This game with 96 Metacritic score has the most poignant love story of all time

In the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, the world seems to turn different shades of red and pink, with roses and teddy bears in shop windows and romantic ideals seeming to permeate the very air. The gaming world is not immune to this annual festival of hearts and Cupid's arrows, with plenty of love stories from past titles popping into fans' heads every February 14th. Yuna and Tidus, Geralt and Yennefer, Shepard and Garrus—the list of (mostly) happy couples goes on. But one bizarre game often flies under the radar when it comes to love stories, despite having incredibly high ratings across the board: The house in Fata Morgana.

Developed by Novectacle, The house in Fata Morgana was for a time the highest rated game on the Nintendo Switch, amazing fans of the console and driving people towards the unique novel-driven visual novel. While this particular type of game isn't always an easy sell, those who decided to give it a shot found themselves completely enchanted by its artwork and story, the latter of which is anything but straightforward. To say that love and heartbreak are at the heart of the mystery title is an understatement, and those who make it to the end and unravel every strand won't soon forget it.

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The House of Fata Morgana is an emotional tour de force perfect for Valentine's Day

The act of The house in Fata Morgana is not so easy to summarize, and the title must be played in its entirety to fully understand its depth, but some tidbits may entice the curious into its grasp this Valentine's. One day, a spirit without memories wakes up in a mysterious mansion, desperate to recover his lost memories. To this end, a strange maid appears, eager to share her own memories of the property with the ghost. The maid has worked in the manor for hundreds of years and then shares her impressions and dives into the lives of several residents of the house from 1099 to 1869. This is done in the hope that these stories will stir something in the spirit, and when this eventually turns out to be the case, the full truth is something that no one is prepared to face.

Several love stories are told over the course of the game, from young puppy love to mature pining, with the main relationship holding a unique thread that binds each story together. Only in the final hours of the title does everything come together, with a series of sharp and shocking twists that land lightly The house in Fata Morgana at the top of the visual novel ladder. It's anything but predictable, and its dull atmosphere is only enhanced by an unexpectedly powerful soundtrack. Five composers contributed to the game's impactful music, most of which contain vocals, giving it a more theatrical feel and making the start of each chapter feel like a new curtain rising.

The House at Fata Morgana also has a rating of 93 on OpenCritic and an overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam.

Visual novels often have an anime aesthetic, and given its Japanese roots, most people would have expected Fata Morgana to do the same. Instead, realism was the key to making a story strong enough to stand the test of time, and alongside its powerful writing, its impressionistic artwork, by Moyataro, is far from generic, with every character and historical setting really feeling alive on screen.

Feedback to The House of Fata Morgana has been incredibly positive, with its Metacritic score of 96 just the tip of the iceberg. Critics have called it everything from “one of the best stories in gaming” to “an experience both beautiful and painful in equal measure”, with one writer struggling to explain “how profound an effect the game had on their psyche” without spoiling its many secrets. It's rare to see a niche visual novel receive so much critical acclaim, but the title is currently ranked higher than several recent megahits on OpenCritic as well, including Hollow Knight: Silk Song (91), Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (90), and even Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (92).

While love plays a central role, The House of Fata Morgana also deals with plenty of dark and heavy themes

While its main love story is unforgettable for positive reasons, not least its longevity and the couple's undying devotion to each other, not all love in The house in Fata Morgana are created equal, and all are certainly not healthy. As the dark and somewhat eerie artwork might suggest, the game doesn't shy away from many harrowing topics, with love sometimes twisted in a disturbing way. From an incestuous relationship to pure obsession that destroys a person's mental health, the visual novel not only addresses the concept of a happy ending, but what can happen when passions go too far, and attachment becomes unhealthy and destructive.

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Poisoned romance isn't the only heavy theme in the game, with some chapters dealing with slavery and discrimination and others showing the devastating effect of self-sacrifice, not only on the victim, but on those who care about them. Maybe what The house in Fata Morgana does best is to tackle the concept of perspective, where many of its nuanced characters are clearly good or evil. Circumstances drive them, and just as some of the choices made lead to positive outcomes, others lead to ruin and the need for redemption. It's easy for players to empathize with one or more of the game's characters, making it an easy recommendation for visual novel fans and skeptics alike.

Fans who enjoy The House in Fata Morgana may also want to pick up The House in Fata Morgana: A Requiem for Innocence, which is a companion to the main game. The original game will take most players between 30 and 40 hours to complete, while A Requiem for Innocence is around 10 hours, or 15 for completionists.

Oddly enough, the story of The house in Fata Morgana may not be over yet. In early 2025, a live-action adaptation of the game was confirmed to be in development, thanks to a particularly passionate North American film director. It's unclear when — or if — this will actually happen, but fans remain hopeful. This Valentine's Day might be best spent exploring this otherworldly title, though it should be noted that most who make it to the end should be prepared to shed a few tears.