Liquidators

About

"Liquidators" is a horror game set in the radioactive Chernobyl blast site, where players traverse the dangerous environment with a Geiger counter. The game is based on true events and is dedicated to the liquidators and first responders of the disaster. The game originally supported donations for Chernobyl Children International, but now also raises awareness for those affected by the war in Ukraine.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 848 reviews

atmosphere74 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Incredible atmosphere and sound design that creates a sense of dread without relying on jump scares.
Short but impactful gameplay that immerses players in the historical context of the Chernobyl disaster.
Unique mechanics that allow players to control different characters with distinct abilities, adding depth to the gameplay.

The game is very short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some players experienced bugs that affected gameplay, such as getting stuck or soft-locking.
The pixelated graphics may not appeal to everyone and can be disorienting at times.

atmosphere
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
35%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the eerie essence of the Chernobyl disaster through retro graphics and exceptional sound design. Reviewers highlight the absence of traditional horror elements like jump scares, instead emphasizing the game's ability to evoke tension and dread through its environment and audio cues. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making the experience both haunting and memorable.
- “Incredible atmosphere that creates horror and tension without the need of jump scares.”
- “The atmosphere is heavy as lead, helped by the pixely art style and especially by the phenomenal sound design.”
- “The atmosphere of it is eerie and just downright terrifying when you think about what happened in Chernobyl.”
- “Incredible, I don't have a ton to say other than this game has one of the most unsettling atmospheres I've played; 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
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro, pixelated aesthetic reminiscent of PS1 titles, which many players find enhances the atmospheric tension and horror elements. While some users express a desire for graphical improvements, they generally agree that the visuals effectively contribute to the game's eerie ambiance and storytelling. Overall, the unique art style is appreciated for its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and unease, despite some technical limitations and personal preferences regarding the graphics.
- “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 graphics are unique, the plot is very interesting, and the gameplay is amazing.”
- “Eerie, creepy, unsettling, great graphics, amazing sound, and the story is handled thoughtfully.”
- “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
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The game "Liquidators" offers a compelling narrative based on the true events surrounding the Chernobyl disaster, focusing on the heroic efforts of three liquidators tasked with preventing a catastrophic nuclear fallout. Players appreciate the emotional depth and authenticity of the characters, whose real-life counterparts add a profound layer to the storytelling. While the game is praised for its immersive atmosphere and historical accuracy, some players express a desire for additional missions and graphical improvements to enhance the overall experience.
- “I especially liked the ending which focuses on telling you the story around Chernobyl's liquidators, the main three characters and the people affected by the disaster.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The story is based on an important fragment of the actual event, the Chernobyl disaster.”
gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The gameplay is generally praised for its immersive atmosphere and integration of realistic mechanics, offering a mix of strategic puzzles and character abilities that enhance the experience. While some players found the gameplay to be simple and short, with a runtime of about an hour, others appreciated the tension and historical context it provided. Overall, the mechanics are described as smooth and intuitive, though some users noted issues with specific features and a desire for expanded content in the future.
- “The gameplay is intuitive, but the real pressure comes from the high stakes and the immediate consequences of failure.”
- “The combination of strategic gameplay, a compelling narrative, and historical depth makes it a standout title.”
- “The atmosphere, lighting, sound, and gameplay combine to create an immersive environment where every step you take could be your last.”
- “I didn't meet too many bugs during gameplay, only with the crawling ability and that the game won't let me finish.”
- “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.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised for their ability to create an immersive and atmospheric experience, with each area featuring distinct ambient sounds that enhance the overall mood. While there isn't a traditional soundtrack, the ambient music effectively sets the tone for tense situations, contributing to the game's chilling atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the stellar sound design as a key element that elevates the gameplay experience.
- “The atmosphere in this game is done fantastically with great ambient music, clear clues to your surroundings and condition, and pretty good level design.”
- “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.”
- “As someone experienced with music composition and production, the first thing I want to point out is the absolutely stellar sound design.”
- “The music was both a compass and a scary scare.”
- “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
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's replayability is mixed; while players can start as different characters and attempt to solve problems in various ways, the overall experience is short and lacks significant challenge. Some find value in revisiting the atmospheric environment, but many agree that the limited content and predictability reduce replay potential. Suggestions for improvement include randomizing room layouts or increasing mission complexity to enhance replayability.
- “Being able to start as any of the three 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.”
- “No replay value, but it's a free game, so who cares.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, with players highlighting impactful elements like walkie-talkie chatter and personal revelations that create a poignant connection to the narrative. Moments of loss and heartfelt messages contribute to 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
17%
33%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many users highlighting significant performance issues, such as low frame rates and high GPU usage even on medium settings. Players have expressed a desire for more customizable video options to improve performance, while some noted that the game runs well despite its optimization flaws.
- “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.”
- “40fps at 1080p on medium settings with an overclocked Ryzen 3 3200G dual-channel RAM at 2.93GHz is not the best optimization.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
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.”
- “Exploration and such is realistically tedious, as the game saves every second you play.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it amusing, as evidenced by a humorous incident involving a "funny rock," while others feel that serious themes like radiation detract from the comedic elements, viewing them as inappropriate or insensitive.
- “I looked at a funny rock and died.”
- “The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious!”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and absurd situations.”
- “Radiation is not funny; it is an invisible threat that can kill everyone in its range.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features appealing graphics and an atmospheric aesthetic, but players have reported various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with completing objectives and not receiving the expected ending screen. Overall, while the experience is generally enjoyable, stability concerns may detract from the immersion.
- “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.”

Buy Liquidators

1h Median play time

1h Average play time

1-1h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

This game contains adult content

87%70.9kreviews

Outlast

2014

Survival Shooter

This game contains adult content

93%23.7kreviews

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

2010

Survival Action Adventure

92%2.4kreviews

The Cabin Factory

2024

Survival Simulation

72%6.7kreviews

Slender: The Arrival

2021

Survival Action Adventure

+17

This game contains adult content

82%7.4kreviews

Visage

2020

Simulation

This game contains adult content

87%9.9kreviews

Darkwood

2017

Survival Role Playing

This game contains adult content

85%1.2kreviews

Madison

2022

Survival Simulation

92%1.6kreviews

The Complex: Expedition

2023

Simulation

86%65.1kreviews

Little Nightmares

2017

Survival Platformer

+14

94%3.1kreviews

IMSCARED

2016

Action Adventure

Liquidators Tweets

Liquidators

Platforms

About

Buy Liquidators

Liquidators

Liquidators

Videos

Games Like Liquidators

Outlast

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

The Cabin Factory

Slender: The Arrival

Visage

Darkwood

Madison

The Complex: Expedition

Little Nightmares

IMSCARED