The House in Fata Morgana

And it’s now on iOS! Definitely not for kids, though. Also, you need a Crunchyroll membership

The House in Fata Morgana can only be described as an otherworldly experience. A serene sense of nostalgia, melancholy and comfort washes over me every time I remember this title: it's enchanting, yet haunting music, gothic oil-painted art style, beautiful depictions of early modern period Europe, and the incredible story, which I consider to be the best of any video game. You wake up in an old, decrepit mansion, a vestige of it's former resplendence, and greeting you is a somber, pale maid, who's motive is to help you remember your status as a former master of this place, although you do not have any recollection of it. The story begins by introducing the former inhabitants of the mansion in their respective times, demonstrating the longevity of this noble abode. You witness their quotidian, the relationships that they form, and as they seemingly have their lives turn for the better, through opportunities of newfound love, the residents always seem to meet a cruel fate sooner rather than later, crushing their novel happiness in a horribly cruel manner. The story then focuses it's aim on a special resident, a supposed witch who has cursed the inhabitants of the mansion in olden times, serving as a cruel twist of fate for the coming generations, but things are never as they seem, as Fata Morgana thinks 5 steps ahead and produces plot twist after plot twist to constantly change the status quo and challenge your understanding of the events surrounding this unearthly mansion. It's truly in the later moments of the story, where you will meet some of the most well written characters in a fictional medium, characters so beautify flawed and relatable due to their human nature, you can't help but wish they overcome their tragic situations. And it's when everything comes together in the last act of this grandiose work of art, where you truly understand the position of every single character through their unlikely relationships, a fleeting, hopeful dream followed by despair and disaster for everyone involved. The themes this game tries to communicate to the reader are so abundantly clear and well realized, you can't help but shiver at every retrospect, every thought put into the illustrious scenarios you deliciously devour while waiting to see what despondency will be brought on the poor, wretched souls that have suffered and made suffer. Emotions will run rampant as you try to contextualize the ever living tragedy found in these chapters, and the conclusion helps wonderfully bring to fruition every single character's journey, potentially letting them see the last chapter of their lives end on a happy note, in a game otherwise governed by sadness and tragedy. The House in Fata Morgana is a story about humanity at it's most primitive, vulnerable state, through the good, the bad and the terror that it can afflict. It is a celebration of art in numerous forms, and anyone who loves to get lost in the world of love and tragedy should experience this spectacular visual novel.

Start this story knowing nothing. Don’t read the description. Start the game and awaken in the mansion, beginning a spellbinding epic journey of love, pain, betrayal, violence, redemption, and revenge. I am glad that I can now accessibly replay this incredible gothic visual novel again and again.

A once in a lifetime piece of fiction, a story I implore anyone to read at least once before they die.