"Sweet Home" follows the exploits of five members of an investigation group: Kazuo, Akiko, Taro, Asuka, and Emi. The famous painter Mamiya Ichirou lived many years in a secluded mansion, and rumor says there are some valuable frescos to find inside. Our investigators decide to take some pictures of the frescos. However, upon entering the mansion, a ghost-like figure of Mamiya appears and threatens them. After this, they find themselves trapped in the mansion. The heroes must now find a way out of the mansion, not forgetting the frescos they came there for, and the destiny of an earlier investigation group that has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

"Sweet Home" is perhaps the first known example of survival horror genre, created by the same company that later made the famous Resident Evil. However, "Sweet Home" is also a console-style RPG: characters fight random monsters in turn-based battles, equip various weapons and level up. You can (and must) form different teams from the five available characters, both for battles and for solving puzzles. Each character has his (or her) own item-based skill: Taro can take pictures, Emi can unlock almost any door, Kazuo has a lighter, Akiko uses a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and other obstacles, and Asuka has medical kits.

What's this? A pre-Resident Evil survival horror game? Indeedy, and it's yet another one of the gems us westerners didn't get. In this case, Nintendo thought it was too violent and un-family friendly, and even in Japan it had to be released without the Nintendo stamp of approval. If that doesn't make you want to play it, I don't know what will!

Five teenagers; Akiko, Emi, Asuka, Kazuo, and Taro are searching for a famous fresco (that's painting to you uncultured people), to sell for Big Money! But as they progress through the haunted mansion, they find notes and diary entries that show that horrific things have happened here ...

You can take control over any one person in your party at any time, and form a team using the Team command. The team can consist of up to three people, so you'll have at least two parties at all times. A character can only carry two things in addition to a weapon and their Special Item. The Special Item is important, and must be utilized to get through the game.

Emi has a key for opening some locked doors. And when you open a locked door, you'll be treated to the "Open door"-animation we all know from the Resident Evil-series. Neat.

Battles happen at random - you'll be jumped by devil dolls, zombies, skulls, worms, and other spooky things throughout your adventure. You can fight, run away, Pray (which deals damage according to how many Pray Points you use), or call, which'll put you in control of the other party, who can join the battle if they can get to it in time.