This Game With a 96 Metacritic Score Has The Most Poignant Love Story of All Time

In the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day, the world seems to turn different shades of red and pink, with roses and teddy bears in shop windows and romantic ideals seeming to permeate the very air itself. The gaming world isn’t immune to this yearly festival of hearts and Cupid’s arrows, with plenty of love stories from titles past popping into fans’ heads each February 14. Yuna and Tidus, Geralt and Yennefer, Shepard and Garrus—the list of (mostly) happy couples goes on. However, one bizarre game often flies under the radar when it comes to love stories, despite it boasting a wildly high rating across the board: The House in Fata Morgana.

Developed by Novectacle, The House in Fata Morgana was, for a time, the most highly rated game on the Nintendo Switch, stunning fans of the console and driving people toward the unique romance-driven visual novel. While this specific type of game isn’t always an easy sell, those who decided to give it a shot found themselves utterly entranced with its artwork and story, the latter of which is anything but straightforward. To say that love and heartache are at the heart of the mystery title is an understatement, and those who make it to the end and unravel every string will not forget it any time soon.

The House in Fata Morgana is An Emotional Tour de Force Perfect for Valentine’s Day

The plot of The House in Fata Morgana isn’t so easily summarized, and the title must be played in its entirety to fully understand its depth, but certain tidbits may lure the curious into its grasp this Valentine’s. One day, a spirit with no memories awakens in a mysterious mansion, desperate to recover its lost memories. To this end, a strange maid appears, eager to share her own memories of the property with the ghost. The maid has worked in the mansion for hundreds of years, and subsequently shares her impressions, diving into the lives of several inhabitants of the house from 1099 until 1869. This is done in the hopes that these stories will stir something in the spirit, and when this proves to eventually be the case, the full truth is something no one is prepared to face.

Several love stories are told over the span of the game, from young puppy love to mature pining, with the main relationship holding a singular thread that ties each story together. Only in the later hours of the title does it all come together, with a series of sharp and shocking twists and turns easily landing The House in Fata Morgana at the top rung of the visual novel ladder. It’s anything but predictable, and its cloying atmosphere is only bolstered by an unexpectedly powerful soundtrack. Five composers contributed to the game’s impactful music, most of which features vocals, giving it a more theatrical feel and making the start of each chapter feel like a new curtain rising.

Visual novels often feature an anime aesthetic, and given its Japanese roots, most would have expected Fata Morgana to do the same. Instead, realism was the key to making a story strong enough to withstand the test of time, and alongside its powerful writing, its impressionist artwork, by Moyataro, is far from generic, with each character and historical setting feeling truly alive on the screen.

Feedback to The House at Fata Morgana has been incredibly positive, with its Metacritic score of 96 only being the tip of the iceberg. Critics have called it everything from “one of the best stories in gaming” to “an experience both beautiful and painful in equal measure,” with one writer having trouble explaining “just how profound an effect the game had on their psyche” without spoiling its many secrets. It’s rare to see a niche visual novel find such ample critical acclaim, but the title is currently ranked higher than several recent megahits on OpenCritic as well, including Hollow Knight: Silksong (91), Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (90), and even Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (92).

While Love Plays a Central Role, The House in Fata Morgana Also Tackles Plenty of Dark and Heavy Themes

While its main love story is unforgettable for positive reasons, not least of all its longevity and the couple’s undying dedication to one another, not all love in The House in Fata Morgana is created equal, and all of it is certainly not healthy. As the dark and somewhat eerie artwork may imply, the game doesn’t shy away from many distressing topics, with love sometimes warped in upsetting ways. From an incestuous relationship to pure obsession that destroys a person’s mental health, the visual novel addresses not only the concept of a happy ending, but what can happen when passions go too far, and attachment becomes unhealthy and destructive.

Poisoned romance isn’t the only heavy theme the game tackles, with some chapters telling tales of slavery and discrimination and others showing the devastating impact of self-sacrifice, not only on the person doing the sacrificing, but on those who care for them. Perhaps what The House in Fata Morgana does best is tackle the concept of perspective, with many of its nuanced characters being plainly good or evil. Circumstances drive them, and just as some of the choices made lead to positive outcomes, others lead to ruin and the need for redemption. It’s easy for players to find themselves in one or many of the game’s characters, and that makes it an easy recommendation for fans of visual novels or skeptics alike.

Curiously, the story of The House in Fata Morgana may not be over just yet. In early 2025, a live-action adaptation of the game was confirmed to be in development, thanks to a particularly passionate North American film director. It’s unclear when—or if—this will truly come to pass, but fans remain hopeful. This Valentine’s Day may be best spent exploring this otherworldly title, though it should be mentioned that most who make it to the end should be prepared to shed a few tears.

Released

May 13, 2016

ESRB

m

Developer(s)

Novectacle

Publisher(s)

Dramatic Labs

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