of my favorite parts!)
The art book available at the end is what really pulled it all together for me. I love seeing what creative processes go on behind the scenes and especially adored seeing creature concepts!
It's cited in the art book that inspiration was taken from the webseries gemini home entertainment, which I suspected from the very beginning! The hiking video makes that inspiration very clear (and was also one of my favorite parts!)
very very good game but the only problem is a lack of replay value. I did play it again right after i finished. I want to play it again but I want to forget the answers. Hoping for an update
I followed this game for a while on Twitter. The premise seemed to promise a lot and the aesthetic was right up my alley. Sadly, the execution is kinda lackluster and the story winds up being way too predictable. It tries to fake depth by criptic messages and weird videos peppered throughout the story that ultimately don't add anything to the core experience and the ending is cringey at best.
The most horrid part is where they force to work on the weekend, can relate.
The most horrid part is where they force to work on the weekend, can relate.
Really liked this. It's good to see a complete thought worked out that doesn't require elaboration. The lo-fi folk horror aesthetics I found really appealing.
This review contains spoilers
interesting and fun for what it is, i really enjoyed watching wayne play this!! i like that it doesnt take itself too seriously either but the end credits definitely give u some whiplash even still LMAO
gameplay is easy, its all just the same thing but i like its format a lot
taking calls and having to figure things out from context clues......... like thats dope but i do wish there was a little more to it
it being short and the great ending trial segment makes it not be a slog, but its definitely not for everyone
and the slow reveal of a fantasy based world with little goblins and fairies being natural phenomena is so neat, i like the way it sets itself and its world apart from most other analog horror media. the way the dev injects this folklore with this creepy factor and puts his own spin on them (that i agree, has always been there) is really cool as well.
the part where he talks about struggling with making things that came from all over the world seem scary so he focused instead on things that could live inside your home was fascinating and resonated with me. there is nothing scarier to me than thinking youre safe in your home and youre just not for one reason or the other
left the wrong treat for my hobb now im doomed. LOL
i do feel it shows its hand a little early though with carol saying things like thee so quickly but thats negligible
its funny yet still creepy at the same time, i havent heard a lot of the failed calls yet but the ones wayne did get really put this sense of doom in u. definitely gets into the corny analog horror region a few times, especially with the videos, but thats ok. sincerely
music and aesthetic are nice, the voice acting work is great and outstanding at certain points, and obviously the art and writing add so much to the game, really impressive and immersive
i hope to see this sort of online horror concept a lot more in the future. my dream is something like hypnospace outlaw fully focused on horror
gameplay is easy, its all just the same thing but i like its format a lot
taking calls and having to figure things out from context clues......... like thats dope but i do wish there was a little more to it
it being short and the great ending trial segment makes it not be a slog, but its definitely not for everyone
and the slow reveal of a fantasy based world with little goblins and fairies being natural phenomena is so neat, i like the way it sets itself and its world apart from most other analog horror media. the way the dev injects this folklore with this creepy factor and puts his own spin on them (that i agree, has always been there) is really cool as well.
the part where he talks about struggling with making things that came from all over the world seem scary so he focused instead on things that could live inside your home was fascinating and resonated with me. there is nothing scarier to me than thinking youre safe in your home and youre just not for one reason or the other
left the wrong treat for my hobb now im doomed. LOL
i do feel it shows its hand a little early though with carol saying things like thee so quickly but thats negligible
its funny yet still creepy at the same time, i havent heard a lot of the failed calls yet but the ones wayne did get really put this sense of doom in u. definitely gets into the corny analog horror region a few times, especially with the videos, but thats ok. sincerely
music and aesthetic are nice, the voice acting work is great and outstanding at certain points, and obviously the art and writing add so much to the game, really impressive and immersive
i hope to see this sort of online horror concept a lot more in the future. my dream is something like hypnospace outlaw fully focused on horror
What the fuck... That feast on my dining room table looking kinda crazy right now especially with the voices telling me to eat it... Feast 🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤
I cannot get over the fact that each database entry takes three seconds to load every time (because it's set in the nineties) in a game where all you do is click through all the entries to find the correct one. The creatures and calls are nothing special either. Tedious all around.
I've got no clue what is going on story-wise, but it is quite fun to memorize all the hazards and try to deduce what the client needs. You're not allowed to ask follow up questions or anything but there's no time limit (afaik) so it wasn't all too hard
Cool concept and well done while it lasted. Surprisingly well voice acted, with a few of the callers being actually distressing. Only real gripe is the total lack of replayability. The calls you get every playthrough are the same and in the same order, meaning once you know the answers you are set forever. Some sort of Infinite mode or similar would be pretty cool and be a fun way to keep replayability.
A eerily captivating horror point-and-click. Distant cousin to Hypnospace Outlaw; more railroaded than the latter, but still clearly related. Its roots are firmly seated within internet horror. Gemini Home being the clear inspiration, though genre staples like SCP Foundation also came to mind throughout my playthrough. Yet despite its inspirations, Home Safety Hotline manages to maintain its own identity throughout.
I went into this excited to dig into some neat world-building, but wasn't expecting the game to actually scare me. Some of the phone calls, especially those resulting from fail-states, sent chills down my spine. Absolutely stellar voice-work elevates the experience. Wonderfully creepy cryptid illustrations leave a lot to the imagination. The retro-PC UI allows for a couple of creepy moments through the removal of player autonomy.
We aren't even a month into 2024, and it's already started off with a stellar horror experience. Home Safety Hotline is a chillingly delightful surprise that doesn't spoon-feed you scares. Absolutely worth checking out if you're enjoying the current wave of independent horror.
I went into this excited to dig into some neat world-building, but wasn't expecting the game to actually scare me. Some of the phone calls, especially those resulting from fail-states, sent chills down my spine. Absolutely stellar voice-work elevates the experience. Wonderfully creepy cryptid illustrations leave a lot to the imagination. The retro-PC UI allows for a couple of creepy moments through the removal of player autonomy.
We aren't even a month into 2024, and it's already started off with a stellar horror experience. Home Safety Hotline is a chillingly delightful surprise that doesn't spoon-feed you scares. Absolutely worth checking out if you're enjoying the current wave of independent horror.
Some pretty funny and cool ideas. I like the concept, and wish it went a little more in depth with its concepts, maybe some more variation, but I think it'singenious, hilarious, and compelling. Loved seeing the creator's insights after the fact and hope he follows that type of thing to further ends. The soundtrack is also pretty dope. A worthwhile experience
Great presentation but I didn't find this very fun.
I adored this little gem. Just a fascinating little creation that dropped me straight into a perfect, lived in little world. No exposition dump, no reasoning, just 'do your job' and it's perfect for it.
I originally gave this 4 stars but as I think about it I've changed to 5 because I think it done everything it set out to do perfectly well. I love the Beastiary feel and the growing dread that comes with each day.
Highly recommend people spend the 2 or so hours checking this out
I originally gave this 4 stars but as I think about it I've changed to 5 because I think it done everything it set out to do perfectly well. I love the Beastiary feel and the growing dread that comes with each day.
Highly recommend people spend the 2 or so hours checking this out
a game you can truly tell was made with passion and love by its creators. less scary and more batshit insane, albeit that's not a bad thing at all. there were multiple "aha" moments with regards to the story and the analog horror aspect of things as well as making reading about monsters fun. highly recommend! go in blind!