POOLS
- April 26, 2024
- tensori
- 6h median play time
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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."
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Reviews
- Visually stunning with excellent sound design that creates an immersive atmosphere.
- Successfully captures the eerie feeling of liminal spaces without relying on jump scares or monsters.
- Offers a unique and relaxing exploration experience, allowing players to wander through beautifully crafted environments.
- Short gameplay length, typically around 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some players may find the slow movement and lack of interactivity frustrating.
- The game can feel repetitive as it primarily consists of walking through similar environments without significant variation.
- atmosphere562 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating a sense of unease and intrigue without relying on traditional horror elements like jump scares. Players appreciate the stunning visuals, haunting sound design, and the uncanny feeling of exploring liminal spaces, which evoke both nostalgia and discomfort. Overall, the game excels in delivering a unique atmospheric experience that captivates and unsettles, making it a standout in the walking simulator genre.
“The atmosphere in this game is unlike any other.”
“The game excels in creating an uncanny and relaxing yet unnerving atmosphere, focusing on subtle fears without relying on traditional horror elements like monsters or jump scares.”
“The atmosphere and sheer scale of each chapter was beyond compare.”
“The game relies heavily on atmosphere, with mysterious sounds, claustrophobic mazes, and darkened hallways full of water providing ample opportunities for something horrible to happen to you, and the sense that you are being watched (or followed) never really goes away.”
“This is a game that doesn't have any jumpscares, what it does have is a consistently unnerving atmosphere that makes you want to re-read the description and other reviews to be sure that it definitely doesn't have jumpscares, because it feels like one could be coming at any time, even when you know that there aren't any.”
“The atmosphere in the game is tense and eerie even in some of its most normal moments, and while the game has no jumpscares.”
- graphics501 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and immersive design, with many players praising the photorealistic visuals, intricate details, and effective use of lighting and reflections. The aesthetic captures a unique liminal space vibe, enhancing the overall atmosphere and contributing to the game's unsettling yet captivating experience. However, some users noted performance issues and occasional graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end hardware, which can detract from the otherwise impressive visual experience.
“The graphics are downright gorgeous and super realistic, for example my spouse walked into the room and actually asked me 'are you watching a vlog of some dude at a water park?'.. yeah, that real.”
“The graphics are beautiful and it really creates that feeling of being lost and alone.”
“The graphics are incredible.”
“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.”
“Nicely designed but unfortunately it's plagued with weird graphical artifacts pertaining to lighting effects.”
“Its a great game but the visuals do not justify the terrible performance.”
- story148 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with no dialogue, lore, or clear narrative, leaving players to interpret the experience on their own. While some appreciate the atmospheric and visual storytelling, many find the lack of a concrete plot or character development confusing and unsatisfying. Overall, the game invites personal interpretation and reflection, but those seeking a traditional storyline may be disappointed.
“The game tells a story without saying a single word.”
“Super immersive, with beautiful visual storytelling that leaves you with so much wonder for the world you've found yourself in.”
“But if you enjoy soaking in an environment and the storytelling/intrigue/tension within, this was an artfully surreal experience that left me wanting to know more.”
“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.”
“You don't know why you're in these weird, hyper-liminal environments and honestly, while I think it's trying to tell a story of some kind, I never remotely got it.”
- gameplay126 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator focused on exploration, with minimal mechanics and no combat, puzzles, or time constraints. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and immersive experience, others find the slow pace and lack of traditional gameplay elements disappointing, leading to mixed feelings about its value. Overall, it caters to a niche audience that enjoys meditative exploration rather than action-oriented 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 gameplay got tedious at times.”
“There's no gameplay, no puzzle, no story: it's a walking simulator in liminal spaces.”
“Overall, it does have no real gameplay but if you're willing to give it a chance you'll likely enjoy it.”
- music85 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by its subtlety and atmospheric quality, often enhancing the sense of isolation and intrigue. While some players appreciate the ambient sounds and occasional tracks that contribute to the game's immersive experience, others express a desire for more melodic or relaxing music. Overall, the sound design effectively complements the gameplay, creating a unique and contemplative atmosphere, though opinions vary on the balance between silence and musical elements.
“Love this game, the atmosphere, the music, everything.”
“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.”
“Most music in-game seems to come from a 'realistic' audio source such as a speaker, but there is usually no filter to make it sound as such.”
“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.”
- replayability36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding value in exploring different routes and earning achievements, while others feel that the lack of substantial gameplay and slow pacing diminishes the incentive to replay. Many appreciate the atmospheric design and audio, which can enhance the experience, but opinions vary widely, with some citing extremely low replay value despite the game's visual appeal. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, the consensus suggests that it may not justify the price for all players.
“Surprisingly enough, there is replayability given all of the routes that one can discover.”
“A stunning game with great replayability value, as well as being beautiful to look at.”
“The settings are magnificent, the sound design is on point, and the hidden achievements give this game replayability.”
“While the game itself is very good from an artistic perspective, there really isn't any gameplay, and the character runs way too slow. The game is also way too expensive for not having any replayability, though the graphics are very pretty to look at. Honestly, I'm not sure if I like this game or not, and for that reason, I can't recommend it.”
“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.”
- optimization29 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while many players appreciate the impressive visuals, they also report performance issues, particularly with high GPU utilization. Recent updates have improved the experience, addressing some initial bugs and enhancing fluidity, but further optimization is still needed, especially for platforms like Steam Deck. Despite these concerns, players generally find the game enjoyable and well-optimized for its graphics.
“Despite some initial performance issues, I am pleased to report that my experience has significantly improved with the latest updates.”
“Ongoing optimization is making pools an increasingly fluid and engaging experience.”
“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.”
“While visually impressive, it feels a bit poorly optimized.”
“Its a great game but the visuals do not justify the terrible performance.”
“I think this game would be a solid 9/10 if it wasn't for all the bugs, but I think these kinds of optimizations are more than easily fixable with updates over time.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game "pools" evokes a unique emotional experience, blending feelings of loneliness, despondency, and muted wonder through its atmospheric design and soundscapes, rather than relying on traditional horror elements like jump scares. Players report a mix of discomfort and relaxation, with some moments causing chills, while the overall engagement stems from the game's ability to create a profound emotional and psychological journey. Despite some technical issues, it captivates those intrigued by liminal spaces and offers a deeply immersive experience.
“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.”
“For anyone fascinated by the concept of liminal spaces, or those who simply appreciate games that offer more than just entertainment but a profound emotional and psychological experience, Pools is a must-play.”
“Generally, Pools is content to simply be as it is, the emotional or psychological experience coasting from a strange curiosity to some sort of muted wonder, with sparse drips of dread established before being moved on from.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively blends humor with horror, providing a unique experience that is both funny and creepy. Players often find themselves laughing at the absurdity of the situations and silly elements, such as rubber ducks, while also feeling tension throughout. Overall, it offers a lighthearted yet eerie atmosphere that can be enjoyed in a relaxed manner.
“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.”
“This game had me laughing at my own stupidity and had me tense up several times as well, so if you’re looking for a true horror experience I can’t recommend this, but if you want a slow-paced back rooms style game that allows you to explore, swim, slide, and play with rubber ducks, then this is the game for you!”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting minor glitches and bugs, including lighting issues and a significant bug that required level restarts. However, others experienced no problems at all, indicating that performance may vary across different systems. Overall, while the game boasts impressive visuals, its stability is somewhat compromised by these technical issues.
“No glitches or issues experienced.”
“I played this on my Steam Deck and it runs great.”
“Amazing visuals and atmosphere are provided in this game.”
“I would give it four out of five stars, only because the game is quite buggy.”
“From a technical point of view, I've encountered a few minor glitches and one that caused me to restart the level (I got stuck on the pool's edge and couldn't get out).”
“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.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being a cash grab that capitalizes on the liminal space trend, with players feeling misled by advertising that emphasizes a spooky atmosphere without any actual content or scares. Reviewers express disappointment over the lack of genuine gameplay, comparing it unfavorably to other low-effort titles. Overall, the game is seen as lacking value and substance, despite its clear marketing intentions.
“Cash grab capitalizing on the liminal space trend.”
“Even Chilla's games, notorious for being low effort asset flip cash grabs, have 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 game is very forthcoming to say 'there's no monster' in the advertising; it's sad it has to be said and we can't just enjoy a spooky ambient game.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and boring, particularly for those not already inclined towards its surreal style. While the visuals are appealing, many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in engaging content, leading to a sense of monotony during exploration.
“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.”
“It changes more from a peaceful exploration with some creepy vibes to a downright disturbing and very bizarre exploration where the fun is replaced with a tedious task of getting to the end.”
