History of the apartment is a short cinematic game on Steam that at first appears to be a life simulator, but corrupts the domestic fantasy with a threat, an intruder, and a gun. It all starts with fun and games as I take on the role of Arthur, a guy with no plans for the day and no money in his bank account. Like Arthur, I explore my apartment, which is a cozy little place, and realize that I'm hungry.
It is at the beginning of the second day when everything goes to hell; There is a stranger in Arthur's living room, which is now completely trashed. Smoking weed and ignoring text messages about my bank balance are now among the least of my worries; I'm caught in a fight for survival.
History of the apartment It is not a horror game; It's more of a dramatic thriller. But there is something deeply unsettling about having someone you don't expect in your home. The game does have something in common with horror movies: I feel frustrated with the protagonist. Hey, Arthur, close the doors! I feel like a lot of this game could be avoided if Arthur was a little more safety conscious.
For every moment of action, there is a long period of downtime. I can tidy up my apartment, take each DVD and neatly put it back on the shelf while listening to music created for the game by artist TRAAPS. Those slow parts, combined with the random attacks and growing narrative, give the game a dreamlike feel.
After working from home for several years, even during the pandemic, something about the threat in History of the apartment stuck with me. Arthur is a homebody, and having a violent intruder ruin that sacred space is an alarming concept. While the game seems a little clunky, slow, and plodding, the visuals and story kept me entertained and grateful for my quiet little apartment.
History of the apartment was released on September 26 on Windows. The game was reviewed on Windows using a pre-release download code provided by Blue Rider Interactive. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon's ethics policy can be found here.