The history of the apartment is a brief, cinematic game on Steam it looks like a life simulator at first glance, but it spoils the home fantasy with threats, intruders and weapons. It all starts with fun and games in which I take on the role of Arthur, a guy with no plans for the day and no money in his bank account. As Arthur, I explore my apartment, which is a cozy little place, and realize that I’m hungry.
I only have a few needs to take care of: Mind, Hunger, Hygiene, Sleep and Toilet. Meeting all these needs is uncomplicated. I make myself bowls of cereal, smoke some weed, and jerk off. From time to time the phone will signal some up-to-date news about Artur’s financial situation and unfortunately it is bad. So it’s a pointless and slightly restless day. Then a friend offers to come over and share a pizza.
Everything goes to hell at the beginning of the second day; 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 the least of my worries now; I am locked in a fight for survival.
The history of the apartment it is not a horror game; it’s more of a dramatic thriller. But there’s something deeply unsettling about having someone in your home you’re not expecting. This game has something in common with horror movies: I’m frustrated with the hero. Hey, Arthur, close the door! I feel like a lot of this game could have been avoided if Arthur had been more safety conscious.
For every moment of operation there is a long period of downtime. I can neat my apartment, take every DVD and put them on the shelf in perfect order, while listening to music created for the game by the artist TRAAPS. These ponderous passages, combined with random attacks and the escalating narrative, give the game a dreamlike atmosphere.
After several years of working from home, also during the pandemic, something about the threat in The history of the apartment stuck with me. Arthur is a homebody and the destruction of this sacred space by a brutal intruder is a disturbing concept. Although the game feels a bit clunky, ponderous and plodding, the graphics and story drew me in and made me grateful for my peaceful little apartment.
The history of the apartment was released on September 26 on Windows. The game was reviewed on Windows using a pre-download code provided by Blue Rider Interactive. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased through affiliate links. Additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.
