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Liquidators

Liquidators Game Cover
96%Game Brain Score
atmosphere, graphics
replayability, optimization
96% User Score Based on 902 reviews

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PCWindows
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Liquidators Game Cover

About

Liquidators is a single player survival simulation game with horror and historical themes. It was developed by Aidan Takami and was released on September 30, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Chernobyl, USSR, 1986. Three nuclear plant workers go on a daring mission to prevent a radioactive fallout that would affect half of Europe. Every moment is permanent, and all is at stake.

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Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
Liquidators screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 902 reviews
atmosphere75 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The game creates an incredibly tense atmosphere without relying on jump scares, making it genuinely scary.
  • It effectively portrays the real-life events of the Chernobyl disaster, honoring the bravery of the liquidators.
  • The sound design and graphics, despite being retro, enhance the immersive experience and contribute to the overall horror.
  • The game can be buggy, with instances of getting stuck or not being able to progress after completing objectives.
  • Some players found the pixelated graphics and low visibility frustrating, which can detract from the experience.
  • The game is quite short, which may leave some players wanting more content or replayability.
  • atmosphere
    126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is universally praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread without relying on jump scares. Reviewers highlight the excellent sound design, retro graphics, and the oppressive environment that evoke the haunting reality of the Chernobyl disaster. Overall, the game is described as a short yet powerful atmospheric horror experience that captivates players with its tension and emotional weight.

    • “Its a short little experience but it is dripping with atmosphere, from the excellent sound design to the graphic filter that acts like a radioactive buzz on the camera, it is carefully crafted and does not overstay its welcome.”
    • “The atmosphere, lighting, sound, and gameplay combine to create an immersive environment where every step you take could be your last.”
    • “Incredible atmosphere that creates horror and tension without the need of jumpscares.”
    • “The atmosphere is chilling.”
    • “Incredible, I don't have a ton to say other than this game has one of the most unsettling atmospheres I've played; I couldn't imagine what those men went through.”
    • “The atmosphere is heavy as lead, helped by the pixel art style and especially by the phenomenal sound design.”
  • graphics
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro, pixelated style reminiscent of PS1 aesthetics, which many players feel enhances the atmospheric tension and overall experience. While some users noted that the visuals may not meet modern standards and can be disorienting, they generally agree that the graphics effectively complement the game's themes and setting. Overall, the unique art style and sound design contribute significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, making it a worthwhile experience despite its graphical limitations.

    • “Its a short little experience but it is dripping with atmosphere, from the excellent sound design to the graphic filter that acts like a radioactive buzz on the camera, it is carefully crafted and does not overstay its welcome.”
    • “The retro-style, pixel graphics and the dark lighting help to set a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, and it's the little touches that help give this game some clout - the sound design is perfect.”
    • “The ambiance was great, the sound design was marvelous, graphics were fitting, and I had an unnerving feeling the entire game.”
    • “The graphics aren't good to be honest, but they fit the game really well and add to the gritty nature of the game and the issue at hand.”
    • “This game has such great potential, but the graphics are awful.”
    • “Obviously, the graphics leave a lot to be desired, but it's a great game and worth playing.”
  • story
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game "Liquidators" presents a compelling narrative centered around the true story of three liquidators who risked their lives to prevent a catastrophic nuclear fallout following the Chernobyl disaster. Players appreciate the emotional depth and historical authenticity of the characters, which enhances the immersive experience, despite some critiques regarding graphics and mission complexity. Overall, the storytelling effectively captures the tension and heroism of this perilous mission, making it a recommended experience for those interested in historical events.

    • “Liquidators is a short horror experience that tells the story of three liquidators who helped prevent further radioactive catastrophe after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant meltdown.”
    • “The storytelling and historical facts included are super cool!!!”
    • “The game doesn't just tell the story; it immerses you in the fear, tension, and heroism of a dire historical event.”
    • “Obviously, knowing the story behind this is near essential, and this is probably where the game fails a bit, as it doesn't really build context around its narrative.”
    • “There is basic and minimal story to the game; the characters have their own background story which you will find out as time goes on.”
  • gameplay
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Liquidators* is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, focusing on cooperative puzzle-solving within a tense atmosphere inspired by the Chernobyl disaster. Players control three characters, each with unique abilities, to navigate the environment and complete objectives, resulting in a short but intense experience that combines strategic elements with historical context. While the gameplay is generally well-received for its immersive design and fun mechanics, some players noted limitations in length and complexity, suggesting potential for future expansion.

    • “The gameplay is intuitive, but the real pressure comes from the high stakes and the immediate consequences of failure.”
    • “The atmosphere, lighting, sound, and gameplay combine to create an immersive environment where every step you take could be your last.”
    • “The gameplay is cool, radiation wasn't really a problem, the gameplay was fun and intense, especially at the final stretch in the depths of the plant.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit basic, just going around, doing simple puzzles, and turning on valves, although this is made up for by the PlayStation-style graphics and the great soundtrack and ambience.”
    • “Playtime is short, gameplay is limited and linear.”
    • “The gameplay just throws you out there, constantly experimenting to solve the honestly hard-to-follow prompt through exploration and the three different characters.”
  • music
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is minimal yet highly effective, enhancing the atmospheric horror experience without relying on traditional soundtracks. Users appreciate the dynamic ambient sounds that change with each area, contributing to the tension and immersion, while the overall sound design is praised for its ability to evoke fear and set the mood. The lack of conventional music is compensated by the eerie environmental sounds, which serve as both a guide and a source of dread.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is done fantastically with great ambient music, clear clues to your surroundings and condition, and pretty good level design.”
    • “As someone experienced with music composition and production, the first thing I want to point out is the absolutely stellar sound design.”
    • “No jumpscares, no monsters chasing you, hardly any music whatsoever, yet absolutely terrifying.”
    • “The background music really sets the tone for what are essentially, really bad situations the liquidators can get themselves into, and the overall sound design is super atmospheric.”
    • “Soundtrack: well, there really isn't one, but the sounds of Chernobyl are frightening enough.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the option to approach challenges with different characters and strategies, many feel that the limited content and lack of significant changes between playthroughs diminish its long-term appeal. Suggestions for improvement include introducing character progression, randomization of environments, or increasing mission complexity to enhance replay value. Despite its short duration, some players still find the experience worthwhile, particularly for its atmospheric qualities.

    • “Being able to start as any of the 3 liquidators makes the game somewhat replayable.”
    • “A very short play, but you can try and solve each problem in multiple ways, so I guess there is replayability.”
    • “Even if it's a bit short, the challenge and replayability make up for it.”
    • “First playthrough is very atmospheric but there is limited replayability aside from maybe trying to complete the game as a different character (even still you probably remember the way to get around).”
    • “Not much replay value unless you feel like revisiting the environment, also not very challenging.”
    • “Despite the game being as short as to be doable in under an hour (as I just have), and lacking some replayability, it was a very well spent hour.”
  • emotional
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players consistently highlight the game's emotional impact, noting moments that evoke deep feelings, such as personal revelations and poignant radio chatter that connect them to the narrative and its historical context. The combination of touching messages and haunting themes creates an emotional rollercoaster experience, leaving a lasting impression and showcasing the game's strong storytelling and design.

    • “The walkie-talkie chatter is particularly impactful, providing emotional depth and context that enrich the overall narrative, and giving players a poignant connection to the true events and the brave individuals involved.”
    • “Moments of personal revelation, such as mentions of lost family members and heartfelt messages from loved ones, add an emotional layer that is both touching and haunting.”
    • “This emotional investment is a testament to the game's excellent design and storytelling.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received criticism, with users reporting poor performance even on capable hardware, such as a 1070 GPU running at 90% capacity. Many players are calling for expanded video options to better balance graphics and performance, as well as the ability to skip cutscenes. Overall, the optimization appears to be a significant area needing improvement.

    • “Nice game, nice style, good performance; the story is based on reality, but it still felt great.”
    • “The developers need to work on optimization and perhaps make more of the cutscenes skippable.”
    • “I would appreciate it if you expanded the video options to change the resolution of the game, disable motion blur, etc., so that players can balance performance with graphics.”
    • “The game nearly maxes out my 1070 at 90%; either this game is very poorly optimized or it uses my graphics card to mine cryptocurrency.”
  • grinding
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players consistently express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a "second life." The complexity of certain tasks, particularly in the blob section, adds to the overall grind, making exploration feel laborious.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The blob part is very complex, tedious, and time-consuming; then again, so is the last bit.”
    • “But exploration and such is realistically tedious, as the game saves every second you play.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is perceived as inconsistent, with some players finding it amusing, such as the absurdity of a character dying from a "funny rock," while others feel that serious themes like radiation detract from the comedic elements. Overall, the humor may not resonate with all players due to its juxtaposition with darker themes.

    • “I looked at a funny rock and died!”
    • “The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious and keeps me laughing throughout!”
    • “Every character has a quirky sense of humor that makes the gameplay so much more enjoyable!”
    • “Radiation is not funny; it is an invisible threat that can kill everyone in its range.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features appealing graphics and an atmospheric aesthetic, but players have reported various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as failing to trigger the ending screen after completing objectives. Overall, while the experience is generally enjoyable, stability issues detract from its polish.

    • “The game can be a bit buggy; during my second attempt, I managed to turn all the valves, but upon arrival at the entry point, I did not get the ending screen.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there. It is pleasant all the same and really fits with the eerie nature of its subject matter.”
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1h Median play time
1h Average play time
1-1h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Liquidators is a survival simulation game with horror and historical themes.

Liquidators is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 1 hours playing Liquidators.

Liquidators was released on September 30, 2020.

Liquidators was developed by Aidan Takami.

Liquidators has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its atmosphere but disliked it for its replayability.

Liquidators is a single player game.

Similar games include The Complex: Found Footage, Fears to Fathom: Home Alone, Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Little Nightmares, [Nightmare Files] Clap Clap and others.