The House in Fata Morgana: A Requiem for Innocence
The House in Fata Morgana: A Requiem for Innocence
Game
Game2022
Seventh Lair
Developer NOVECT
Seventh Lair is a short visual novel featuring some cast members of The House in Fata Morgana. It exists in a parallel universe to the original game, so it can be enjoyed even by those unfamiliar with it. From the Steam store page
100 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 15, 2026 · last updated Oct 17, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
94
LovedLoved
83 positive · 5 negative
95% range 87–98%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 83 | 5 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 4 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
128 of 135 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
94% recommend · 84 yes, 5 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 89 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (396 of 422 positive).
Players find Seventh Lair starts silly but becomes an emotionally devastating story about depression and online relationships. [1][2][3] Many recommend playing The House in Fata Morgana first for full context and enjoyment. [4][5][6]
Liked
Representative posts
- [15]
Okay. Wow. Oh my god. What even. What the hell was this. This review will contain unmarked spoilers. I am going on a rant and I do not feel like putting the coding in for every single spoiler. Read at your own risk if you're considering getting this game--to which I say now, DON'T! This game has a great story. Super good. And I WOULD give it a thumbs up...IF IT HAD USED DIFFERENT CHARACTERS! For the love of god, …
- [1]
Beginning was OK, but then... oh boy. Hanada Keika (writer of Fata Morgana) once again showed how much she can touch your emotions. Yeah, some people can say that stories again are repetitive and similar to original Fata Morgana and Reincarnation. But nevertheless, game managed to make me cry. And I love it.
- [2]
This game is not a joke It starts off silly, but it is anything but. Quite possibly the best Visual Novel I've ever experienced. Enjoyed it even better than The House in Fata Morgana. It re-uses sprites from that game, but think of it like what Majora's Mask is to Ocarina of Time. It subverts expectations really well. It explores raw emotions and despair, in the context of our interactions on the web. Extremely …
- [18]
I love The House in Fata Morgana so much it makes me sick. If I had kids I'd love The House in Fata Morgana more. That said, this game is bad. I recommend it because it is really really funny. But it is bad. If you go into it knowing it's bad and any pre-established characters are turned to mulch in my sad, desperate hands, then it is okay and fun. But it's bad. But if you like this game series then unfortunately …
- [3]
It's supposed to just be an april fool's game, so then why did it make me tear up? A heartful story of depression and self-perception. Do not read this before The House in Fata Morgana as some of the sprites and plot points may inadvertedly spoil things from that story. The story itself is, however, not connected.
Summarised from 34 of the 102 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Seventh Lair talk about emotionally powerful and touching story; those who didn't talk about poor English translation quality. Which matters more to you?
Reactions
60 of 100 · most liked firstBeginning was OK, but then... oh boy. Hanada Keika (writer of Fata Morgana) once again showed how much she can touch your emotions. Yeah, some people can say that stories again are repetitive and similar to original Fata Morgana and Reincarnation. But nevertheless, game managed to make me cry. And I love it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The entire plot is honestly pretty absurd but greatly represents Fata Morgana as a franchise in a silly way, in my opinion lol. I really enjoyed this spin-off, I adored seeing the characters again, especially in that strange and intriguing setting. At first the story made me hurt from excessive laughter and later left me with a "I'm in this picture and I don't like it.." sort of feeling. I love how the plot is a lot more complex and twisted than it seems, this "joke universe" of FM has a lot of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Is there a single universe where these characters are happy?
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Okay. Wow. Oh my god. What even. What the hell was this. This review will contain unmarked spoilers. I am going on a rant and I do not feel like putting the coding in for every single spoiler. Read at your own risk if you're considering getting this game--to which I say now, DON'T! This game has a great story. Super good. And I WOULD give it a thumbs up...IF IT HAD USED DIFFERENT CHARACTERS! For the love of god, Novect, WHY would you ruin your own characters like this?! Why would you take…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I didn't like the rhetoric about why it's better to not transition. Feels bad.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just a quick note: While Seventh Lair is a standalone title that can technically be read without reading "The House in Fata Morgana" first, I think doing so would not only lessen your enjoyment of this game, but that one as well. If you've not read it, I really suggest doing so, since it truly is an absolute masterpiece worthy of your consideration. The story of Seventh Lair varies from the absurd to the beautiful, with flashes of despair & nostalgia to the older days of the internet expertly…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Seventh Lair is a kinetic visual novel developed by NOVECT and published by MangaGamer and WhisperGames. It is a spin-off game to The House in Fata Morgana, so there are character references from that game, although it isn't necessary to have played it before diving into this. (However, I do recommend playing The House in Fata Morgana first before playing Seventh Lair.) You take on the role of Dark†Knight, a 27 year old indie game developer who's been struggling with his career. Despite the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Seventh Lair is an incredibly poorly translated mess of a game with some of the worst dialogue I've ever had the displeasure of reading in years. I cannot stress enough how offensively stupid the subplot involving Pauline and the Swordsman from THIFM is and it amazes me that this is the same studio behind that game and it's excellent prequel. I strongly do not recommend this game to anyone under any circumstances.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →France looks so nice, I would love that it existed in real life
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is not a joke It starts off silly, but it is anything but. Quite possibly the best Visual Novel I've ever experienced. Enjoyed it even better than The House in Fata Morgana. It re-uses sprites from that game, but think of it like what Majora's Mask is to Ocarina of Time. It subverts expectations really well. It explores raw emotions and despair, in the context of our interactions on the web. Extremely powerful stuff. Can't remember the last time I ugly-cried this much. The writing is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The characters from The House of Fata Morgana playing an RPG.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I want to write something coherent but I'm emotionally ruined so uh. They're just like me fr. (Without going into spoilers, this game deals with some genuinely heavy topics of mental illness and suicidal ideation. It's interesting to see how the characters here riff off their counterparts in The House In Fata Morgana, as there are some pretty big differences alongside similarities. It's a very raw and painful read as a struggling creative in his late twenties, but a good one. They're just…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have no words to describe how much I love this game. I thought at first it was just going to be a silly side story but it hit me like a brick! I can't even listen to the song "The Voice of a Fairy" without tearing up. When you love something so much you can't find the right words to express it and that's how I feel about this game and all THiFM games. I am so happy to of played this game, it was just as life changing as the others. SPOILER: Nellie really stood out to me this time, her…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was expecting a silly funny spin-off but it hit me like a train. Thank you Novect for such a beautiful game!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's supposed to just be an april fool's game, so then why did it make me tear up? A heartful story of depression and self-perception. Do not read this before The House in Fata Morgana as some of the sprites and plot points may inadvertedly spoil things from that story. The story itself is, however, not connected.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love The House in Fata Morgana so much it makes me sick. If I had kids I'd love The House in Fata Morgana more. That said, this game is bad. I recommend it because it is really really funny. But it is bad. If you go into it knowing it's bad and any pre-established characters are turned to mulch in my sad, desperate hands, then it is okay and fun. But it's bad. But if you like this game series then unfortunately you must play it. Enjoy. Or don't.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A wonderful story. The start felt a bit weak with the intentionally cliche RPG but the characters and their troubles were fleshed out very well and the climax of the story had me sobbing all the way through to the epilogue. Definitely play The House in Fata Morgana before this though. Seeing the old characters but with new twists that rearrange them adds a lot to this story.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I will never give up again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This kinetic visual novel from the creators of The House in Fata Morgana contains assets and characters from the original game and a new story about the developer's adventures in a virtual fantasy world. Gameplay: https://youtu.be/H_0bOF1Gjik It’s nothing like its predecessor, it’s short (about 4 hours). Funny story, but doesn’t end well (contains discussion of suicide.) Story: 27-year-old indie developer Dark†Knight loses consciousness; he then is transported into the virtual world and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Originally an April Fools' release in 2015, Seventh Lair is anything but a joke as the player discovers an emotional tale with sensitive themes regarding both online and offline interactions and the effects they have on others. While the overall length is rather short, the writing is impeccable and hits hard. The soundtrack is also wonderful aside from the seemingly intentionally mediocre chiptune tracks. The non-chiptune tracks sound like they could have been heard in The House in Fata…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"A true masterpiece doesn't ask permission to move people" If you haven't read House in Fata Morgana and its sequels, please do yourself a favor and read those first. Seventh Lair is not connected to it plot-wise, but I believe this piece of work is best read when you've seen Fata Morgana. I didn't expect much from this, I thought it would just be a fun spin-off of Fata Morgana. Simply put, it was a powerful read. It isn't like the other games which relied much more on its plot and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Loved this. I love the music as usual and characters and writing that makes me laugh out loud and the stories that make me feel something instead of feeling meh. If you haven't played this franchise yet, then do it. Do yourself a favor and read it all.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was okay for a spinoff. Don't expect too much. Do not play this if you haven't played Fata Morgana at all. Please play that one first. But if you want more Fata Morgana content, this is skippable. It was fun seeing the original cast back in action, especially Michel and Jacopo! But the story was clunky at times, with many important plot points introduced way too late. The writing of this game made it feel more like a personal project, all the characters less like real individuals and more…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →But I really hope more people play Seventh Lair. The game on the surface is nothing at all what people would expect from something that's related to Fata Morgana, but it is still an excellent story despite its odd premise, and I found its commentary on online relationships very relatable.
positive · AI labelView post →I fail to see why this needed to exist.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game absolutely crushed me but i'm glad i played. it was good to go back and see all the characters from the fata morgana series and cry for them ( as well as myself ). not for the fainthearted, despite all the comedy bits.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Is it perfect? No. Is it a heartfelt look into the relationships you form on the internet? Absolutely. It's messy art from a person desperately trying to put something out into the world.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Dark Knight nice to see you~((ヽ(?????)ノ)) I was super worried that the site was ending(っTωT) New game yaaaay＼( 'ω')／
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SEVENTH LAIR reuses assets and characters from the House in Fata Morgana games and reconfigures them into an initially silly story about being isekai'd into an RPG world which expands into an examination of the relationship between game, author, and the audience. Not bad for an April Fool's "joke".
positive · AI labelView post →A "fun" side story after you finish all of fata morgana
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Probably the greatest April Fools game ever made.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very good and short game! 8/10, start funny, depressing ending. I believe that this game is hurted by the use of Fata Morgana characters, i believe that the authors are good enough to make new games without having to re-use their old characters. Have more faith in yourselves. I will put a warning for some of you, this game talks about depression and suicide.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don’t think that anyone should go into this VN expecting it to be just like Fata Morgana, but it is a story for Fata Morgana fans. From the outside, Seventh Lair looks like a fun Fata AU that reuses some of the same assets as the original VN to tell a smaller story—at least that was my impression of it going in. That’s not entirely wrong, though the content warning screen will tell you that it’s not “fun” in the sense that it’s lighthearted. But if you’re like me and like to see characters…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't even know where to begin, it's a 4 hr ride of well-paced jokes & Keika Hanada's own brand of gripping story telling that touches on modern conveniences & its own issues. It's something that is naturally lacking in the main title House in Fata Morgana since that is set in medieval times. However, especially given its short length, it lacks the depth that we see in its previous titles, but it's still a very relatable piece especially if you play games or have any form of online…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Characters and character sprites were reused from FataMoru, but are different characters entirely. The build up was kind of slow, but the narration was really well-done despite being a short game. Some parts were really funny though. The climax was like a punch in the gut. This probably isn't the best VN to recommend especially as it shares characters from the masterpiece that is FataMoru, but it's still beautifully done. If you do intend to play, please do AFTER playing The House in Fata…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"dear seventh lair you made me cry"
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very good, on the same level of quality you would expect from novectacle but personally i dont like it as much as fata morgana & requiem of innocence. it's worth a pick up after you play the other fata morgana visual novels. in terms of soundtrack, this game beats out the fata morgana though.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you love The House in Fata Morgana games to death like I did, you'll enjoy this one. Though the story isn't as strong as the main series, it was nice to see the art of the characters again and despite being a bit of a joke story, it's still a Fata Morgana game. Though the sprites are reused assets, the soundtrack is original and there are some pretty good tracks in it. Land of Nowhere honestly clears some tracks from the main series. If even the Carrot Cake story didn't fully quench your…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After not knowing what to expect from Seventh Lair, I was at first surprised by its lighthearted beginning. Then, I was gripped by its emotional depth and narrative complexity. As a fan of Keika Hanada's work, I loved all the allusions to Fatamoru and the unique spin on familiar characters. Don't sleep on this game if you are a Fatamoru fan! You might also enjoy Seventh Lair not knowing any of the related works, if you want to read a story that offers a glimpse into how it feels to be an indie…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Curious if you would check out Seventh Lair, the alt universe game kinda using characters from The House in Fata Morgana, since its the direct follow up release 4ish months later according to vndb and is about being a creator without spoiling too much.
neutral · AI labelView post →Thank you! Wow, I had no idea that existed. I'll check it out, along with the April Fool's Game they made: Seventh Lair store.steampowered.com/app/1909810/...
neutral · AI labelView post →April 1st means it’s been 3 years since I played what I thought would be a little joke game and it changed my life forever 😭 They could never make me hate you Seventh Lair.
positive · AI labelView post →i cried a lot (no i did not, but it was that surprisingly good i had to lie)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly I was a bit upset when I first stumbled upon this game, mostly because they reutilized characters from Fata morgana to make this, which is a game that holds a special place in my heart, and it felt kinda cheap to just take them from one game and put it in another, but i'm glad to say I was very wrong about that, already knowing these characters and their story adds a sense of familiarity you wouldn't have with brand new characters. After a few months craving more Fata content I finally…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a standalone game by the creators of The House of Fata Morgana. It can be played without having played that series. As with all visual novels, it's a slow burn until it reaches a huge payoff toward the end. This particular experience is far shorter than Fata Morgana, and still reaches an amazing payoff; this is especially true if you're going through a great loss, as you'll feel seen and understood. Even if you are not, this VN is absolutely worth it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →198. Seventh Lair. Steam. Older purchase. VN exploring the connection between game creators & players w/alternate universe versions of Fata Morgana characters. Short (3-4 hrs) but expertly nails comic & tragic elements given that time. I cried at the end, again.
positive · AI labelView post →From the creators of The House in Fata Morgana, one of the best pieces of fiction I have gotten to experience in my whole life, comes yet another masterpiece worthy of praise. Despite sporting only a fraction of the runtime as their aforementioned magnum opus, Seventh Lair manages to do a whole lot with its 6-7 hrs of gameplay, crafting a story that, while at first seems trifling and fitting of its April Fools' day release, eventually goes to show that the writers at NOVECT are very much…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →probably the only fata morgana follow up worth reading
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I cried so much.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →do not read if you are sad. also thank god this is non-canon
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I... I'm torn. There's a lot to like about this game. One thing I really enjoyed is how it framed online relationships and their impact on people - especially with these things becoming more common. The music is fantastic. I did enjoy the first half of the story, and the twists along the way. But... I wish it had been original characters. Given the team behind it, I'd have bought it even without the Fata Morgana characters popping up. And I think it would've been stronger without them being…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you liked fata morgana you will like this also J.B. remains the goat
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I definetelly did not expect what I got from this game. The story is really great, as all fatamoru games, and as such touches very dark and complicated themes form humanity. I really like how it portrays online relationships, idk a lot of media that do that besides Homestuck. As long I enjoyed the game, some original characters were played really dirty. Look, I get it is an AU, but some changes in caracterization are just bad, i.e Maria/Imeon??. Lastly the music score, the art and the message…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played entirely on Steam Deck. Requires some remapping to assign things like 'advance text to a face button,' but once that's done, no technical issues. It is surprising how much this should-be-for-funsies-April-Fools game has to say. Won't spoil here what that is or what it's about here, but it deserves to be checked out. I think you could start with this, but I'd recommend playing The House in Fata Morgana first. Much of the art is lifted from that, and I imagine seeing those character…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →prepare to ugly cry even with the poor translation. time to learn Japanese.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →whilst this game is not in any way related to the house in fata morgana it is still worth reading and im sure that the fans would enjoy it. PS: can these characters ever be happy?
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Surprisingly pretty good for such a strange spin-off, doesn't hold a candle to the original or the prequel of course but honestly worth playing since it's a short read and has an interesting plot.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The basement dwelling web admin character isn't also a power tripping ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ who deletes every post that slightly bothers him. This is the least realistic part of a game that has souls and parallel worlds.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I thought the story would be goofy, and yes it is goofy until it took a heavy disturbing unexpected turn :0
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It’s been about five years since I played Fata Morgana(I don’t own it on Steam) and it is still my favourite visual media. If you loved Fata Morgana, this is absolutely worth your time
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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