POOLS
- April 26, 2024
- tensori
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"POOLS is a single-player Simulation game that offers marvelous graphics and a tense atmosphere. With no user-interface, dialogue, or background music, the game relies on realistic sounds and echoes to create a sense of presence. As you explore, you'll notice changes in the world around you, with each chapter offering unique and atmospheric rooms, playing on fears of getting lost, darkness, and tight spaces."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- The game creates a beautifully eerie atmosphere that captures the essence of liminal spaces, making players feel both relaxed and unnerved.
- Stunning graphics and sound design enhance the immersive experience, with attention to detail that evokes a sense of nostalgia and curiosity.
- The absence of monsters and jump scares allows players to explore at their own pace, fostering a unique psychological horror experience.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some players found the movement speed to be too slow, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The linearity of the chapters can make navigation feel repetitive, and some areas may lack the depth and variety expected in a walking simulator.
- atmosphere285 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, combining stunning visuals with exceptional sound design to create a unique liminal space experience. Players appreciate the absence of traditional horror elements like jump scares, instead finding tension and intrigue in the eerie environments and ambient sounds. Overall, the game excels in crafting a captivating atmosphere that evokes feelings of both comfort and unease, making it a standout in the atmospheric horror genre.
“I was mesmerized by the incredible sound design that helps build such a cool atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is fantastic; I really get that nostalgic pool room feeling, expanded out into a maze.”
“The atmospheric design is both beautiful and unsettling, perfectly capturing the essence of these transitional spaces that linger on the edge of the familiar and the unknown.”
“The atmosphere is more off-putting the farther you go.”
“I will say, there were some dull moments that felt a little forced, which killed the atmosphere and removed that feeling of uneasiness that I think the game heavily relies on to keep you playing.”
“Extremely boring, just 1.3 hours of holding W+shift, the atmosphere is pretty eerie for the first 10 minutes, but you get used to it since it never changes, not at all scary.”
- graphics253 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and beautiful aesthetics, with many players noting the impressive attention to detail in environments that evoke a sense of eerie calmness. The visuals are described as mesmerizing, often compared to high-end photorealistic standards, and effectively contribute to the game's unsettling atmosphere. However, some users experienced performance issues and minor graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end hardware, which slightly detracted from the overall experience.
“The graphics are unbelievably wonderful.”
“The graphics are incredible.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, nice and shiny and reflective - definitely one of the key selling points of the game.”
“The main complaint I have is there appears to be occasional texturing and graphical issues when the whole point of the game is to look at the surroundings.”
“The graphics are mid to decent but all the textures are shiny so that the realism is ruined.”
“It's a great game but the visuals do not justify the terrible performance.”
- story77 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting a lack of traditional narrative elements such as dialogue, characters, or clear objectives. Instead, it relies on atmospheric exploration and visual storytelling, allowing players to interpret the underlying themes and symbolism on their own. While some appreciate the meditative experience and the intrigue of piecing together a personal narrative, others express disappointment over the minimalistic approach, wishing for a more defined storyline.
“I found the story told to be interesting, the graphics beyond wonderful, and the mechanics beautifully simple.”
“Pools is perfect for players who enjoy atmospheric storytelling and exploration.”
“The game tells a story without saying a single word.”
“If you're looking for a more interactive, direct storytelling, puzzle-solving, action-packed experience, you will not find it here; the core gameplay is purely aimlessly wandering and getting lost in the world, trying to find an exit to the next chapter.”
“There is no dialogue, no lore, no concrete story of anything.”
“By this I mean there is no story whatsoever, no characters, no sense of progression, no sense of accomplishment, nothing really.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator focused on exploration, with no time limits, chases, or puzzles, which may not appeal to players seeking more traditional gameplay elements. While the mechanics are simple and the experience is described as eerie and atmospheric, some players found the lack of urgency and interaction tedious, though others appreciated the meditative quality of wandering through beautifully crafted environments. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy immersive exploration rather than action-packed gameplay.
“The graphics, ambience, sounds, mechanics, and overall gameplay are a delight.”
“The gameplay is simple—mostly just moving forward and exploring—yet it's one of the most captivating games I've ever played.”
“For a tl;dr: amazing visuals and sound design, a perfected atmosphere, abstract sinister vibes that make you question what you are experiencing and why, and an unburden-some gameplay loop that just lets you enjoy it.”
“The main gameplay does not include any time limits, chases, jump scares, or puzzles.”
“If you're looking for a more interactive, direct storytelling, puzzle-solving, action-packed experience, you will not find it here; the core gameplay is purely aimlessly wandering and getting lost in the world, trying to find an exit to the next chapter.”
“There's no gameplay, no puzzle, no story: it's a walking simulator in liminal spaces.”
- music44 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's music is minimal, primarily relying on ambient sounds and atmospheric noise to create a calming and meditative experience, which many players appreciate. While some users express a desire for more melodic music, the subtle sound design effectively enhances the game's intriguing and isolating atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its quality, with players often recommending the addition of their own music to complement the gameplay.
“The soundtrack and sound design are perfect, I absolutely adore ambient tracks and didn't hesitate to buy the soundtrack when it released.”
“It's very calming and meditative experience, there's barely any music but it has a lot of awesome ambient noise and atmospheric sounds.”
“The atmosphere isn't cheapened by adding spooky music.”
“The sound/music in particular seems afraid to spike the unease for more than a few seconds at a time, which I found a bit frustrating.”
“However, I was incredibly disappointed by the level of anxiety-inducing music and imagery.”
“Halfway through the second level I had to turn the music down and turn on my own so I wouldn't have a panic attack.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its stunning visuals, earnable achievements, and atmospheric design that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others feel that once the experience is completed, there is little incentive to return. Many appreciate the potential for exploration and discovery, particularly with upcoming updates, but some note that the overall replay value is limited. Overall, it offers a blend of high replay potential for those who enjoy its unique atmosphere and achievements, but may fall short for players seeking deeper engagement after the initial experience.
“A stunning game with great replayability value, as well as being beautiful to look at.”
“A collection of earnable achievements gives the game some replay value beyond the first initial playthrough, and I can only imagine what it will be like to play the upcoming VR update the devs are planning to release later this year.”
“The settings are magnificent, the sound design is on point, and the hidden achievements give this game replayability.”
“☑ no replay value”
“I also feel like the replay value of the game is lost with this style and doesn't allow me to feel like there's a reason to go through it again once completed as it feels like everything there is to explore has been explored.”
“• extremely low replayability value.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has seen significant improvements through updates, addressing initial performance issues and enhancing graphics settings, particularly for the Steam Deck. While some users still report high GPU utilization and minor bugs, many appreciate the solid visuals and ongoing developer support, indicating a generally positive trend in optimization. However, a few players feel that further optimization is needed to fully justify the game's visual demands.
“But the game has been updated since with graphic settings optimized for the Steam Deck, so that’s mostly been remedied.”
“Despite some initial performance issues, I am pleased to report that my experience has significantly improved with the latest updates.”
“As someone who loves pools, liminal space, etc., this has to be one of the liminal space games. I love the relaxing feeling of it; this is currently my favorite backroom/liminal space game. The graphics are very well optimized and run very well. I was surprised to know this was made with Unity instead of Unreal Engine; this looks great and I would highly recommend it.”
“This still needs optimization on Steam Deck.”
“While visually impressive, it feels a bit poorly optimized.”
“Its a great game, but the visuals do not justify the terrible performance.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of despondency and relaxation, evoking feelings of loneliness and muted wonder through its atmospheric design. Players report a range of emotional responses, from fear and discomfort to a sense of chill, all achieved without traditional horror elements like jump scares. Overall, the game resonates deeply with those who appreciate profound emotional and psychological experiences, making it a compelling choice for fans of liminal spaces.
“Playing this visually stunning, highly atmospheric horror walking sim made me feel despondent while also having a strangely relaxing effect after a long day.”
“Overall, it held my attention, I took lots of screenshots, and it made me feel something.”
“Most of all, pools achieves this level of emotional engagement without so much as a jump scare or an antagonist, purely by its environmental and sound design.”
- stability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with minor glitches, others have encountered significant bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as getting stuck in the environment. Lighting adjustments can negatively impact visual quality, leading to rendering issues. Despite these concerns, many users appreciate the game's impressive visuals and atmosphere.
“Amazing visuals and atmosphere are provided in this game. I played this on my Steam Deck, and it runs great, giving me a classic sense of amnesia about where I am and why I am.”
“No glitches or issues experienced.”
“However, turning the lighting quality off made the game look worse in other aspects, such as the color and texture of inner tubes and rubber ducks not rendering properly, as well as some visual glitches worthy of an epilepsy warning.”
“I would give it four out of five stars, only because the game is quite buggy.”
“From the technical point of view, I've encountered a few minor glitches and one which caused me to restart the level (I got stuck on the pool's edge and couldn't get out).”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by its blend of silliness and absurdity, providing moments of laughter amidst its creepy atmosphere. Players enjoy the quirky elements, such as rubber ducks and nonsensical endings, which contribute to a lighthearted experience despite the horror theme. Overall, it offers a unique mix of tension and comedy, making it an entertaining choice for those seeking a more relaxed exploration of horror.
“This game is scary, funny, and weirdly relaxing.”
“I played it with my mum, and we were laughing the whole time at all the silly things they put in the pools.”
“Instead, you're given an ending that makes literally no sense and nearly made me laugh out loud with how ridiculous it was.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can feel tedious and boring, especially for those not already inclined towards its surreal style. While some players appreciate the peaceful exploration and unique visuals, many find the repetitive tasks detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a frustrating experience.
“If you're LSD Dream Emulator and Yume Nikki-pilled, you may be a fan, but if not, it'll probably just seem boring and tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Sure, it looks nice, but it's also rather tedious given almost nothing happens.”
- monetization5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being misleading, as it promotes itself as a spooky experience but lacks actual content or scares, leading some to label it a cash grab that exploits the liminal space trend. Reviewers express disappointment over the game's minimal effort and genuine content, suggesting it falls short of expectations.
“Cash grab capitalizing on the liminal space trend.”
“Even Chilla's games, notorious for being low effort asset flip cash grabs, has an edge on this 'game.' I just wasn't looking for a home run, or a platinum AAA game or anything, but to literally have like 0 genuine content is ridiculous.”
“The only problem I have with this game is the advertising of it simply being creepy spaces without anything scaring you.”
