Review: Stay: Forever Home
Stay: Forever Home is a pet simulator developed by Windup Minds, a team of experienced VR developers previously involved with Meta’s Bogo and First Steps. Following the removal of Bogo from the Meta store in March 2024, it’s thrilling to see a new pet simulator emerge from the creators of that game after more than a year.
Release Date: April 24th 2025
Developer: Windup Minds
Publisher: Windup Minds
Price: £9.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Access Provided For Review *
Build A Special Bond
At the beginning of the game, you meet Ember through a portal that links your world to hers. The developers skilfully establish a connection between you and Ember, who initially appears anxious and wary of your presence. Your mission is to earn her trust by offering her various berries, and with each feeding, her trust gradually increases until she feels comfortable enough to jump through the portal into your room. This initial interaction made it clear to me that the team had most likely crafted something truly special.
I was introduced to various interactions I could have with Ember in my gaming room, such as petting, brushing, feeding, and playing fetch. There were no limits to how often I could engage in these activities, and I found myself sitting on the floor, petting her for the first fifteen minutes, just to see her cute reactions. After completing all the necessary actions in my room, I could open a door that I placed which connected my space to Ember’s world. Stepping through this door would transport me from mixed reality into a fully immersive virtual reality world.
This is where the core of the experience truly begins, as this area allows me to take Ember for walks, providing her with the essential exercise that all dogs require. But there’s more to it than just walking her; in Ember’s world, you’ll encounter various challenges. Ember will invite you to play or engage in activities, and completing these tasks rewards you with items to stash in Ember’s little backpack, as well as experience points. These rewards are crucial, as they can be exchanged at the small store in Ember’s world for various items, such as outfits for her, toys, beds, and upgrades for your own space. The store’s inventory refreshes daily, offering only three items at a time, which means you may need to return the next day if something you desire is out of stock—this creates the games gameplay loop. While there are tasks to complete, you can simply take Ember for a walk if you prefer; there’s no obligation to finish the tasks if you just want to enjoy a leisurely stroll with her one day.
In Ember’s realm, you’ll encounter some troublesome weeds that sprout up during your visits. Even if you don’t have a specific task, it’s recommended to eliminate these weeds, as doing so will reward you with valuable items for trading and experience points. Additionally, you’ll meet both helpful and mischievous creatures called Mosslings. The friendly ones will provide you with items, while the troublesome ones may snatch items from Ember’s backpack or those left unattended. Ember will attempt to thwart these little thieves, but there may be times when you lose items to them.
Ember will communicate when she’s tired or hungry, allowing you to feed her in her own realm. However, you’ll need to return to your world for her to rest. Once she’s asleep, it’s recommended to leave her undisturbed for a few hours before coming back, although you can choose to keep her awake longer if you prefer. This approach is beneficial, as it provides younger players with a chance to take a break from the game and return later or the following day to resume their adventures with Ember.
As you progress through more days, tasks, and challenges, your friendship level with Ember will grow. There are five levels of friendship, and as you enhance these levels, you’ll unlock new commands to interact with Ember. These include calling her back to you, issuing a move command, asking her to sit, fetch, and even giving her gifts. You can use voice commands or controls for these interactions. By combining these commands with other ways to engage with Ember, you truly develop a bond with her, similar to that of a real pet. This connection is further enriched by her unscripted, AI-driven behaviour, which means one day she might crave attention and affection, while the next she could be a little mischievous.
Ember Steals The Show
As previously mention the game used both mixed reality and virtual reality, which is brilliantly transitioned between using a door the is present in both worlds. This allows you to interact with Ember in your own home or when out on a stroll in a beautiful virtual world, allowing the team to add so much more to the gameplay and create a bond with Ember, giving a great pet simulator experience.
Windup Minds has embraced vibrant and striking colors for both Ember and her surroundings, which perfectly suits this immersive experience. You can infuse your own space with a splash of color by incorporating planters and outdoor plants into your home, strategically placing them around your room to enhance the connection between your environment and Ember’s. Whether these elements are in your space or during your walks with Ember, they all present a visually appealing aesthetic. This lively world is animated by captivating environmental sounds, including the melodies of nature, the playful barks of Ember, and the charming sounds of the Mosslings, all harmonised with soothing music. The calming tunes also resonate in your own environment, with Ember taking centre stage, accompanied by her barks and adorable sounds as you engage with her.
The heart of the game lies in Ember, who is animated with stunning realism, enhancing the unique connection you create. Her joyful expressions, the way she eagerly jumps around with her tennis ball during fetch, the fierce snarl at the pesky Mosslings, and her contented looks as you pet her or how she settles down for a nap – all of it brought a smile to my face.
Comfort
The Verdict
The Windup Minds team has truly leveraged their experience from Bogo to create something remarkable with Stay: Forever Home, crafting an engaging pet simulator. The initial process of earning Ember’s trust lays a solid groundwork for developing a unique relationship with her. Thanks to the implementation of unscripted AI, each visit with Ember can offer a fresh experience—she might be affectionate, playful, or a little mischievous, mimicking the unpredictability of a real pet. The combination of mixed reality, which brings Ember into your physical space, and virtual reality, which enhances gameplay, is a brilliant addition that deepens your connection. This is by far the most comprehensive pet simulator I’ve encountered, making it a must-try for anyone seeking an immersive and enjoyable pet simulation, regardless of age.