I don't typically write Steam reviews. I’ve only written one prior to this, and it’s a joke review. However, it's been over two years since my initial playthrough of this game, and frankly, with the impact that Fata Morgana continues to have on me even years after playing, I think I would be doing it a disservice to not share my thoughts on it. This review will be spoiler-free and rather lengthy. I will not be summarizing the plot or giving a neat list of my likes and dislikes, but instead I’m going to raise a few points that I feel will help potential customers decide whether or not this game is for them.

In 2021, there was a period of several weeks where the Switch port of the Fata Morgana collection was the highest rated game of all time on Metacritic. Although a port, this was the first version of the game to get enough critic reviews to receive a rating on the site. Understandably, this made headlines. Many indignant gamers protested than an obscure """anime""" visual novel could never compare to the likes of Mario and Zelda. Even though it was eventually unseated from its throne and knocked down to a 97, it stands as the second highest rated game to release in 2021.
As someone who played Fata Morgana before this influx of media attention, it has been quite interesting to see the reaction that others have to it. Mostly, players can be sorted into two categories. Interestingly enough, I haven’t seen many people who have a simply ‘meh’ reaction to this game. There's the group who claim that this game sucks, often calling it boring, edgy and overrated. And then there's the crowd who praise the game like it’s their child and say that it’s a masterpiece that absolutely deserves its high Metacritic rating. If you haven't figured it out by now, I fit more into the second group. That's not to say that I don't have my issues with the game/series, but overall, I would definitely rank Fata Morgana in my top 3 favorite games of all time, and perhaps #1 in terms of emotional investment.

To be quite honest, not everyone will like this game. YOU may not like this game. Before all the hype, I first heard of Fata Morgana from a Youtube comment chain on a certain Pathologic video essay. The comment listed a few examples of excellent games that are not fun to play, and argued that good games do not necessarily have to be 'fun'. I can certainly agree that, at many points, The House in Fata Morgana is not at all fun. It is an absolutely worthwhile experience that does have some humorous moments, but for the majority of your time with it, you will not be laughing, nor will you feel relaxed or warm and fuzzy inside. Is this a negative? For some people, yes. Many players value the escapist nature of video games, and while Fata Morgana will certainly engross you in its narrative, the universe of this game is often just as cruel as the real world. But of course, this isn’t a drawback for everyone. In the same way that you don't watch a suspense movie for the comedy or a slasher movie for the romance, you shouldn't buy Fata Morgana with the expectation that it’s a feel-good experience. It’s hard to pin Fata Morgana down into one genre, but I feel like the Psychological Horror, Drama, and Gothic Horror tags are accurate. It’s definitely not a dating sim or “eroge”, and this game is quite different from many of the other Japanese VNs on the market.

It seems fairly obvious, but to truly appreciate and 'get' this game, you need to also enjoy reading. I don't mean this in a pretentious Rick and Morty copypasta way. I say it because this is the most 'novel-like' visual novel I have ever played, both narratively and mechanically. Many newer visual novels add extra gameplay systems to spice up the monotony of reading text for hours on end, and without spoiling anything, I will say that Fata Morgana does not do this. You are going to spend your playthrough clicking the enter button and reading text without any voiceover. Again, this is going to be a drawback to some people. However, for players like myself who enjoy literature, this isn't really too much of an issue. I also feel like calling Fata Morgana a glorified book is overly reductive. This game has an absolutely phenomenal soundtrack that’s on par with games like Nier Automata, and the music paired with the beautifully illustrated sprites and key artwork combines to create a truly memorable experience. Fata Morgana would simply not have the impact that it does if the story was told in the form of a book, but it also bears more similarities to a novel than to an action RPG or FPS game.

Finally, I must mention the overall content of the game. Although there are lighthearted moments and plenty of enjoyable characters, at its core, Fata Morgana tells an incredibly heavy and mature story. At various moments, this game will leave you feeling depressed, agonized, hopeless, disgusted, and horrified. There are also lots of potentially triggering topics that arise within the story. In my personal opinion, these topics are (for the most part) handled in a mature and respectful manner, and are not portrayed in an incredibly gratuitous or fetishistic way. There is an ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ list of content warnings on the Mangagamer website, so I advise anyone who may be sensitive to certain topics to review the list before playing. Be aware that this list does contain spoilers and some limited context for a few of the warnings, but I think the game still has plenty of twists and turns even if you do read the list. With that being said, please note that this game is not ALL doom and gloom. Like any good story, there’s highs and lows. There's characters who you will be rooting for, characters you will hate, and quite a few that you will feel conflicted about. Aside from the excellent music, solid artwork, and engaging cast, I think this game’s main strength is its ability to make the players feel things, both good and bad. It is, in all aspects, a bittersweet story.

So, after all this, you still want to play Fata Morgana? Congrats, I think you’re part of the crowd that will really enjoy this game. Besides Steam, this game is also available on PS4, Switch, and Vita (lol). The PS4 and Switch releases are enhanced ports, with the subtitle 'Dreams of the Revenants Edition'. There are a few small differences between the Steam version of the game and the console ports. Mainly, there are more detailed backgrounds in the Switch and PS4 ports. Due to budget constraints, many of the backgrounds within the initial game (including the Steam version) are vague and blurry. The enhanced port contains nicer background art that more accurately reflects the quality of the game's sprites and illustrations.
Fata Morgana also has a prequel and a side game, which are included in the PS4 and Switch bundles. The prequel must be purchased separately on Steam. The side game is currently not available at all on Steam, and due to licensing issues, the developers have confirmed that it may never be added. However, there is a silent playthrough on youtube, so that's always an option if you own the first two games on Steam and don't want to buy the collection on console. I would recommend NOT looking up ANYTHING relating to the prequel or side game until you have finished the first game, as it is quite easy to accidentally spoil yourself. There are also a few bonus side stories included with both the Steam and console versions of this game, but again, these should not be viewed until you complete the main story.

So, I guess I’ll end this with a TLDR. Is this game good? Absolutely. This is one of my favorite stories of all time, and I love it dearly. Should you play it? It depends. If you read this whole review and you’re still on board, then I think you should definitely give it a shot. If you got bored and skipped to the bottom of my review or have some doubts after reading the points I raised, it may not be the sort of thing you would enjoy.

More than a game, The House in Fata Morgana is a finely crafted work of art. The unique and clever Gothic art style, together with the magnificent and shocking story and moving music, is bound to bring players a unique gaming experience.

The plot of the game is about a grand romantic tragedy that spans from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Age, combining some magical elements but still not losing its standard. With the game's suspenseful atmosphere and the plot of the process of gradually approaching the truth of the experience, players who can immerse themselves in it will be able to appreciate the charm of its script. At the same time, The House in Fata Morgana in the visual novel is also unique in the subject matter, this is not to be missed by interested players.

The game does not have a full voice is a big regret, to a certain extent, although it can bring players infinite space for reverie, also brings the loss of immersion. The plot is relatively slow, whether you can survive the slow burn for some players is also a major problem. At the same time, the antiquated system interface and feedback are also major flaws, the gothic art style for players who do not like this style is also a major threshold.

There is no doubt that The House in Fata Morgana is very good, it is different from the many Japanese visual novels on the market, and the quality of the plot itself is also excellent, and will not let the players who came to the name disappointed. But as the saying goes, it's hard to adjust to its shortcomings or if you're not a fan of the game's theme, you don't have to spend time trying.

I'm not one for reviews, I think this is the first time I have ever left a review on steam for anything, despite being familiar with the site for a decade. Even so, I have to leave a review for this game, because it's the least I can do. I'm not going to go into story details, nor am I going to analyze any themes in this comment, I simply want to say that this is the single best story I have ever experienced.
I have read all kinds of manga and books, shows, movies, even other visual novels, but nothing has ever conveyed such human beauty so perfectly, so masterfully, as The House in Fata Morgana. I am not joking when I say that if the human race were to go extinct, and a civilization far into the future were to dig up our remains to better understand humans, amidst the traces of our ugly history, our cruelty, and our inexcusable evil, they somehow come across The House in Fata Morgana, because no piece of media I'm aware of has ever captured the complexity of humanity so, so well, from the ugly, to the beautiful, from the painful, to the hopeful, and our hatred contrasted with our ability to love.

There is your life before this novel, and there's your life after this novel. So please, for 25 dollars, or whatever price the game might be at, buy it. You don't know how badly you need this novel.

I find it hard to describe everything I read, I’m not even the person who usually reviews games in a serious way because of my difficulty in expressing my emotion, however, I felt the need to externalize what I felt in a simple and fast way.

What I read is not a game neither a visual novel, it's a story of a life... Everything that’s happened in this story has stolen my heart, there have been so many beautiful moments that will be impossible to forget...
I found myself crying over tragedies that weren’t mine.

Thanks NOVECT for this masterpiece full of love.

You were able to bear them because they were not your tragedies.

"We cry at tragedies because we draw parallels with our own lives"

The House in Fata Morgana is not for the faint of heart. The stories you will be told are tragic, and I mean really tragic. In short, the game starts off with a maid guiding you through a cursed mansion where she reveals tragedies that have taken place from different eras. Each door she guides you through tells a a completely different tale and each tale gets more deeper and darker than the last. I tend to like darker/more mature stories but even I was caught off guard after witnessing what was behind a certain door. You actually hope the characters can overcome their misfortune because they aren't so bland and one-dimensional. The art is gorgeous and the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack is so fitting. The story doesn't just throw a bunch of tragedies at your face and calls it a day, no, everything is so well thought out. It's not always gloomy and depressing, the games main objective is not to make the player feel sad (it may seem that way at glance) but by making you see the tragedies from different perspectives you can then piece it together and get the bigger picture which is far more rewarding than simply being given the answer. If I were to describe The House in Fata Morgana in two words, it would be: Tragically Beautiful.

While you're witnessing what's behind each door just remember, "You were able to bear them because they weren't your tragedies."

I saw that the rating went from overwhelmingly positive very positive and im really angry because this game is lifechanging.

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The House in Fata Morgana (from here on simply "Fata Morgana") is a visual novel (from here on shortened to "VN") about you, the main character, as someone who can't remember their own identity. You wake up in a strange mansion with only one other person beside you, a maid. To help you reclaim who you once were, you will go on a journey through the various histories that the mansion possesses. However, be warned the mansion is stained in many grueling tales, perhaps remembering who you once were may not be the best decision. How does the story unfold, what is this mansion, and who are you?


+Story: Let's just get down to it, as a VN it's all about the story. So how does the House in Fata Morgana do? Excellent. While a bit older (initially released in 2012), the story of this VN is undeniably great. For those more familiar with the genre, it's immediately apparent that this VN is very different from the typical, choose a girl you're interested in. Now I'm not saying that's neither a good thing nor a bad thing, just bringing to light the notion of it being different and frankly a breath of fresh air for me personally. With that bit out of the way, the story of Fata Morgana is truly an interesting tale. To the point that I was caught off guard or surprised (in more than one way), more than a few times. Without giving too much, I can only tell you that the mix of the supernatural and the viewing of different time periods to make for a very unique dynamic to unraveling the complex story that Fata Morgana has to tell. On your journey you will meet a great many curiosities that will have you wondering in most cases. For people who like a good read, this is a great one.

+Music: The music truly sets the atmosphere of this grim tale, however not just in its darker moments, but even the more lighthearted ones. As stated earlier, you travel through many eras, and depending on the circumstances of the time you are witnessing the music follows suit to an almost extraordinary degree. My particular favorite sound track is the one during the era of the "third door". Afraid I won't be giving you any implications as to what it is, you'll have to find out for yourself ;)

+Visuals: Just as the story and music of this VN takes a very different tone in what it does compared to most others in its genre, the art is no different in that regard. Many VNs go for the more cute aesthetic, but in Fata Morgana it goes with water colors for backgrounds (an interesting choice) and uses character designs mostly of those in the European region (when typically most anime scenarios take place and use characters based in Japan). The design choices presented by Fata Morgana truly provides a unique experience when in contrast with others sharing the same method of storytelling.



-Age: The most notable "flaw" that's of immediate notice is the age of the game. While released on steam in 2016, the game is originally from 2012. As a result the aspect ratio isn't meant for more modern day screens, causing you to play with black bars on the side. This isn't the biggest of deals, but is worth mentioning as it is the single visible flaw that is prevalent throughout the entire game.

-Cliches: The story is very well done, to the point I was led astray at many points, often finding out once a huge twist was involved. However, I was able to guess a few things story-wise while playing that the VN treats as more important plot points. Of course, this is me grasping at straws, really I was mostly curious throughout the whole thing, in some cases I may have guessed right on the occurrences that would take place, but it usually wasn't with 100% certainty. I've even had my own theories shoved in my face with my mouth just wide open due to the turn of events that actually occurred.

-Choices: The game doesn't possess too many options for causing the story to diverge. And often times, the choice to progress, or head towards a bad ending, is fairly obvious. For those who really enjoy the multiple paths a story can take, then perhaps it should be advised to reconsider the purchase. I personally didn't feel too troubled with this fact, as I was far more interested in seeing where everything was gonna go.


Pros:
+An incredible tale everyone should consider
+Possesses a soundtrack fitting for every era and situation you find yourself in
+Unique choice of art style that really helps it stand out

Cons:
-A bit dated all things considered
-Predictable in some instances
-Few and obvious choices for branching paths


While I may have made a few points on what could be considered bad for this VN, I in no way think that those points were enough to take away from my experience with the story Fata Morgana had to offer. I will admittedly say that the beginning felt quite slow (and I usually get into it pretty fast) and even felt like a grind. However, after a certain point (I'd have to say once you reach the second door) the ball really gets rolling. It lacks a true HD experience, and is lacking in choices (the main point that could be considered gameplay in something that would otherwise just be a book). If these are things that are essential to your experience as a reader, than this may not be the VN for you, but if you can look past those faults and want a truly nice, unique story in an otherwise overpopulated genre, then I highly suggest picking this up.

Greatest of all time. Zenith of the medium. Hallmark of media. Gold standard of storytelling. Apogee of creativity. Vertex of invention. Crest of ingenuity. Acme of imagination. Pinnacle of innovation. Epic of epics. Legend among legends. Peak fiction.

This is a game, a story, about love.

It's also about time, tragedy, about hope, hate, despair and everything that falls in between. It revolves around a cursed mansion and its inhabitants in different time periods and explores and questions themes like identity, trust, desire, violence, society, redemption, reincarnation, reconstruction; a mind bending reexamination of lives lived.

It's about the big things in life but it's also about the little things. The things that constantly shapes us when we're not really looking, that gives our day-to-day its meaning and substance.

But more than anything, it's about the complexities of love. Love as a motivator, a discomfort, a longing, a heartache, a blessing, a curse, but most of all, as a relationship: the uneasy steps out of individual comfort zones and the creation of something new together. Love as a path to growth.

It's almost perplexing how they manage to make it all work, it's structurally among the most ambitious tales I've ever witnessed in video games, but they do, it does work, the missteps are few, the memories of it all absolutely enchanting.

It wouldn't have worked without the astonishing soundtrack. It handles everything with surprising ease, frames every scene with emotion and wonder.

It wouldn't have worked without the art, the beautiful depictions of scenery and life, the characters and their subtle expressions.

It wouldn't have worked without the interaction, the implications of the choices feels real.

It wouldn't have worked without the prose, but it wouldn't have worked as just prose.

Which is why it's a video game.

And it's the greatest love story on Steam.