Kiosk

About

Kiosk is a single player simulation game with horror, mystery and kids themes. It was developed by Vivi and was released on January 29, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Join my discord

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 985 reviews

story76 positive mentions

grinding19 negative mentions

Fun and satisfying cooking gameplay with unique physics-based mechanics, such as throwing ingredients and knives.
Cozy, immersive atmosphere with a well-executed blend of cooking sim and horror elements that create suspense without being overwhelming.
Short and focused experience with a charming story and memorable characters, along with multiple modes (story, endless, relax) for replayability.

Limited horror elements mainly relying on predictable jump scares that lack depth and fail to create sustained tension.
Repetitive and sometimes tedious gameplay, especially related to ingredient restocking and carrying items one at a time.
Story and ending feel underdeveloped or abrupt, leaving some players unsatisfied with narrative payoff and lacking complexity.

story
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The story in the game is generally short, simple, and light on horror, relying mostly on a few jump scares and subtle atmospheric tension rather than deep narrative complexity. While some players find the story enjoyable with fun character interactions and a slow buildup, many describe it as predictable, underdeveloped, or an afterthought that complements but doesn't overshadow the gameplay. Overall, it offers a concise, mildly engaging horror premise that pairs well with the cooking mechanics, but could benefit from more depth, length, and varied scares.
- “The story (although short) is well told and coherent, and while most playthroughs are 40-90 mins, each repeat character has a fleshed out story thread that gives the game dimension.”
- “Narrative unfolds primarily through environmental storytelling and cryptic interactions with customers, encouraging players to piece together the kiosk’s dark past as they progress.”
- “It’s a concise experience that manages to leave a lasting impression through its effective use of mood and storytelling rather than sheer length or complexity.”
- “The story mode is short but I expected that.”
- “The story was bland and the ending unfulfilling, and sure, the jumpscares 'got' me, but not in the fun, creepy way, in the 'damn, that sucked, I don't like that feeling' way.”
- “All in all, while not without some merit on the gameplay front, I feel like Kiosk is a messy, failed horror game with a rather flat story, only a couple characters that are even a little charming, and a rushed ending.”
gameplay
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
49%
10%
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun, cozy, and satisfying cooking mechanics with a simple yet addictive loop, though some find it repetitive and somewhat tedious over time. While the horror elements are minimal and often feel shoehorned, the core gameplay remains engaging, especially for fans of cooking sims, with modes like endless and relax extending playtime. However, a few players criticize clunky controls, limited mechanics, and short length, suggesting the game shines more as a casual cooking experience than a compelling horror title.
- “The cooking mechanics are fun, the progression of unlocking new foods throughout the week is well paced, the visuals are really good, and the atmosphere is the best part.”
- “A very fun game with a satisfying loop, eerie atmosphere, and an enjoyable set of mechanics.”
- “This is a genuinely lovely and mostly calm horror game with a wonderful twist, and the gameplay itself is addicting and relaxing, which makes relax mode by far my favorite game mode.”
- “The gameplay loop was so mind-numbing that I legitimately couldn't finish it.”
- “This game has the art style and the mood to be scary, yet it squanders it on boring, monotonous gameplay with a very simple story and the worst jump scares I've seen in a horror game so far.”
- “The place and throw mechanics are iffy too, placing is hampered by distance issues that seem to encourage objects only ever hitting the edge of the surface and tumbling onto the floor, and throwing often results in your thrown object bouncing off in a random direction requiring you to have to pick it up again and try to place it where you want it to be.”
atmosphere
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive, eerie, and cozy blend, combining mundane cooking sim elements with unsettling horror undertones. While jump scares are present, the horror is generally described as mild, with tension built through ambiance—rain sounds, flickering lights, and detailed environments—rather than intense scares. Overall, the atmosphere effectively creates a unique, engaging vibe that balances relaxing gameplay with a subtle, creepy mood, though some find the tension and scare elements lacking depth or progression.
- “The kiosk itself is depicted with careful detail—the flickering fluorescent lights, the worn counter surfaces, and the rain pattering against the windows all contribute to a vivid, immersive atmosphere.”
- “Absolutely love the atmosphere in the game; throwing things and painting the walls with ketchup, markers, and mustard was thoroughly enjoyable. I absolutely loved getting my kitchen in order before I start a new shift!”
- “Loved the spooky atmosphere, the missing employee plot, and the final boss twist!”
- “The game just tries so hard with the atmosphere and art style to be a horror game, but all it does is mask a very boring and simple game that really isn't fun.”
- “Again, it's just a cooking game with a very lazily done 'on edge' atmosphere and really dumb jump scares; after the first two, it's very predictable.”
- “It's a very bland horror game which lacks any tension or atmosphere; it's short at around 90 minutes but by the end I couldn't wait for it to be over.”
humor
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in this game is generally described as quirky, lighthearted, and more funny than scary, with amusing jump scares and comical customer interactions. Many players enjoy the absurdity of cooking mechanics, such as serving food scraped off the floor, which brings a playful and entertaining vibe. However, some find the humor hit-or-miss and repetitive, though it often balances the game's horror elements with a comforting, amusing tone.
- “With the exception of a few red herring jumpscare phantoms that are more funny than scary, this is less horror and more mystery, where the same 8-ish one-note customers order from an ever-growing menu of food served from the floor.”
- “Explosively dicing ingredients before nonchalantly scraping the pieces off the floor and serving them to waiting customers... oddly satisfying (and hilarious), though I found the requests started to get a bit repetitive after a while.”
- “Meanwhile, behind the counter, I’m laughing like a villain as I serve them 'fresh' carpet kebabs.”
- “You make orders to go, listen to boring and unfunny dialogue from the customers, get three or four admittedly decent jump scares, and then it ends on a wet fart of a story beat.”
- “Hey, that's not funny...”
graphics
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic retro and pixel art style, which effectively creates a cozy yet unsettling atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While simple and derivative to some, the art style's unique blend of pixel and 3D elements, along with a VHS-style presentation, adds charm and personality that supports the game's comedic horror and cooking themes. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's distinct vibe and immersive mood despite some criticisms of repetitiveness and simplicity.
- “All in all, I think this little game is brilliant, the style is excellent and the graphics are nostalgic, which adds to the whole experience of the story.”
- “I enjoyed the art style specifically; the mix of pixel and 3D graphics was meshed together very well and absolutely made the game feel so unique.”
- “The art style fits perfectly too—distinct, appealing, and with just enough personality to make the world feel alive (and unsettling).”
- “Aesthetically there was nothing directly wrong with the game; however, it is incredibly derivative of other titles and a style that has been done to death by recent indie horror games.”
- “Love the graphics and premise of the game... execution... pretty ass.”
- “The game just tries so hard with the atmosphere and artstyle to be a horror game, but all it does is mask a very boring and simple game that really isn't fun.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
79%
Grinding in the game is widely described as tedious and repetitive, with tasks like food prep and restocking feeling slow and unengaging. While some find the rhythmic repetition occasionally builds tension for jump scares, many feel the gameplay loop becomes monotonous, detracting from the overall horror experience. Achievements and grinding for unlocks add to this sense of repetitiveness, making the game feel more like a chore than an exciting challenge.
- “From trying to find the magic pixel of the bugged out knife that got stuck in the table, to the horror-inducing experience of spending half your time tediously picking up ingredients off the ground because every package explodes open, this game is annoying to play through-and-through.”
- “These don't add to the horror experience and just serve to make the gameplay more tedious to slog through, as it was done to make you have to take as long as possible to get basic stuff done and to make it difficult to organise your workstation so you can do the cooking easily or efficiently.”
- “The game starts nicely but you soon realize that the whole loop is based on doing tedious cooking while getting rewarded by few braindead jumpscares and even worse ending.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The music is generally praised for its catchy, relaxing, and atmospheric qualities, especially the memorable menu theme, though some users find the jump scare stingers abrupt and lacking in true horror impact. A few suggest adding more varied or quieter music options, particularly in "relax" modes, to enhance replayability and reduce repetitiveness. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's chill yet occasionally spooky vibe, despite some criticisms of limited thrilling elements.
- “Delicious game, also the music goes so hard yum.”
- “The menu music is more addictive than it has any right to be, and overall, it's a chill/melancholic job simulator with some spooks here and there.”
- “Loved the art style, the atmosphere & music theme, the controls, the gameplay.”
- “Often I just hear the music sting with no idea what just happened.”
- “Most of the 'scares' are limited to sting music and jump scares, and it's just startling, not frightening.”
- “There are lame jump scares, no thrilling music, and a lame ending.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The game offers solid replayability through various modes like endless and relax, appealing to both casual and horror fans with its fun gameplay and narrative rewards. However, some players find certain modes repetitive or lacking meaningful changes in endings, which can diminish long-term engagement. Overall, it provides good value and enjoyment despite minor repetition and simplicity.
- “Endless and relaxing game modes make for a decent amount of fun replayability and challenge.”
- “The narrative design rewards attentive players, creating a sense of discovery that enhances replayability.”
- “A lot of replayability, and caters to both horror fans and those who just want to chill and pass the time (see 'endless' and 'relax' modes).”
- “I tried the relax mode too, but I found myself grinding for achievements five minutes in more than cooking... there could be some changes for the relax mode, like a way to control music theme, to some sort of money system, to more side stories from the customers, which would encourage replayability, but yeah I have to say after over an hour it got really repetitive.”
- “Whether you fight back or let things play out, the ending doesn’t really change, which really kills the replay value.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as weak, with users finding the story and characters boring and emotionally unsettling. Some note a shift from the developer's previous, more wholesome style to a darker, more uncomfortable tone.
- “Or, if touching grass is too scary, play it in relaxed mode.”
- “Every day adds another cursed recipe and a new lineup of emotionally unstable strangers.”
- “Kiosk is the second game by vivigamedev, and a bit of a heelturn from the wholesome gnominess of his previous title.”
- “Boring characters, boring story.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game is generally well-built and enjoyable, though it experiences occasional glitches and physics issues that can impact gameplay, especially in Endless mode. Despite minor bugs like objects getting stuck, these do not significantly hinder the overall experience.
- “Endless mode is fun until all the physics glitches and funny controls make you lose time.”
- “Can be a little buggy at times, with things getting stuck under the table and whatnot, but doesn't pose a problem.”
- “Anyway, it does have some glitches.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly even during chaotic moments. Performance is solid, though some users rate optimization moderately, indicating room for improvement. Overall, it delivers a stable and enjoyable experience.
- “Performance is very good, even if you make a mess with the chopped ingredients all over the floor.”
- “Optimization was fine—the game ran smoothly.”
- “Feels like more time went into the gameplay for the cooking than into the story and scares, but it's still a very well-made and optimized experience.”