Gone Home icon

Gone Home

v1.0.3

Annapurna Interactive

430 ratings

Report updated Apr 2, 2026

What Is Gone Home?

Gone Home is a premium, narrative-driven exploration simulator that offers a deep, non-violent mystery set in a 1990s home. It targets narrative-focused gamers who value environmental storytelling over traditional game mechanics. By utilizing a one-time purchase model, the app positions itself as a high-art, distraction-free experience. Its core differentiator is the inclusion of extensive developer commentary, which provides added value for fans of the genre.

What does it look like?

What are the key features?

Interactive Exploration SimulatorDifferentiator

A non-linear narrative experience where players investigate a 1990s home by examining objects, notes, and letters to piece together a family's story.

Developer Commentary ModeDifferentiator

Over 90 minutes of behind-the-scenes audio commentary from the developers, musicians, and voice talent.

Nonviolent, Puzzle-Free GameplayDifferentiator

A stress-free exploration experience designed to be played at the user's own pace without combat or traditional game puzzles.

Immersive Environmental StorytellingStandard

A highly detailed, atmospheric 1990s setting with environmental audio cues like rainstorms to enhance immersion.

What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.

Gathering public signals...

Sentiment analysis will be available once enough user reviews are collected.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • Critically acclaimed narrative depth
  • Unique developer commentary feature
  • Distraction-free, premium user experience

Cons

  • Limited replayability
  • Niche market appeal
  • Lack of recent content updates

What is the market outlook?

Growth Opportunities

  • Cross-promotion with other Annapurna titles
  • Targeting players seeking low-stress, high-immersion experiences

Market Threats

  • Competition from free-to-play atmospheric titles
  • Market saturation of indie prestige games

Who competes with Gone Home?

Contenders

The Gardens Between

The Gardens Between

THE VOXEL AGENTS PTY. LTD.

A narrative-focused experience that emphasizes emotional resonance and environmental discovery in a puzzle-lite, stress-free environment.

Same Space

GRIS

GRIS

4.5 (752)

Devolver

A non-violent, atmospheric platformer that prioritizes emotional storytelling and visual design over mechanical difficulty.

Old Man's Journey

Old Man's Journey

Broken Rules

A narrative-heavy exploration game that uses environmental interaction to tell a poignant, non-verbal story.

New Kids on the Block

Afterplace

Afterplace

Evan Kice

A modern indie exploration game that emphasizes discovery and world-building, appealing to players who enjoy uncovering secrets in a hand-crafted environment.

What are the key takeaways?

Gone Home is a divisive games app that is a paid app. With a 3.8/5 rating from 430 reviews, it receives mixed feedback from users.

Best for: Narrative-focused gamers and fans of 'walking simulators' who value deep storytelling, atmospheric settings, and emotional resonance over traditional combat-based gameplay.

How much does it cost?

Model: paid

Tiers:
One-time purchase at $4.99

Premium, one-time purchase model targeting users looking for a complete, ad-free, and distraction-free narrative experience without microtransactions.

iOS Version

1.0.3

Release Date

Dec 11, 2018

iOS Price

$4.99

Independent intel to help builders create better apps.

No publisher influence. No third-party bias. Built with objectivity in mind to serve the builder community. Reports are continuously improved and refined. For informational purposes only.

Hope this helps & keep building! · Found an error?

Cite this report

Marlvel.ai. “Gone Home Intelligence Report.” Updated Apr 2, 2026. https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/gone-home

Agent Markdown (.md)·

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