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The House in Fata Morgana - Dreams of the Revenants Edition -

The House in Fata Morgana - Dreams of the Revenants Edition -

HuneX · released Apr 9, 2021

Visual NovelPlayStation 4Nintendo Switch

A gothic suspense tale set in a cursed mansion. The House in Fata Morgana is a full-length visual novel spanning nearly a millennium that deals in tragedy, human nature, and insanity.

86
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence
96%
Press
86%
Player sentiment
95%
Backloggd
1,985
Ratings

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)9620
All-time Steam reviews0
Metacritic user ratings73390
Backloggd ratings95603
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)0
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (10)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 80
    trust 80Jun 11, 2021

    The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition is a long and finely constructed visual novel. It promises an intricate plot of suspense, intrigue and revenge for anyone willing to commit forty or more hours to the story.

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  • 90
    trust 76Dec 25, 2021

    The House in Fata Morgana is over 40 hours long, and in those 40 hours, you'll maybe get to make about three decisions. It is a visual novel in the strictest sense of the word, and you must be prepared for that going in. But with a fantastic, original, slow-burn story about love, loss, hurt, forgiveness, and recovery, it's one of the best visual novels out there, and your patience will be paid off in the end.

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  • 100
    trust 70Apr 8, 2021

    The House in Fata Morgana on Nintendo Switch is the best way to experience a true masterpiece of storytelling.

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  • 100
    trust 69Apr 26, 2021

    The House In Fata Morgana had a profound effect on me: I now have an answer to the question of “what was the last game to leave you in tears”, and they went from tears of sadness to joy after the main story’s stinger. I’m not sure there’s going to be another visual novel on Switch that hits me this hard - but I’d love to see someone try.

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  • 100
    trust 68Apr 30, 2021

    Sublime writing, beautiful artwork, and a haunting soundtrack combine to undertake one most nuanced and thoughtful explorations of all the best and worst of the human condition, disturbing and intense, but ultimately hopeful, and with a level of care and humanity that’s rare to see in a game that goes to the dark places this one does. Perhaps most of all, it’s a perfect example of how much visual novels can push the boundaries of videogames as a medium and as an art form, both because and in spite of their “gameplay” constraints. The House in Fata Morgana is, quite simply, a masterpiece on every level.

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  • 100
    trust 58Apr 15, 2021

    I cannot think of a single negative thing to say about The House in Fata Morgana. My time with the game was well spent, and I crave a replay as soon as possible, so I can dive even deeper and appreciate the game at a different pace. This definitive version of the Fata Morgana series is perfectly suited for the Switch, allowing you to read on the go as you move through one of the most beloved visual novels in the genre.

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  • 100
    trust 57Apr 14, 2021

    The House in Fata Morgana borrows the moves of classic tragedies, performing events past to demonstrate the tragedy of the current. It is impressive how little time it takes to understand the motives and dreams of the Rose Manor residents, even when they fall to their lowest extent. The storytelling, art style, and music harmonizes its themes of vintage times and freely mold each scene from childish hope to shock and terror. Having every game in this series on one of the most convenient gaming systems for visual novels makes it very difficult to argue its value.

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  • 100
    trust 54Apr 13, 2021

    There are moments where Fata Morgana becomes very uncomfortable to witness, and a little like when I played Saya no Uta, I did need to put it down from time to time. This game is nowhere near as explicit or extreme as that one, but thematically it is, if anything, more demanding of the player. It's a little like how the real Grimm brothers fairy tales are deeply uncomfortable to read, though it's certainly not of the extreme, overt violence of a Marquis de Sade novel. If you want to see how a visual novel could be elevated to something approaching "high art," you owe it to yourself to play The House in Fata Morgana. The fact that the Switch release comes with even more stories and features as a "complete" edition just makes it all the more essential.

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  • 100
    trust 53Jun 9, 2021

    The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants is a true artistic work and does not fail in any aspect of its proposal. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.

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  • 85
    trust 52Oct 7, 2021

    I think fans of gothic literature, visual novels and/ or engrossing stories will find something to love about this game. Just know that if you start it, you've got to reach the end to really appreciate what it has to offer. [Issue #55, October 2021, p. 28]