Home Alone (video game)

Home Alone (video game series)

Company type	Video game series
Industry	Video games
Founded	1991
Products	Video games for NES, SNES, Game Boy, Master System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, Amiga, MS-DOS
Parent	Bethesda Softworks (publisher for initial release)

Home Alone constitutes a collection of video games inspired by the 1990 movie of the same title, penned by John Hughes. Launched between 1991 and 1993, these titles were available across a variety of systems, including the Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Master System, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, Amiga, and MS-DOS. Each platform presented unique gameplay mechanics tailored to its capabilities.

Plot and gameplay

The central storyline remains consistent across all editions, following the film's narrative: Kevin McCallister is accidentally left behind while his family takes a trip to Paris. His objective is to thwart Harry and Marv—the "Wet Bandits"—from breaking into his house by utilizing household items as traps or weapons.

Super NES

In the Super NES adaptation, players are tasked with relocating the McCallister family's valuables into a secure basement safe room while avoiding the Wet Bandits. Once the treasures are secured, Kevin must navigate basement dangers such as rats and ghosts before confronting a boss character to lock away the family's possessions safely.

Personal computer

The PC iteration challenges players to set traps within a single in-game hour (approximately five minutes in real time), each trap dealing one damage point to intruders. Harry and Marv arrive separately; contact with either results in immediate defeat. The objective is to incapacitate both burglars by inflicting ten hits each. Traps can be accidentally triggered without causing harm but are then lost. A shortage of traps makes success unattainable. After completing the game, players can record high scores based on their performance metrics including win/loss status, completion time, and damage dealt.

NES

The NES version involves evading capture by Harry and Marv for a duration of 20 minutes. Kevin can deploy traps with varying effectiveness that temporarily knock out intruders for different time spans. He may briefly conceal himself behind certain parts of the house; however, excessive hiding leads to game termination. Some editions display two separate "game over" screens featuring Kevin’s iconic scream.

Sega platforms

On Genesis and Game Gear systems, Kevin defends multiple neighborhood homes over 20 minutes (extended to 40 minutes on hard difficulty) while awaiting police arrival. The Wet Bandits travel in a van and break into houses to steal valuables. Kevin moves between residences via sled in a top-down perspective and confronts intruders inside through 2D side-scrolling action. Successfully defeating burglars fills a Pain Meter that secures the house; failure results in houses becoming flooded and inaccessible.

Kevin begins armed with a BB gun and can create weapons by combining various ammunition types (such as glue, snow, light bulbs) with different firearms (rifle, bazooka, launcher, mortar), each influencing range and projectile speed. Ammunition can be replenished by collecting items after crafting. Except for the BB gun, weapons are dismantlable to recover ammo components. Prior to the Bandits’ arrival, Kevin may set traps within houses to bolster defenses.

If captured, Kevin is pinned against a wall but retains the ability to escape and continue defending the property. Individual houses include unique defensive elements affecting gameplay—for example, Buzz’s tarantula or security robots.

The game provides two difficulty settings: hard mode doubles the waiting period to 40 minutes and increases the Bandits’ van speed but grants access to more powerful weaponry for Kevin.

Master System

In the Master System edition, players guide Kevin through 30 stages spread over six distinct house types, avoiding Harry and Marv while gathering valuables such as rings and pots to store in a safe before time runs out. Each residence includes either a dog or a cat; dogs attack the intruders causing them to drop their collected items but can also cause Kevin to lose possessions if they reach him. Cats interact by pulling objects down to lower floors. Bonus stages remove both bandits and pets from play. Kevin wields a pump-action weapon, reminiscent of the film, with limited ammunition to shoot at enemies, making them temporarily release their valuables.

Game Boy

The Game Boy adaptation, similar to the SNES and NES versions, centers on evading the Wet Bandits while collecting items to deposit into a laundry chute that leads to a secure safe. Players can utilize stolen goods and traps against the bandits, reenacting scenes from the movie such as dropping paint cans onto their heads. The game consists of four levels set in various parts of a house, each featuring unique item categories: jewelry, toys, electronics, and exotic animals.

Once sufficient items are secured, players confront basement bosses including a giant spider, a rat, a ghost, and ultimately Marv and Harry, each with their own vulnerabilities. After securing the final safe, players face off against the furnace in a challenge that references a notable movie scene. The game also suggests the existence of additional Wet Bandits beyond Marv and Harry.

Release

The game was launched by Bethesda Softworks in 1991.

Critical reception

Reviews for the SNES version were mixed: GameZone awarded it 62 out of 100; Mega gave the Sega Mega Drive version a score of 24%, while MegaTech rated it 65%. Sega Master Force commended the Master System edition for its sharp visuals and engaging music but found the early gameplay somewhat simplistic, ultimately describing it as "a pretty jazzy cart" once players become accustomed.

Critics such as Amanda Dyson from Mega labeled it an overpriced and underdeveloped licensed title. MegaTech observed that its appeal was primarily toward younger gamers. Electronic Gaming Monthly criticized the Game Boy version for sluggish pacing and limited variety.

Sales reached around 50,000 copies. THQ reported that Sega’s version achieved commercial success.

See also

• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (video game)