The House in Fata Morgana Reviews

I'm not sure what people see in this. The music is really bad, the writing is bland, the characters are flat. The game starts so incredibly slow, and I just can't bring myself to sit through 30 hours of a story that might get good in the third act. ---- okay wow people didn't like this. I actually want to elaborate on it a little bit tbh. My disclaimer is that (as my playtime will show) I only got through the first two out of eight doors before giving up on it. Honestly, I feel like a big part of not liking this is simply a me thing. Visual novels are probably not really to my taste, especially since these older ones tend to be real slow burners. That's okay, I respect the genre. re: the music - In the first two doors, I just honestly don't like the songs. The vocal song in the first doors is incredibly distracting when you're trying to read. The songs also loop in a strange place, so they feel really disjointed. re: the characters - look, I've been on the internet, so I know that there are characters with real arcs as the story really starts flowing and as plot twists, etc happen. But in these first few doors, you get just kind of really bland scenarios with very milquetoast arcs. The only interesting character in the first few doors is the girl with the silver hair (of course this is the whole point of this story, if the title card is to mean anything at all). But the small stories in both of these doors are very bland, and I just found myself clicking through the lines waiting for something interesting to actually happen. So, the biggest issue I really have is with the pacing, and this is common to a lot of visual novels. The beginning is mean to set up the atmosphere, and a few mysteries. And they're set up, I mean we have our (presumably) three major characters which are the maid girl, the silver haired girl, and character that the player is meant to represent. I think they are interesting mysteries. But personally I don't find sitting through 10 hours of tangentially related boring stories to be worth it, even with the hope that it will be better after those 10 hours. I just frankly have better things to spend my time on. After even just three hours, it was like pulling teeth to pick up this title and think "surely it will get interesting soon". Other people won't have this problem, but really that was my main problem with this title. Anyways, idk why exactly I felt the need to write more on this. Maybe to defend myself at all from the clown reacts. I'll probably get more. But maybe this will also be a bit of solidarity to other people who really wanted to see why this title was so popular but then got hit like I did with how hard it is to get through the entire first half on just faith.

The House in Fata Morgana is a hauntingly beautiful visual novel that transcends its genre through masterful storytelling, unforgettable characters, and a deeply emotional narrative that lingers long after the credits roll. Developed by Novectacle and originally released in Japan before being localized and published on Steam, this gothic tale stands as one of the most acclaimed and mature examples of interactive fiction, seamlessly blending dark fantasy with psychological drama and philosophical depth. From the moment the game begins, you’re drawn into a mysterious mansion—ancient, decaying, and seemingly suspended in time. You awaken with no memories, greeted only by a pale maid who promises to guide you through the house’s tragic history. Each door within the mansion opens a window to a different time and place, revealing the lives of its past inhabitants across several centuries. What initially seems like a simple anthology of gothic tales soon deepens into an intricate tapestry of human suffering, trauma, love, and redemption. The structure of the game is unique and masterfully executed. Rather than a traditional branching narrative, The House in Fata Morgana is largely linear but divided into distinct arcs, each with its own characters and themes. These stories are set in different historical periods—from medieval Europe to a distorted version of the Industrial Age—yet all are connected by a persistent thread of tragedy. The brilliance of the narrative lies in how these seemingly isolated episodes gradually weave together into a cohesive and emotionally devastating whole. At its core, The House in Fata Morgana is a meditation on identity, the nature of love, and the enduring scars of trauma. The characters are not simply vessels for plot but complex individuals shaped by pain, guilt, and longing. Morgana, the titular figure, is one of the most memorable characters in visual novel history—not because she is enigmatic or magical, but because she is so heartbreakingly human. As her story unfolds, it forces the player to confront uncomfortable questions about justice, revenge, and forgiveness. The narrative doesn't shy away from disturbing content, and at times it is emotionally grueling, but its intent is never exploitative. Everything serves the larger purpose of exploring the human condition with honesty and nuance. The writing is poetic without being pretentious, filled with vivid imagery and introspective dialogue that elevates it far above the typical standards of the medium. The localization deserves praise for retaining the elegance and emotional weight of the original Japanese script. Even though the game is mostly told through text and static images, it feels cinematic thanks to its pacing and the seamless integration of visuals, music, and narration. Visually, the game is striking. The art style is lush and painterly, with character portraits and backgrounds that evoke classical oil paintings. While the visuals remain mostly static, subtle changes in expression and framing imbue the scenes with a surprising amount of emotional depth. The UI is clean and atmospheric, never distracting from the story, and the overall design enhances the gothic tone without feeling overly stylized. Equally vital to the experience is the soundtrack, composed by Mellok’n and other contributors, which is nothing short of exceptional. With tracks that range from melancholic piano solos to intense orchestral pieces, the music complements every emotional beat with precision. Some themes are reused and reinterpreted across different story arcs, reinforcing thematic continuity and emotional resonance. What sets The House in Fata Morgana apart from many visual novels is its complete absence of fanservice or pandering. It is unapologetically mature—not in a graphic or edgy way, but in how it tackles its subject matter with intelligence and restraint. The game trusts its audience to engage with difficult material, and it rewards that trust with a narrative experience that is profoundly moving and thought-provoking. It’s a game that doesn’t just entertain but invites reflection, encouraging players to question their own moral assumptions and capacity for empathy. Though largely linear, the game does eventually offer branching paths and multiple endings, including one true route that ties everything together in a staggering emotional climax. The developers later released The House in Fata Morgana: Requiem for Innocence and Reincarnation, which add depth and context to the main story, making the Steam release—bundled as The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition—a definitive and content-rich package for those who want to explore every facet of the narrative. In conclusion, The House in Fata Morgana is a masterclass in storytelling that proves video games can explore themes as profound as any novel or film. It’s a melancholic journey that confronts cruelty, suffering, and the possibility of redemption with grace and unflinching honesty. For those willing to immerse themselves in its dark but ultimately hopeful world, this visual novel offers an experience that is as emotionally cathartic as it is unforgettable. It is not just a standout in its genre—it is one of the most powerful stories told in the medium of games. Rating: 9/10

What a joy this was to read. It's not perfect but will leave you different for sure.

Loved the setting, characters, and themes. Disliked the UI and lack of a "don't skip unread text" option in the settings.

been recommended to play this for like one year or more, i didn't know i was recommended to play torture chamber the visual novel. "May the world that awaits us be filled with light" peak fiction.

Absolutely marvelous VN. The Second Door suffers from pacing issues (something even the writers awknowledge in the Backstage) but beyond that it's incredibly written, truly the magnum opus of NOVECT.

This game is bugged on Steam Deck and progress cannot be saved. A shame, because I'd have really liked to continue playing. I finished the story behind the first door, but was unable to save and then the game froze on the save screen. I tried it several times but the same issue kept recurring.

I have no doubt that if its story was written a few hundred years ago in Europe it would be considered a classic of Gothic literature. It has in its own amazing way every genre marker I can think of. This game is truly exceptional in it's ability to make you think 'surely this can't get any more tragic', and then getting so much more tragic in ways that amplify the original tragedy exponentially. It is undoubtedly one of the most painful experiences for characters that I have seen or read ever before; and yet through it all is an unmistakable vein of porcelain hope. It has an ending that throws into stark relief the pain and hope of everyone's story, it does not waste any words. This says nothing of the absolutely stunning soundtrack that does so much for the tone and setting of the story. The art, character designs, and backgrounds are all completely beautiful and utterly unique. If you are a fan of Gothic literature or art I could not recommend this game enough.

i haven't finished the game but my god this is the most beautiful game, no, story one could participate in. The twists?? the narrative?? the beautiful breakdown of what it means to be human. The good and bad of it. the grace and evil of being so. Seriously just play this game already and you wouldn't regret it one bit.

[i]The House in Fata Morgana[/i] gave me one of the deepest and most heartbreaking experiences I’ve ever had in a game. Its gothic atmosphere, the doors that take us across different times and tragedies, and the way it portrays sin, regret, and broken lives constantly reminded me how much people long for forgiveness. Michel’s struggle with his identity, Giselle’s pure love and hope, and Morgana’s tragedy and thirst for revenge all came together to form a painful yet profoundly moving story. Especially in the final doors, the weight of forgiveness and love was so overwhelming that I couldn’t hold back my tears. The gothic artwork felt like walking through a painted tragedy, while the music pierced straight into my heart, making the story even more unforgettable. To me, The House in Fata Morgana is not just a visual novel but a masterpiece etched into my heart.