This chill horror game about working in a supernatural call center makes me want a game where I'm just Giles from Buffy

GamesHorrorThis chill horror game about working in a supernatural call center makes me want a game where I’m just Giles from BuffyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesHorrorThis chill horror game about working in a supernatural call center makes me want a game where I’m just Giles from BuffyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Night Signal Entertainment) Please hold (Image credit: Night Signal Entertainment) You see, the Home Safety Hotline asks the question ‘what if the fae were real?’ and then places you in an everyday(ish) call center where people phone in to ask why they can hear crying in the walls, or why something keeps tidying the living room when they leave out a saucer of milk overnight. You play as the newest HSH employee, tasked with taking phone calls where upset people asail you with details about strange problems in their house and expect you to have the answers. This simple task starts easily enough because sometimes itisjust frozen pipes making a weird noise, or mice in the attic scratching about. This somewhat more earthly list of problems is a handy way of learning the loop at least - someone calls in with a problem and asks you to solve it. The important thing is to pay attention to what they say - anything might be a clue to what’s causing their upset. So every noise, smell, sound and such they mention needs to be noted as you look through an initially small list of potential causes. Indie Spotlight(Image credit: Inkle)I nearly gave up on this mountaineering adventure game, but then I finally learned how to read its world Indie Spotlight (Image credit: Inkle)I nearly gave up on this mountaineering adventure game, but then I finally learned how to read its world (Image credit: Inkle) I nearly gave up on this mountaineering adventure game, but then I finally learned how to read its world So, you’ll get a call and generally they’ll be angry or upset about something. However, as they shout at you, you’ll have to listen out for things you can use when you put them on hold to look things up. Someone mentions sneezing? Time to comb your files for anything that might explain that… Hmm, black mold can cause an allergic reaction? Once you’ve got a candidate you can send them the information and, if you’re right, you won’t get an angry call later because your advice didn’t work. Answer the call (Image credit: Night Signal Entertainment) I think it could be a little clearer to pin things down, if I’m honest, as the descriptions are quite wooly, occasionally, in a way that’s hard to categorically pin down. Each entry gives you an image of something - which could be anything from bees to a sinister pair of eyes in the darkness of a basement - along with a description of the entity, its dangers and possible solutions. However, even with all that help, every now and then there were callers with info that never seemed to entirely match the records exactly, no matter how hard I checked. It didn’t always feel like I was missing something, more an occasional lack of clarity. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more (Image credit: Night Signal Entertainment) Although, being a bit unsure might be part of the point here, seeing as you’re playing a mere mortal peering beyond the veil. As things get weirder and more entries appear, the game occasionally shuts you out of the system, forcing you to try and answer calls just from memory alone. As things progress there are a few strange events - odd calls, glitches, messages and videos that appear on your very early 2000s style computer screen. I don’t want to spoil any of that though, it’s far better to experience it as it happens. Home Safety Hotline is a pretty chill experience overall. There’s something almost comfortingly gentle about sitting at a dated computer screen flicking through files about house goblins, while waiting for Karens to shout at you because there’s a dead wizard trapped in their mirror. I’d almost like something even deeper after playing this: a proper, in-depth detective game with photos, security camera footage and more to really give you some stuff to investigate as you cross reference details. Basically, the more I think about it, the more I just want to play a game where I’m Giles from Buffy trying to work out what that monster is that week. But for now, at least, the Home Safety Hotline has scratched that itch. Home Safety Hotlineis out now on PC. Find out what else we’ve been loving this year in ourIndie Spotlightseries. 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with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”