Sweet Home was one of the earliest survival horror games created in 1989 by Capcom Games for the Japanese market. It was compatible with the original Nintendo Entertainment System.

Sweet Home had five protagonists, who explored a deserted mansion which proved a death trap. The mansion belonged to the late Mamiya Ichirou, who appeared throughout action as a ghost. When the team entered Ichirou’s house, its doors locked behind them. The group had to escape, or die trying.

Along the way, the five heroes must solve puzzle and escape death traps. Each character had a unique skill that aided the team in eventually escaping the house.

Sweet Home was a large success in Japan. It had several novel aspects, including permanent deaths. When one of the five died, they would not respawn. This made it more difficult, though not impossible, for the mission to be completed. Items could be found which replicated the skills of dead characters.

The game offered (what for the time were) a large, open-ended gaming enviroment. It had five unique possible endings, which was unique at the time. The mansion was described as “…a house of residing evil”, which may have provided Resident Evil with its name.