JANITOR BLEEDS
- June 1, 2022
- Bonus Stage Publishing
- 4h median play time
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Get on Xbox Games Store"Janitor Bleeds" is a horror game set in an abandoned arcade, accessible after a car crash in a dark forest. You're drawn to play a mysterious arcade machine called JANITOR, which unleashes a sinister force. The game's eerie atmosphere and retro-inspired design will keep you on edge as you explore the arcade and delve deeper into the cursed machine to survive.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique setting in a haunted arcade, creating a spooky and immersive atmosphere.
- Gameplay mechanics that involve interacting with arcade cabinets to influence the real world are creative and enjoyable.
- The game successfully builds tension and suspense without relying heavily on jump scares, making for a more engaging horror experience.
- The enemy AI can be frustrating, often leading to unfair deaths and a lack of clear guidance on how to progress.
- Performance issues, including inconsistent framerates and optimization problems, detract from the overall experience.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth in both gameplay and story.
- gameplay27 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is a blend of familiar mechanics and innovative interactions, particularly through the use of arcade cabinets that influence the game world. While the core gameplay loop of exploration and avoiding threats is enjoyable, some players found it somewhat derivative and noted pacing issues, particularly in the non-puzzle elements. Overall, the game is praised for its clever mechanics and engaging horror atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding its length and repetitiveness.
“The gameplay itself is a seek and find adventure to open doors/levels within the 'Janitor Bleeds' arcade game to progress in the real world.”
“The main hook of the title, switching between the mini-game in the cabinet, exploration, and avoiding the main threat is a fine enough gameplay loop, and it was enjoyable seeing how my actions within the cabinet affected the environment.”
“This game felt fantastically paced, creepy as hell, and for once I actually enjoyed the first-person run and hide gameplay.”
“The only dings against the game are that it's a tad short and the hide and seek mechanics are something I've seen way too many times in other indie horror titles, doing nothing to innovate or iterate on the idea.”
“What it doesn’t do too well is the nitty-gritty gameplay bits.”
“I think this game suffered from pacing issues too, which could have either been solved with faster gameplay and more action. The centerpiece of the game being an extremely simplistic, even by arcade game standards, game inside a game also was lacking. Essentially, 'Janitor Bleeds' can't be fun if the janitor game isn't fun, because the reason I'm trudging through vents is to explore more of how the janitor is affecting the world, and that involves playing it.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a unique, retro aesthetic reminiscent of PS1-era visuals, which many players find appealing and atmospheric. However, despite the stylistic charm, numerous users report significant performance issues, even on high-end hardware, leading to frustration with the game's optimization. Overall, while the art style is praised, the execution in terms of performance leaves much to be desired.
“Great small horror game with a unique style and visuals.”
“Fantastic graphics (even though they are PS1 styled) and a beautiful atmosphere.”
“Good graphics, eerie atmosphere; I love it.”
“I have a 3060 ti and the game makes my graphics card spin; I cannot even stream this on OBS without encoding errors out the wazoo, even on the lowest graphics. Seriously, how do you expect me to play this?”
“First glaringly was the performance; I originally played the demo on a weaker computer than the one I’m using currently. It was striking how poorly the game ran compared to its earlier iteration.”
“No graphics settings, including the resolution options, have any effect on how the game runs.”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique haunted arcade setting, effectively creating a dark, dense, and eerie environment that enhances the horror experience without relying on cheap jump scares. Reviewers highlight the game's impressive graphics and attention to detail, contributing to a suspenseful and immersive atmosphere that keeps players engaged throughout. Overall, the game's ability to evoke genuine fear and intrigue through its atmospheric design is a standout feature.
“Great atmosphere with a unique setting of a haunted arcade.”
“Very atmospheric, perfect length, was interesting the entire playthrough and had some very spooky ideas.”
“In addition, the atmosphere is dark, dense, and grim.”
“It's been a long time since the atmosphere of a game got me spooked.”
“The atmosphere is spot-on creepy from the get-go, and it is nice to explore all the little details at the arcade.”
- story18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as interesting yet predictable, with a mix of charm and cliché elements reminiscent of cheap horror films. While some players appreciated the atmospheric execution and visual storytelling, others found the narrative scattered and overexplained through excessive notes, leading to a loss of engagement. Overall, the story is seen as a decent motivator for gameplay, though many wished for a deeper exploration and more cohesive pacing.
“While it's not the most original story, there's a lot to appreciate in the execution of it.”
“Very fun little game, has some good spooks, great atmosphere, interesting story.”
“Very spooky, great story and good nostalgic feel.”
“I unfortunately didn't even finish the story.”
“The story scattered around parts of the map during gameplay, while initially intriguing, lost a lot of its luster quickly and eventually I just kind of stopped caring. It was a vague motivator to go against the main enemy/creature of the game pursuing you at random points. Some of these chase and escape sequences were cool, and some were a little poor.”
“Even if they weren't as poorly written as they are, this game was better at telling its story visually.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing poor performance even on capable hardware, leading to frustrating gameplay. While some users reported no performance issues, the overall sentiment suggests that the game requires substantial improvements to its optimization to enhance the experience for a broader audience.
“The performance was strikingly improved compared to the demo I played on a weaker computer; even a small graphics card upgrade made a noticeable difference.”
“I didn't experience any performance issues while playing the game.”
“Overall, the game seems relatively bug-free, aside from some performance concerns.”
“First glaringly was the performance; I originally played the demo on a weaker computer than the one I’m using currently. Not massively, mind you, just a small graphics card upgrade, but it was striking how poorly the game ran compared to its earlier iteration.”
“Some parts were downright frustrating due to the poor optimization, making it much more difficult to achieve what I was seeking to do.”
“The game is aesthetically decent and I enjoy how it looks; it’s just a shame that even people with much stronger computers than mine, as seen in the Steam community posts, were also unfortunately plagued by poor performance, showing that maybe some work could be done under the hood.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for enhancing the creepy atmosphere and intensifying the fear factor associated with the monsters and environments. Reviewers commend the soundtrack for its ability to evoke chills and heighten suspense, making the overall experience more immersive and thrilling.
“Extra points for the soundtrack!”
“I love how the music makes the entity even more frightening, and the areas you explore send chills down your spine, making you wonder what's going to happen next.”
“The creepy atmosphere, combined with the monsters and music, creates an unforgettable experience.”
“Creepy atmosphere, monster, and music.”
“Love how the music makes the entity even more frightening or the areas you go to just send chills down your spine, making you wonder what's going to happen next.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to players interested in uncovering secrets or completing achievements.
“Sadly, there isn't much replay value unless you're trying for secrets or achievements.”
“The game feels linear, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is relatively bug-free, although some performance issues have been noted.
“The game seems relatively bug-free, aside from a few performance issues.”
“I haven't encountered any major glitches, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
“Overall, the stability of the game is impressive, allowing me to enjoy it without interruptions.”
