No Longer Home
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No Longer Home
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that No Longer Home is a downloadable point and click adventure for Windows PCs. The game centers around two students that have just graduated from university in England, who are dealing with the emotional baggage that comes with their next steps in their lives and how it will affect or change their relationship. Gameplay's relatively easy to control thanks to its point and click nature, along with the use of only two buttons to rotate the camera around the location you’re in to discover new items to interact with or observe. It’s entirely possible to completely miss elements because you haven't explored enough or rotated the camera. It's also possible to misunderstand conversations because figuring out who’s talking, particularly in group scenes, isn't entirely clear. While nothing's shown, there’s some potential dialogue revolving around stabbing and suicidal ideation. Similarly, there’s discussions about things like depression and disassociation in conversations which could affect some players. There are also some sequences where alcoholic bottles are shown and comments are made about drinking and being hungover, but these events aren’t seen by players.
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What’s It About?
NO LONGER HOME is a point and click adventure starring two students, Ao and Bo, at a pivotal moment in their lives that they've been dreading for a long time. Both of them have graduated from university in London, and are dealing with the fear and anxiety of heading into the world and becoming an "adult." Both have large challenges to overcome, such as Ao's sense of being an outsider in both England and Japan, and Bo's Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Even worse, the queer, non-binary couple is facing uncertainty in their relationship because Ao's student visa has expired. Since neither has the money, school prospects, or jobs that they can take to remain together, this means that Ao will have to move back to Japan while Bo moves back to their parent's house in England. As the couple prepares to move their belongings out of their shared flat, they reminisce with each other and their friends about their time in school, their hopes and fears, and their concerns about the future. Players will explore the rooms and surroundings of their flat, investigating items that trigger memories or conversations about points in their lives. They'll also uncover mysterious events that seem to be taking over and weaving their way through the building, possibly caused by Ao, Bo, and their friend's choices in this apartment. Will the couple somehow find a happy resolution?
Is It Any Good?
This is a short, touching emotional tale of two students, but the missing resolution of any story points can leave you disappointed and frustrated with the tale. No Longer Home will strike a nerve with older gamers, especially those that have been in college or had older siblings that struggled with what they wanted to do with their lives when they graduated. In fact, the emotional tone the game strikes with the handling of anxiety and fears for Ao, Bo, and their friends feels genuine. It's touching to know that Ao and Bo have found each other as queer, non-binary people that care for each other, and also have a group of friends that support them and their choices. It's also what makes the exploration of their lives through their South London flat so heartbreaking, because you're constantly reminded of the life that they're both losing due to the expired student visa. While you sincerely hope they'll both find happiness, ideally with each other, there's a sense and dread that this might not actually work out in the end, which feels realistic, because not every story ends happily.
Unfortunately, while this feels like it's handled just right, far too many items are unexplained. For example, the game introduces magical realism elements like odd monster-like creatures or plants that grow in unexpected places in the flat, without any explanation of why they're in the story. If the game included them as a manifestation of the character's fears, or even explained their presence as a metaphor, this would make sense. Instead, there's no explanation, and no outcome when you interact with these elements. Similarly, while Ao, Bo, and their friends talk to each other, the dialogue feels a bit shallow, and right as a conversation seems like it's going to reach a deep moment, it shifts to a new scene. Unfortunately, that means important topics are raised but are never resolved, conversations fall flat, and before you know it, the game ends abruptly. It's bittersweet, because No Longer Home had a lot of promise, but it leaves you wanting a lot more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mental health. While the characters in No Longer Home struggle with their emotions and mental stability, is it a positive thing that they’re willing to discuss their issues with their friends? Is it a larger issue that they don't actively seek help from professionals, leaving them to handle their concerns alone instead of seeking therapy or aid?
What have you done when things seem impossible? Have you looked for help from your friends and family? Was there something that could make the task a bit more manageable or achievable? Do you think Ao and Bo could've done the same in No Longer Home?
Game Details
- Platform: Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Fellow Traveler
- Release date: July 30, 2021
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: August 6, 2021
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