When I spoke to Steve Gaynor, designer of Gone Home and founder of The Fullbright Company, in March, success was far less certain. The initial signs were good – the Independent Games Festival had created a new category to reward excellence in narrative, and Gone Home had been nominated, and the IGF judges and others who had played an incomplete early build were expressing enthusiasm for its combat-free, emotionally exploratory gameplay.
Dave writes: "If you’re a fan of walking simulators, then the name probably sticks in the throat, but let’s ‘own it’ and chuck the best and mightiest of the genre into a bear pit and let them have at it! Hoo-rah! As with most genre lists, there’s some controversy about what does or doesn’t constitute a walking simulator. Dialogue and navigation is preferred over puzzles and more intensive interaction like combat or QTEs. Jumping/crouching is positively frowned upon. Strap on your hiking boots and let’s ramble!"
Starting today, Drawful 2, Gone Home, Hob, and Totally Reliable Delivery Service are free at Epic Games Store. The free game offers run until April 9 at 10 AM. Once you claim them, they’re yours to keep.
If you're a fan of the narrative-driven walking simulator genre, then these titles really need to be in your Switch games library.
