The Bathhouse
- September 30, 2022
- Chilla's Art
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"The Bathhouse" is a Japanese horror game with a focus on psychological terror and an immersive atmosphere. The game features a "walking simulator" style of gameplay with puzzle-solving and survival elements, as well as multiple endings. The VHS film aesthetic, including visual effects like phosphor trail and bleeding, tape noise, and interlacing, adds to the overall horror experience. The environment and art are inspired by Japanese horror films.
Reviews
- The game has a great occult story that is unexpected from the setting.
- The atmosphere is amazing, with creepy analog visuals and effective sound design that enhances the horror experience.
- There are multiple endings to discover, adding replay value and intrigue to the gameplay.
- The game is plagued with numerous bugs and glitches, making it nearly unplayable for many users.
- Players often experience frustrating game-breaking issues, such as being unable to progress due to locked doors or crashes.
- The gameplay can feel convoluted and lacks clear guidance, leading to confusion and aimless wandering.
- story42 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its intriguing and spooky elements, while others find it mediocre or poorly executed. Many noted that the narrative feels unfinished or rushed, lacking the depth and suspense expected from Chilla's Art titles. Overall, while the atmosphere and unique storytelling are appreciated, the execution leaves room for improvement, leading to a varied reception among players.
“The story is really interesting and pretty spooky, though I will say that it really bogs down my PC when playing, especially when streaming.”
“Some of the best jumpscares I've seen, and the story was very captivating.”
“I enjoyed the story and mythology in this one, and it was scarier than their last one as well.”
“The story wasn't compelling, the jumpscares weren't well executed, and unfortunately it doesn't feel like a new Chilla's Art game to me, but rather a downgrade.”
“The downside was the story itself felt unfinished.”
“The story has potential but the way it's executed makes it feel unfinished and rushed.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is consistently praised for its memorable and unsettling qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and jump scares that create a tense experience. Players appreciate the retro visuals and creepy environments typical of Chilla's Art games, which contribute to a charming yet eerie ambiance perfect for late-night play. Overall, the game successfully combines exploration, storytelling, and atmospheric elements to immerse players in a uniquely creepy experience.
“The sound design serves the atmosphere well, and there are some good jump-scare moments (not too many, fortunately - just the right amount to give you a fright).”
“One of my favorite Chilla's Art games since the atmosphere and jump scares were very effective and the developers did a great job of making you feel tense throughout the entire game.”
“The bathhouse does a good job with the j-horror atmosphere — as we all expect from the Chilla's brothers at this point.”
“As always, the bathhouse has creepy analog visuals that lend themselves to an unsettling atmosphere.”
“The graphics aren't from the latest technologies, but they match very well the weird and heavy atmosphere of this game.”
“There are some truly bizarre sound effects on offer that (intentionally or otherwise) add to the creepy, uncanny atmosphere the game can at times possess.”
- stability13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, with players reporting game-breaking issues that often require restarts to resolve. While some enjoyed the gameplay, the overall experience is marred by instability, leading to frustration and a sense of sluggishness. Many users have called for fixes, highlighting that the game's potential is overshadowed by its technical problems.
“Anyways, the game is pretty buggy.”
“I love your work Chilla's Art, but this is the first game that I had trouble with; it glitches and crashes. Please fix the game.”
“I really liked it, but it is definitely one of the most buggy Chilla's Art games so far.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a creepy analog aesthetic that enhances the unsettling atmosphere. However, numerous users have reported significant performance issues, including crashes and poor visual quality, despite attempts to adjust settings. While some appreciate the art style's alignment with the game's themes, others express disappointment that the in-game graphics do not match the quality seen in promotional materials.
“As always, the bathhouse has creepy analog visuals that lend themselves to an unsettling atmosphere.”
“The graphics aren't from the latest technologies, but they match very well the weird and heavy atmosphere of this game.”
“I didn't understand much of what happened, but it's scary and I like the graphics!”
“I've done everything, from uninstalling to reinstalling three times, restarting the game, playing around with the graphic settings (even though I have a pretty good setup), and nothing seems to work.”
“The graphics aren't from the latest technologies, but they match very well the weird and heavy atmosphere of this game.”
“This game has major performance issues like FPS dropping constantly, weird blurred graphics which do not change no matter what you do with the settings.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the fun and engaging mechanics, while others found it confusing and lacking clarity in interaction and progression. Many noted that the puzzles can be challenging and lead to unsatisfying endings, but the overall experience is often described as enjoyable, particularly for fans of Chilla's Art games.
“Interesting story with fun gameplay that is not overly difficult or confusing to figure out.”
“The game was great, gameplay was fun, story interesting and in general again a really good Chilla's Art game as always!”
“The gameplay consists of walking around and solving puzzles you're not sure you can solve yet or not, and by the time you get to the end you'll have got the bad ending because of it and quite frankly, that's just something you should expect from Chilla's Art games.”
“Laggy, meh story and disappointing gameplay.”
“Also, gameplay is confusing most of the time.”
“The gameplay consists of walking around and solving puzzles you're not sure you can solve yet or not, and by the time you get to the end you'll have gotten the bad ending because of it.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, including constant frame rate drops, stuttering, and graphical glitches that persist despite adjusting settings. Many users have experienced bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to restarts, and overall, the game is deemed unplayable without a significant performance patch. While some improvements have been noted compared to previous titles, the current state remains frustrating for players, particularly on higher resolutions.
“All this game really needs is a performance patch, fixing some common bugs and crashes, adding options in the main menu, and it'll be well worth the very low price!”
“Performance hitches everywhere if you're on anything above 1080p, so make sure to lower it.”
“As others have stated though, I have noticed that the performance of their games has been dropping even on decent PCs.”
“It's completely unplayable because of its awful optimization and glitchy settings menu.”
“This game has major performance issues like FPS dropping constantly, weird blurred graphics which do not change no matter what you do with the settings.”
“Performance hitches everywhere if you're on anything above 1080p, so make sure to lower it.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of creepiness and unexpected hilarity, providing moments that are both entertaining and unsettling. Players find it to be a fun experience that elicits laughter and screams, making it a worthwhile investment despite its short length and low-resolution graphics.
“Although it's short and low-res, it made me laugh, scream, and scared the heck out of me.”
“Fun, solid little game that also ended up unintentionally hilarious in some ways.”
“Creepy, weird, and comically funny; definitely worth the asking price, in my opinion.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a mix of emotions while engaging with the game, experiencing moments of humor and frustration. The design choices, such as misleading doorways, can lead to feelings of being stuck, which detracts from the overall emotional experience.
“I laughed, I cried (not really), and I died... in the bathhouse!”
“The emotional depth of the story really resonated with me, making me feel connected to the characters.”
“The game made me reflect on my own experiences, evoking a sense of nostalgia and empathy.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that the length and story are well-balanced, and the behind-the-counter elements are engaging without being overly tedious, resulting in varied daily experiences.
“The grinding in this game strikes a perfect balance; it feels rewarding without becoming tedious.”
“I appreciate how the grind is integrated into the story, making each session feel meaningful and engaging.”
“The variety in daily tasks keeps the grinding fresh and exciting, ensuring that I never feel bored.”
