Home Safety Hotline Review: A Charming Call Center of Creepies

Where cramming for an exam meets customer service nightmares with a supernatural twist.

last updated Jan 28, 2024

Pick Up the Phone and Pray

Home Safety Hotline reinvents the horror customer service genre, answering calls as though you’ve just stepped into a late-90’s hotline, where your mission is to protect the domestic bliss against a variety of pests – both mundane and metaphysical. Players delve into a uniquely stressful experience that combines the panic of a pop quiz with the frustration of internet dial-up lag. Striking the curious balance between horror and comedy, the gameplay brings shades of 'Papers Please', but with fae pests instead of passports. The game’s intuitive mechanics encourage repeated playthroughs, but they do lose a bit of their luster once you've memorized the necessary lore, leading to dreams of a 'Free Play' mode to endlessly test our supernatural hotline prowess.

The Sound of Silence (And Sometimes Screams)

The audio design in Home Safety Hotline walks the thin line between eerie and entertaining, as players are treated to customer calls that range from panicked screams to deadpan deliveries. Elevator music intermissions provide comedic relief and somehow manage to deepen the unsettling atmosphere – we are indeed waiting for something truly horrific. The voice acting is commendable, if occasionally inconsistent, but when it strikes the right note, it envelops you in its world, making you want to leave your actual phone unplugged for the foreseeable future.

90's Vibes with a Pixelated Edge

Graphically, Home Safety Hotline is a trip down memory lane for those who remember or are fascinated by the 90's computer aesthetic. It is pixelated nostalgia combined with an eerie undertone that lurks behind every CRT monitor flicker. Remarkably, performance woes are notably absent – no bugs to detract from the immersion into its analog horror world. That said, the game not only plays homage to the nineties tech but captures a creeping dread well with each lovingly crafted creature and scenario, adding depth to the already fully furnished world.

You Had Me at 'Hello, What's Your Emergency?'

Home Safety Hotline emerges as more than just an indie darling; it's a heartfelt homage to analog horror and customer service shenanigans. Despite the game’s brief duration, it becomes clear that every second of its crafting was sprinkled with a little bit of '90s fairy dust and a whole lot of indie passion. And while some might find the game too short for its price tag, the adventure feels complete – demanding your focus and rewarding those who appreciate a bit of oddity in their gaming diet. Plus, who can resent a game that gives you a credible excuse to never again answer a work call?

Dreadful Connectivity

It’s hard to hold the line and ignore the game’s few glitches, like the sometimes lengthy waiting between calls, which, despite tying in with the hotline theme, can break pacing when you’re itching to give banter with another supernatural-infested caller. And then there's the heavy heart you feel when the game's charm assaults you with a rather abrupt ending – like a call cut off just as you start to find answers. Sure, a longer story arc or additional calls wouldn't hurt, but these moments you spend on hold – aren’t they just a silent plea for more content down the line? Game Cover Art

STEAM RATING 91 .75% Developer & Publisher Night Signal Entertainment Release Date January 16, 2024

The Final Ring

Home Safety Hotline is an undeniably delightful experience that imparts a fondness for 90s tech horror and a newfound appreciation for customer service workers who might just be battling hobgoblins on your behalf. Its niche appeal and light replayability are offset by immersive storytelling and world-building charm, meaning its slightly hefty price tag is an investment in quality over quantity. Ultimately, it’s the type of indie gem that reminds us why we fell in love with gaming: a brief but memorable encounter with creativity at its best.