Vicarious Reviews: Secret Little Haven

An edited version of the beginning screen of Secret Little Haven (Victoria Dominowski).

February 2, 2024

Annie Newman, Journalism Club Member

One of the main games in the gender and sexuality unit that we played in Steve Granchamp’s Video Games and Identity class (English 383) last semester was Secret Little Haven. The gameplay was in the style of playing on a computer in the 90’s, and the gamer is playing the role of Alex, a transgender girl who hasn’t figured out her identity yet, and loves a “Sailor Moon”-like fandom. On the computer, you chat with friends, browse through your fandom forums, and can play small games like a doll outfit designer and tamagotchi. 

Alex is really excited to see a new movie about the fandom that’s coming out, and so is everyone else on the forums, but there’s something getting in the way of watching it— her controlling and abusive father. Every time she interacts with him, the screen gets gray and glitchy to express what talking to him is like.

To be honest, I haven’t completed the game, but overall, I would give this game four out of five stars. I liked the 90s look of the old but colorful computer that Alex has, and I thought that the story through the messages was intriguing. When I was playing the game, I was more focused on the plotline through the online chat, and I wish that I explored the other applications on the computer more (although I found opening them in the first place was hard enough— they wouldn’t open when I clicked on them!)

One of the things I didn’t like was the glitchy screen when Alex is talking to her dad. I found it really hard to read the messages while it was there. I know it’s supposed to add to the effect of discomfort while talking to her dad, but the messages tell just as much as the effects do. But it’s still a pretty fun game to play around with and explore!