Welcome Home Review: Cult Horror with PS1-Style Aesthetics

by Luis January 10, 2025

Stalker Studios’ indie horror title, Welcome Home, offers a one-of-a-kind experience as it marries cult-inspired narratives and PS1-style visuals. With clear inspiration from movies like Midsommar, the game takes players into the heart of a cult hidden in the woods through the protagonist’s visit to an unexplained “festival.” Despite some setbacks in simplistic gameplay and underwhelming endings, Welcome Home captures the eerie charm of the cult horror genre through delightful silence, tense stealth sequences, and eccentric aesthetic choices.

Welcome Home Review: Cult Horror with PS1-Style Aesthetics

– Stalker Studios’ indie horror game “Welcome Home” is notably influenced by films like Midsommar and uses PS1-style graphics to create a gripping mix of cultish enthusiasm and sinister undertones, focusing its gameplay on escape rather than violence.
– While silence replaces conventional horror game music to create tension, the mechanics mainly involve simple clicking and hiding tasks, and although the game offers multiple endings, some of them, especially the basic ‘escape’ conclusion, feel lackluster.
– Despite minor technical glitches and simplistic gameplay, the game still manages to impress with its unique visual style, effective use of silence, and tense stealth sequences.

Welcome Home, developed by Stalker Studios, stands out as a singular entity amongst the myriad of indie horror games available on Itch.io. The game draws explicit influence from films reminiscent of the ilk of Midsommar, yet also manages to assert its own distinct identity.

Taking a closer look at the title, ‘Welcome Home’ encapsulates the game’s horrifying premise with elegance and simplicity. The name serves as an insinuation to the false sense of family and communal harmony that cults notoriously offer as an alternative to forming genuine relationships. Our protagonist embarks on this eerie journey after receiving an invitation from an estranged friend, Astrid, who claims to have found unparalleled joy and peace in the confines of a seemingly idyllic commune.

Comically simplistic character design imbues a sense of unease, highlighting the macabre undertones of the community’s overzealous enthusiasm. The game swaps traditional religious insignia with cheery flower crowns, further magnifying the dread submerged beneath the surface.

Capitalizing on the nostalgia-inducing PS1-style graphics, the game successfully builds an ambiance that is discomforting yet intriguing. Moreover, the game’s visual design emerges as its strongest suit.

Welcome Home differentiates itself from other contemporary horror games by centering its gameplay around evasion rather than violence. The game features hair-raising sequences where the player must deftly evade patrolling cultists, culminating in exhilarating chases.

Another noteworthy design choice that emerges prominently is the conspicuous absence of any background score. The eerie silence amplifies the sinister atmosphere, embellished by the bizarre contrast of cheerful cult members and the grim undertones.

The game, however, stumbles on the gameplay front. Overly simplified clicking and hiding mechanics coupled with an excess of guidance dampens the charm of solving challenging puzzles. Visibly evident technical glitches occasionally act as minor speed bumps in an otherwise smooth horror journey.

Furthermore, the game falls short in offering a satisfying conclusion despite featuring multiple endings. The central “escape” ending, in particular, seems to downplay the intensity and fails to provide closure regarding the fate of the cult.

Regardless of its shortcomings, Welcome Home triumphs in enriching the indie horror game landscape with its eccentric aesthetic selections and atmospheric design. The amalgamation of retro visuals with contemporary horror elements births an engaging experience – one that oozes nostalgia, yet exudes freshness.

Coming to the final evaluation, Welcome Home is an interesting dive into the genre of indie horror games, offering an atmospheric experience with a distinctive visual style. It does, however, falter in its basic gameplay mechanics and at times falls short of resolution. Despite such limitations, the game’s artistic vision shines through and piques interest continuously. Overall, Welcome Home scores a commendable 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Welcome Home is now available on itch.io.