Gone Home - Home Truths

[@ManyATrueNerd]

Apologies if you're seeing a weird visual bug at 20:13 - this is something that KZbin's showing to some viewers, and I'm trying to figure out why...

[@sironastillwater]

Oh sure, now that you have posted about it clicking either your time stamp or the one in my own comment shows no more issues on my end and just make us (mostly me) look crazy xD thanks for always bringing fun content tho

[@ManyATrueNerd]

Don't worry - some people are still seeing it. Sometimes just on mobile. Sometimes just on desktop. I'm trying to contact somebody at KZbin to figure it out, as I've double checked the file I uploaded and there's nothing wrong in it...

[@richardurwin4432]

I tried all resolutions from 360-1080 and got the corruption. Then I refreshed and now it's gone.

[@ManyATrueNerd]

On the plus side, if you are too young to remember recording your own VHS tapes - imagine literally everything looking like that visual bug, and that's about right.

[@richardurwin4432]

@@ManyATrueNerd Betamax was better, and a bit smaller too. (ducks and hides)

[@B_Skizzle]

My favorite detail is the note from the mom telling Sam to stop turning all the lights on because she's acting like her sister. Of course you, playing as her sister, are inclined to turn the lights on because dark = scary.

[@Smi7h1sH3r3]

i like how during the super serious conversation...Jon threw the laundry detergent box into the washer.....lol

[@vicentefernandez9084]

Man, this hit me in a way I didn't expect. So, my sister's 10 years younger than me, and she came out to my mom (single mom, 2 kids, grew up in the 60s) at about 15, and I was home for dinner when it happened. My mom's response, to my sister telling her she "liked girls", was "long as it's *good* girls, then it's none of my business if it's girls or whatever". And that was it. That's when I cemented the knowledge that I have one of the best moms in the universe.

[@geekwithglasses2897]

I think that Terry’s books were also about acceptance since the main character goes back to 1963 and saving someone and the last book being about the main character saving himself. The abuse might also be a reason for Terry not accepting Sam. He might’ve thought that homosexuality was perverse and disgusting because of Oscar. I think he’s the one that wanted to have Sam be “converted”. Gross

[@thinkiamsad]

That's a really good analysis of the themes that makes a lot of sense and really recontextualized the game for me

[@richardurwin4432]

And the bible is on his side of the bed.

[@ave_maria323]

never noticed that

[@koganusan]

Sounds like someone got really traumatized by sniffing around in his parents bedroom 😂

[@gosportjamie]

Anybody who didn't clearly didn't do a thorough enough job of sniffing around in there...

[@geekwithglasses2897]

Yeah well you still shouldn’t do it. I was 9 and I found my mum’s vibrator. *shudders*

[@alicealysia]

@@geekwithglasses2897 same

[@MW-pb2gf]

@Geek With Glasses ...i found two

[@koganusan]

@@geekwithglasses2897 oh man the worst i found was a packet of condoms while putting my dads laundry away

[@MW-pb2gf]

26:36 “never do this in real life!” could have used that warning many years ago. it was indeed a mistake.

[@honda6353]

same here.

[@tyrannovex]

I found things that I could never unsee

[@shadowfragment]

Maybe I'm just not very sexually repressed. I made this "mistake" and didn't find anything scarring/upsetting. Parents are people too. Not like I found out they were secretly a murderer or something.

[@TheGrinningViking]

It's nice to see Jon exploring and enjoying a story. I think that's what a lot of fans want with the games he does one shots of and then drops. It was suuuper sad when he dropped the Witcher, because it was so much fun to see him enjoying it. And "Inside" and "Dead Space" right up until just before the twist: I think he still thinks the twist in deadspace is that the girlfriend was dead! Ough. Right in the gut listening to him complain about the story in deadspace being too obvious and gamey and dropping it so close to the twist (and then have Claire say he got it right!) Anyways. Long time fan, but I've gone on a bit too long. Jon is the world's most lovable Humpty Dumpty. Once he drops a series its not coming back. I'm glad he played this one all the way.

[@laxmastiffgaming6351]

Every, single, audio log feels like a single thought. It makes it very easy to remember and recognize each of the logs.

[@jakarinable1]

12:22 - Jon uses his classic perception to failed to notice that the reason those books were there was to hide to nudey mag

[@flynn659]

Eh, we all miss obvious things sometimes, and Jon throughout the video analysed hidden things in the game and their implications.

[@NaramSinofAkkad790]

First time I played this going into the attic near the end i felt like it was the longest build up to a jump scare ever. Turns out I was very very wrong.

[@Dreadnaught-dw8tc]

Thanks Jon. I played this game a few years back, and I went through the same emotional roller coaster that you describe - waiting for the jumpscare, waiting for the horrible ending. When I finished, and it was all so perfect, I - a man in his late 30s - cried. I've never come across a game that has had that emotional impact on me before. Some games make me weep - Fallout 76, for example, makes me weep in frustration. Call of Duty - Ghosts made me weep for the $89 I'm never getting back. But Gone Home, that made me actually feel something. Thanks for the video - see you in the next live stream.

[@eloquentlyemma]

My “phase” has lasted about 35 years so far...

[@garmtpug]

Oh, don't worry, it's just "temporary"! :-)

[@RileyTheLongboarder]

I'm at about 8 years so far

[@shneancy220]

@@garmtpug in the grand scheme of things we are all temporary, so I suppose even when someone talks rubbish they might be right

[@heydoeradio7298]

Same for 15 years (I'm 18)

[@garmtpug]

@@shneancy220 It was a flipping joke!! Lighten up!

[@Lonnloven]

Excellent video! I love Gone Home! The first time I played it I kind of missed the final revelation about the dad and his childhood, but found out through an article afterwards. I've also been able to change some of my friend's opinon of the game when I told them about it (I think a lot of players miss that dark twist). I enjoy the kind of "puzzling inside your own head" thing the game goes for, though I sort of wish there was a personal notebook or something that you could use to get an overview.

[@tetsubo57]

Now I want to know what Jon found in his parent's nightstand drawer...

[@aero9412]

Jon, since you’ve just gone through Gone Home again I have a suggestion for you it’s a story driven game that you could call a walking simulator but it’s way more than that. It’s called Oxenfree and it’s a game I will recommend to anyone who loves story games.

[@eatchocolate9713]

It has been 2 years since I watched this the first time but for some reason I was drawn back to this game just to rewatch it and I must say it still really hits you even though you know what's coming.

[@SheepBeard]

I've not watched yet, but I want everyone to know how comforting it feels to come home from a long night out, to slip into my Jim-Jams and relax with a good MATN video

[@vicwolf717]

Happy to see this game brought up again!

[@jangambler9998]

I was secretly hoping for this after he mentioned Gone Home in his Tacoma play-through.

[@proxel96]

I remember this game when it first came out, watching a play through of it back then anyway. I seem to remember it leaving an impact on me, in a good way. Definitely a game I enjoy seeing on the channel! Always like watching these chilled games every now and then

[@GlamRxckRiley]

When I first played this game I cryed at the end

[@jangambler9998]

Honestly, you are not the only one on that. This game had such a great emotional build-up! When you hear the second last audio-log and you are forced to go up the attic expecting the worst and you get the opposite with the last audio-log... simply beautiful.

[@jonahdelasanta236]

Jon, thank you for sharing this beautiful game.

[@Makrillo]

Have you tried The Return of the Obra Dinn? I imagine you would enjoy that.

[@thefridge6558]

Funnily enough I remember that there is a bit where you find out why the dad started writing the third book again. I don't remember where it is but a small publishing company approached him because his books were a cult hit.

[@Kryptnyt]

Hey Jon how do you feel about the title screen for Luigi's Mansion

[@ankhtahr1401]

Oh Jon, there's quite a lot you misinterpreted. The Safe was definitely locked by Oscar. 1963 being the year of the "transgression", it's of importance to both of them. With a large part of the content being morphine syringes it's implied that he succumbed to a morphine addiction, als explaining his death at 60 years old. Also you mentioned rooms being used differently after Kaitlin moved out. She never really moved out, she was in Europe while her family moved, that's why Sam had to change school. With regards to your comment on parents' drawers (a mistake I did myself), you can actually find a condom in one of the clothes drawers. Also you can find a "magazine" under the book you held in your hand at 11:40 .

[@2spooky]

I expected sooo much scary stuff, especially with the creaks and other noises in the house, yet was taken aback when I realized that it's not that kind of game. I really love this -game- simulator. I've played it at least 4 times now. I really like the perspective of Kaitlin and everything. The den with the TV (and all of those VHS tapes) is probably my favorite place in the whole house, as it reminds me of hanging out at my cousin's house when we were young ^_^ (I was about 10 y/o when this story took place)

[@2spooky]

And, WOW, I never until hearing your perspective even considered why that height-chart was IN THE BASEMENT, IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA! O_O yikes

[@Woffie70]

Thank you John- this was one of the best explore mystery games I've seen. Why yes...I do seem to have something in my eye. If you find anymore like this please do a review. You guys Rock!

[@tomm5663]

I’ve had this game in my library for so long but never wanted to play it because it looked like a horror game and I’m a scaredy-cat. Thank you Jon

[@garmtpug]

A nice little story with a happy ending. Always welcome!

[@Rhainiac]

I love Jon's way of promoting games. He does a little preview of the games that he adores to try and get what the devs deserve by making such a good game. he only shows the first bit of them, and leave the rest for us to find by playing it ourselves. EDIT: of course, this one was ended but there are still parts where he didn't cover.

[@MW-pb2gf]

@Rhain Beardslee Meh. I love Jon and all, but personally I wish he’d do more full playthroughs of narrative games. I’m not a gamer, so if he posts just a preview, I either wind up never getting to find out what happens, or I have to look up a walkthrough from some random channel where maybe I don’t care for the commentary or whatever. Like I understand his logic, it just sucks if you’re never going to play any of the games he’s like “play to find out what happens” because you just don’t play many games to begin with. (That’s why I watch game commentary, to get a look at interesting stories and mechanics without messing around with it myself.) Like I’ll play a tycoon game or a simulator, but I actually don’t like games that make you explore shit. Which is... what most people like and what most games have you do. SO.

[@natees123]

M W the problem is that many of these games are made with tiny budgets, and they need and deserve support. These games revolve around their narrative, if you see it on KZbin, there's no point in playing the game. Jon is amazing because he has so much respect for game developers and he wants to see them thrive, so he gives gamers the incentive to buy and support these amazing products.

[@Rhainiac]

@@MW-pb2gf I'm the same. But I still respect how he gives credit to the games and their developers, further explained by natees reply.

[@kazoospew3639]

after you reassuring me, I’m still terrified that a evil monster will jump out...

[@undrinkablesmoothie]

Lonnie was her home all along.

[@stevenmiller0109]

The best title screen of all time is the one in Dragon Age Inquisition, which throws the player headfirst into the narrative the moment they hit play.

[@spooky_basil202]

I love Gone Home it’s definitly in my top 10 games. However.. the first time I played through it I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have done, because the horror vibe meant I was to scared to explore as thoroughly as I wanted too. I would have enjoyed it more he first time had someone said to me before hand “by the way there are no jump-scares so just explore and enjoy he story”.

[@timur4025]

Thanks for bringing this back

[@MrATN800]

26:22 Eart, Wind & Fire, and Willie Nelson I like the cut of these parents

[@XxMoonRazerxX]

What a lovely game! The quality of those audio logs was phenomenal, the voice actress really nailed the feeling. I think i'm being really thick here though, but could someone explain what Jon was getting at with the comment at the start about the menu being awesome? Specifically, it has the door ajar and the light on in one room (neither of which were actually the case)? I feel like I'm just missing what he was getting at

[@cannonball3779]

What a cool game, thanks for showing this.

[@kobeleonard9484]

Man, I remember this game, thanks for bringing it back!

[@urosvesic9520]

Oh thank God a happy ending, I was so invested in this girl and her life... game looks amazing 👏

[@BradTheAmerican]

The ending can actually feel like a downer if you miss one of the journal entries. Without its context, the last entry may be perceived as a suicide note. Big oof for those players.

[@felixthecrazy]

For the record, if she were on her way to basic training, she was already government property and by not showing up to bBasic, she went AWOL.

[@sironastillwater]

This game keeps pulling on my heart strings also used to hook up with a punky anti-authoritarian girl who left for the army after high school but in Canada lesbians are not as risqué not sure whether to love or hate you for bringing this particular title, but thanks always for sharing your gaming experiences Jon

[@geekwithglasses2897]

I love this game so much. It helped me with my sexuality as I saw it on KZbin when I thought it was straight and then my brain went “Oh fuck I’m gay”

[@trevornordlund6518]

Gonna be honest, I started crying at the end.

[@jaredcicero4785]

I've been waiting for you to play this since Tacoma EDIT: I remember the first time I played this game whenever I entered a room I closed the door behind me thinking that sooner or later something was going to get me then immediately turned on the lights and then sat in the room for a minute just listening and waiting for any kind of audio

[@AppaTheBizon1228]

This was a treat, thank you.

[@shneancy220]

Hi Jon, I know that for you artsy exploration games are a flip of a coin, but there is one game for switch "Inner Space" that is really lovely and I think you'd enjoy it, even if not for the video and just for yourself. It doesn't have much of a plot, but you're a flaying ship-drone-thingy and the map is made on the inside of a sphere. I personally loved it, it looks gorgeous, it doesn't really force you to do anything, it's peaceful, and nothing like I've ever seen before.

[@katejones8705]

I see I bought this on one of the sales - I am going to stop the video and go play it first. Anything so highly recommended by you must be good!

[@Mircalla]

One of my favourite KZbinrs playing one of my favourite games. I'm in for a good hour.

[@Mistwolfss]

I live in a big house. My parents had just left for a party and I was watching this while getting my dinner ready. As the story progressed the sun set outside and the wind picked up now I am sitting at my table eating listening to the wind thinking hey wait a second I'm literally the person in the game alone in a dark house with a storm outside. "CREAPY!"

[@alicealysia]

This game hit pretty close to home for me. I'm a trans girl who ran away from home to live with her boyfriend and transition. Things ultimately worked out pretty well for me. I have a house, a good job in IT and a ring wrapped around my finger, and I'm now legally known as Ms. Alice.

[@bobhonkhonk9843]

keep telling yourself that

[@NaramSinofAkkad790]

💜

[@RileyTheLongboarder]

Hey, congrats!

[@apartment906]

Good for you!

[@EmeryAU]

@@GarethColquhoun pretty sure I'm not, I have a girlfriend after all. If you need to talk about your repressed sexuality, it's okay. No one here is going to judge. ;)

[@Hyaru12]

Very nice little story. I can't help but notice that many lgbt stories in games are about girls and not boys (this game, The Last of Us, Life is Strange etc) and I wish we could have some variety in that regard

[@TheSurprisePizza]

Gone Home is one of my absolute faves. For a narrative game with "no replayability", I've played through it I think 5 times (twice with dev commentary), and enjoyed it every time. I've also watched a bunch of Let's Plays of it on KZbin. Have you seen/heard the hidden easter egg journal entry? There's a mini basketball hidden in the garage (look up) which you can knock down with some of the rubbish from nearby. Take it up to Sam's room and throw it through the hoop on the back of the door, and prepare to be amazed...

[@rngwrldngnr]

How about "What Remains of Edith Finch"?

[@B_Skizzle]

He's got a video on it. Great game by the way, one of the most thought-provoking ones I’ve ever played. It really sticks with you.

[@rngwrldngnr]

@@B_Skizzle one that I've seen, come to think of it. Frustrating. After constantly managing to misremeber him as posting videos made by other people I've forgotten about one he did do. Thanks though.

[@richardurwin4432]

These two games get mixed up in my mind; there's a lot similar between them, but Edith Finch is much darker and more fantastical. It is amazingly involving though. At one point you are mindlessly chopping the head off fish with your right hand while guiding an imaginary hero through a magical kingdom with your left. At first it's difficult and then it becomes mechanical, just like the guy you are following did it, in his boring job, while inventing his fantasy world.

[@honda6353]

I played What remains of Edith Finch with my girlfriend, at the end we were both emotionally shooked up at the end.

[@boringmanager9559]

what if we all are actually playing a game with a main protagonist Jon where we have to get to know his story? You watch him playing games and commenting them and this is how you start knowing all these little details and at some point you just start wondering when things go horribly wrong!

[@tetsubo57]

Jon, VHS are still readily available at your local thrift shop.

[@MissCookieThief]

Is that title a "Would I Lie to You?" reference? 'Cause that makes me really happy.

[@ferwind]

Jon, please do more longer series for narrative style and dating sim games. In my opinion I feel like your content is at its best when you play these types of games. I really appreciate the attention to detail you have and the way you piece together clues when playing narrative style games, hearing your thoughts allows me to appreciate them more than I would playing them myself honestly. As for the dating sims, I just think those are easily and consistently your most funny videos. Thanks for all the great work!

[@VyseRogue13]

The scary part is when the parents realize it's not "just a phase".

[@billypanovec]

Hey John do you know about this hidden log where you throw the basketball that's in the garage into her basketball net in her room

[@heydoeradio7298]

seriously going to enjoy falling asleep to this (not an insult)

[@MW-pb2gf]

Jon is great for insomnia, honestly. Not because he’s boring, but because treating insomnia can benefit from hearing things that are familiar and enjoyable. He’s got very soothing narration (when shit isn’t hitting the fan in-game, anyway) and is such a great and entertaining commentator, it makes it easy to relax and focus on that, rather than whatever might be causing sleeplessness and anxiety. I have a dedicated playlist just for good MATN videos to fall asleep to, lol.

[@barbarachainiaux9937]

This game

[@pyadny]

22:16 that thunder scared me so much

[@lmnjello6609]

This made me cry

[@axelerate13]

Oh gosh, I knew how it ended and that ending still made me start to cry!! This is a super game. If you know someone who's never played it, super make them play it and lean into the meta-narrative it does so well!

[@dansmart3182]

I didn't put the stuff with the dad together. He was molested as a child, stops visiting his uncle around 12, his career isn't going well so when his uncle dies he has to move in to the house where he was molested. His marriage suffers as he dives into the bottle to deal and won't tell her what is bothering him.

[@djbeema]

Funny, I've been thinking about this game a lot the past few days!

[@ellaguy-vogel425]

49:05 wait, are they going on holiday the same week as Rick's wedding (the guy the mum is potentially cheating with)? because that's a whole new layer to this onion

[@hythlodaeus1705]

I love how he says that this is a mansion... John that’s just a slightly above average american middle class house. You’d think after playing so many games set in America he’d get that, but nope

[@yafu2599]

@ 23:53 Mirror in the bathroom please talk free, my door is locked , just you and me

[@polishenglish8356]

Such a neat game made even bettet by Jon's commentary :)

[@sironastillwater]

The video going all crazy at 20:13 scared the shit out of me

[@joshklamka834]

AHHHH

[@ManyATrueNerd]

... I have no idea what KZbin has done there - I just checked the file I uploaded and that is not in it...

[@sironastillwater]

@@ManyATrueNerd that just makes it spookier, but sorry to read youtube is messing with you yet again

[@robyntimmons839]

26:37 I agree with Jon, never go into your parents draws. I was looking for a hairdryer while housesitting for them and found a vibrator, so that was, err, gross. Sorry, Mum.

[@dustyb58]

The handwriting on the notes looks so much like mine it's kind of eerie.

[@_UGW_]

I'd have sworn Jon played this already

[@BRUXXUS]

Ahh man... I knew this was a polarizing game when I played it. Started off being ultra-creepy, then got slightly more disturbing.... then by the end I was *actually* crying happy tears. I guess I can understand why some wouldn't like this game, but I feel like those people should have anticipated that before playing it.

[@RileyTheLongboarder]

BRUXXUS i cried a lot at this game. Hit very close to home

[@fritz1816]

BRUXXUS I’m sorry but I’m a tad confused are you saying it was polarising because it was to emotional

[@richardurwin4432]

I can't believe you missed out the sub-plot of the pizza in the kitchen.

[@simonm8988]

Jon you need to play ‘The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter’ it’s bloody brilliant :)

[@RyansTVshow]

I'll trade you my sister for a Kenshi play through

[@SuperLeetroy]

I will also trade you his sister for a Kenshi play through

[@tomm5663]

I third this action

[@mvs2832]

i love this idea. I too trade his or her sister. don't care about kenshi tho

[@pinkdragon7x777]

Yes i will trade my sister, one kidney and my left foot for a kenshi playthrough

[@runningpeach5049]

Long live the Hedgehog!

[@olympus10001]

I should have replayed the game cause that first note is a real gut-puncher after the fact

[@Neosublimation]

I am still wondering how this game managed to, without me installing any special hardware for it, create or transfer syn-Propanethial-S-oxide (or the like?) into my eyes like onions do when cut. It even worked during the video. What magic is this?

[@abrahamgamer8331]

I played this game a while ago, didn't really like it but seeing Jon play it is nice

[@Mistwolfss]

I love VHS tapes and I'm only in my 20's

[@derpdadouch3654]

It's not a twist, if you go by pokemon rules red means good and blue means bad

[@Ghost2458]

Imagine this in vr.

[@Streptovarius]

23:50 Hand mirrors are a thing Jon.

[@MW-pb2gf]

@Jack or it could be the mirror literally over the bathroom sink. it just has a wooden cover over it. (unlikely to be a medicine cabinet since most medicine cabinets have mirrors on the front, but this style of mirror with a slatted cover isn’t that uncommon in bathrooms with... vintage furnishings.)

[@sironastillwater]

"the psycho house girl" hey, that is familiar to me! in high school, dated a girl who lived in an infamous house where a local politician had murdered his wife

[@noldocelu3326]

I was hoping you'd get to this! :D

[@nuhuh4564]

26:35 Not a bumblebee, is it?

[@arsia.]

this game has some massive doors :o

[@wolfqueen137]

I guess I'll just be here with all my feelings now lol

[@PortoWulf]

I love Gone Home

[@linusbayandersen7398]

Oh I love this game as well!

[@MrZZ-py4pq]

East Portland or West Portland?

[@GrimoireOfJank]

fuuck crying rn, damn this game is sad, or tearjerking, happy in the end but still

[@GldnClaw]

I think the doom mod is better.

[@ianmiller6040]

There's a Doom mod for Gone Home?!

[@Mpkw-er9bi]

14:01 my dad had that exact word processor!!!

[@raspymorten]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY I remember Dan's video on this game waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back. That shit was hilarious. (The game is also really nice and stuff too.)