Home Safety Hotline
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Critic Reviews for Home Safety Hotline
Home Safety Hotline is a unique game in both the adventure genre and the horror genre, using deduction-based gameplay to great effect as folks attempt to decipher just what kind of gnome or fantastical fungus is plaguing each caller. While it could have been tougher, the cleverly-designed blend of supernatural phenomena and sharp comedic writing with a nicely dark edge will keep players hooked until the end. The prospect of working at a call center for things that go bump in the night sure is terrifying (although that goes for any job at a call center, period), but here, it's a job worth tackling.
Ultimately, Home Safety Hotline is a fairly linear puzzle game but makes up for its depth of mechanics with its depth of lore. There’s a severe lack of whimsy in horror, and perhaps it’s just me but I feel that fairies, hags, and similar supernatural creatures haven’t yet been given a fair shake. This game is a lot of fun if you’re not an achievement hunter, otherwise you’ll end up playing it twice without really seeing any new content.
As a whole, Home Safety Hotline doesn’t outstay its welcome, and it’s an absolute treat for lovers of folklore or fans of the uncanny. I never thought I’d say it, but this is one call centre I’ve absolutely loved clocking into.
Home Safety Hotline is a creative and clever analog horror experience that’ll keep players entertained (and spooked) with its call centre-themed puzzling. The gameplay loop is addictive and engaging thanks to the creatively disturbing enigmas that callers send your way, whilst the old-school presentation will certainly vibe with those who’ve been using PCs since the 90s. The best part of all? It just feels so unique to play. Whilst it does share some similarities with the likes of Papers, Please or Security Booth, there’s just something about Home Safety Hotline that makes it feel unlike anything else I’ve played before. The fact that it also just so happens to be a lot of fun is the cherry on top.
Is Home Safety Hotline worth adding to your game library? I think it is, most definitely. Because despite its significant flaws, this is a title that not only looks good, but also offers something new in the horror genre. And, most importantly, it brings a lot of fun.
Review in Polish | Read full review
While Home Safety Hotline does fumble with its gameplay somewhat, the journey from beginning to end is intriguing and fun. This accessible analog horror has an addicting gameplay loop that never gets tedious, excellent worldbuilding and writing, and a great atmosphere. Fans who love analog or supernatural horror should definitely pick up this game.
Night Signal Entertainment packed this game with a genuine love for the craft. They hand-made props, recruited their acting friends from a past life, used old photos of themselves to craft monsters. This is horror straight from the heart. That makes Home Safety Hotline a special game — one of the better analog horror experiences we've played — and it certainly showcases the potential of what Night Signal Entertainment's mixed media efforts may achieve in the years to come. If you're up for the kind of horror that crawls under your skin and has you rethinking what the rustling in the corner of your room could be, this game is 100% for you.
I came away from Home Safety Hotline both pleasantly surprised with some aspects and disappointed with others, two contrasting tones can work together to create a compelling experience. However, Home Safety Hotline didn’t deliver on that for me. The captivating creature entries and engaging gameplay loop were highlights, showcasing the love poured into these creations, followed by the occasional fantastic performance. Beyond these aspects, the overall experience failed to resonate with me. That being said, there is an incredible amount of talent on display and I’m looking forward to seeing what the developer puts out next. Therefore, I am awarding Home Safety Hotline the Silver Thumb Culture Award.
