Absurd Story: Back Home (2025)

Developer: HcAndersen
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Adventure, Casual, Indie, RPG, Strategy
Rating: 5.0 of 5, 50 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 2.5 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A gloomy puzzle-driven adventure through a steampunk world, where exploring emotional story beats and solving mysteries feels slow and deliberate.

atmosphericstory richpuzzleemotionalsteampunkexplorationtensebizarre

What players say

Players praise the unique steampunk-meets-Taoist setting and charming pixel art, but opinions split on the puzzles: some find them clever and fair, others say they are so cryptic that an in-game guide is needed to progress. The story-driven adventure has no combat, takes about four hours to complete, and uses dual protagonists across timelines.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.