The Closing Shift

About

"The Closing Shift" is a Japanese horror game with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and psychological terror. As a girl on a closing shift, you'll explore an environment inspired by Japanese horror films, with VHS film aesthetic adding to the immersive experience. Gameplay consists of walking and puzzle-solving, while the game's psychological horrors aim to drive you insane. Key features include autosaves at checkpoints and an option to turn off VHS effects.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,024 reviews

story152 positive mentions

stability62 negative mentions

The game effectively builds a creepy atmosphere while engaging players in coffee-making tasks, creating a unique blend of horror and simulation.
The character interactions and quirky customers add humor and depth to the gameplay, making it enjoyable despite the horror elements.
The game addresses real-life issues such as stalking, making the horror feel relatable and impactful.

The gameplay can become tedious with repetitive coffee-making tasks, which may detract from the horror experience for some players.
There are several bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with NPCs and inventory management.
The endings can feel unsatisfying or predictable, leaving players wanting more resolution or a happier conclusion.

story
358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
1%
The story revolves around a high school girl working the closing shift at a café, where she experiences a chilling and realistic horror narrative involving a stalker. While the plot is simple and at times slow-paced, it effectively builds tension and relatability, particularly for those familiar with the service industry. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging atmosphere and storytelling, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and character depth.
- “The story itself is scary in a realistic sense, since this sort of thing can happen to anyone, and it does happen.”
- “The story line of this game is phenomenal!”
- “The idea of what's happening in the game just got under my skin and had me on edge the entire time, which made the game so much creepier and scarier -- 100% recommend to anyone wanting a good story but some scares.”
- “The story was meh, but it did nail the daily horrors of being a woman.”
- “It's not the worst game there is or anything, but the story didn't do much for me; it didn't scare me as much as it should and the endings were disappointing.”
- “This game took about 2 hours and during the course of it there were only two actual horror sequences, the nightmare and the escape sequence, the rest was padded out with very tedious barista work and some cringe-worthy folks entering the cafe and being annoying and weird which didn't really set a creepy tone; it was just awkward/funny and many of them did not offer anything to the story or do anything to further immerse me in the game setting.”
graphics
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The graphics of the game are a blend of retro VHS and PS1 aesthetics, which many players find charming and effective in enhancing the psychological horror atmosphere. While some reviews mention technical issues like choppiness and outdated visuals, the unique art style and overall aesthetic contribute positively to the game's eerie vibe. Overall, the graphics are appreciated for their ability to create tension and immersion, despite some players expressing a desire for more polish and refinement.
- “The vhs-style visuals amplify the psychological horror as you experience strange, disturbing events.”
- “The graphics are excellent and the game has a striking 90s/vhs aesthetic which complements the tone of the game well.”
- “The visuals are stunning, like we're used to from chilla's art, with the special vhs effects.”
- “The gameplay and graphics are as barebones as they come, and the only fun aspect to the game is the barista process of making coffee and serving customers.”
- “The graphics left a bit to be desired, but it was very reminiscent of an early console game.”
- “Just wish it was made better, more polished, better graphics and with achievements.”
atmosphere
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, effectively blending mundane tasks with a creeping sense of dread. Players appreciate the unique setting of a night cafe, where the tension builds through clever NPC interactions and minimalistic design, creating a chilling experience that keeps them on edge. Despite some criticism regarding the reliance on jump scares, the overall ambiance is described as both eerie and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The game effectively immerses you in this eerie atmosphere, requiring you to carry out your routine tasks with the constant fear of being watched from the shadows.”
- “This game delivers a strong atmosphere with a unique and unsettling concept: you're a barista, a woman making coffee while being stalked.”
- “The atmosphere was amazing and it was able to create a really eerie atmosphere in a calm environment through clever NPC design and dialogue.”
- “Uncomfortable atmosphere, terrible even.”
- “It's all very slow and boring, no atmosphere whatsoever.”
- “A handful of cheap jump scares, a half-baked atmosphere and unintentionally goofy encounters with NPCs make this experience more of a parody.”
gameplay
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
The gameplay of "The Closing Shift" primarily revolves around coffee-making and serving customers, creating an engaging and immersive experience that blends mundane tasks with horror elements. While the mechanics can be initially confusing and the game features some bugs, many players find the coffee preparation process enjoyable and satisfying once mastered. Overall, the gameplay is described as a unique mix of a barista simulator with a creepy atmosphere, though some feel it lacks depth and variety over time.
- “The closing shift feels like a spiritual successor to the convenience store in mainly the theme, but the gameplay is more engaging and fun to learn as well as to try and memorize how to make the orders.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and easy to understand; I liked the bit with the midnight coffee making.”
- “The gameplay loop of going to work and fulfilling orders is entertaining enough and provides a decent challenge, as you'll need to familiarize yourself with the mechanics of the game and remember a dozen or so coffee recipes.”
- “The gameplay and graphics are as barebones as they come, and the only fun aspect to the game is the barista process of making coffee and serving customers.”
- “I also felt the game was too slow - the core gameplay wasn't interesting or varied enough to keep me hooked, and since tension never built up, I started to lose interest about 2/3 of the way through.”
- “It is also alarmingly obvious that there was very little play-testing, as the game is riddled with soft-locks, unintuitive gameplay where you are simply expected to figure out unexplained mechanics and scripted events.”
stability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
97%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact gameplay, including issues with car behavior, inventory freezes, and unresponsive save points. While many players find the game enjoyable despite these technical problems, the overall stability is a major concern, leading to frustration and hindering replayability. Despite its fun elements, the game's stability issues suggest it may have been rushed and inadequately tested before release.
- “The only thing that I'm not sure is a glitch or not is that the doors would open and close by themselves, especially the door that leads you into the employees only area, but other than that, no glitches whatsoever that I've seen.”
- “It's one of my favorite games, but it just became horribly laggy and buggy, so I'm unable to replay it.”
- “Only problem was I experienced a lot of bugs and glitches, particularly with the cars circling in the car park, which prevented me from progressing in the game and had to restart the shift.”
- “The game has a lot of weird glitches with the models, and it makes me wonder if this game was rushed and not really tested to see if things took too long to happen.”
humor
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with quirky character interactions and amusing dialogue. Players appreciate the mix of funny moments, such as the absurdity of serving coffee in a creepy setting, alongside unexpected comedic elements like the dancing NPCs and humorous graphics. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with its horror elements, making it an entertaining experience for those who enjoy both genres.
- “Funny enough, the thing that freaked me out the most was the sudden exploding coffee that goes off simultaneously with cafe music.”
- “I just love how funny the stalker face looks like.”
- “Good game, funny character dialogue; I love how it's not just pure horror and jumpscares.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The music in the game is widely praised for creating a relaxing and atmospheric coffee shop vibe, particularly during winter sections with calming cafe tunes. However, some players find the sudden loud music used for jump scares to be jarring and less effective, detracting from the overall experience. Despite this, the soundtrack is generally considered beautiful and well-suited to the game's aesthetic.
- “All of that coupled with the chill and relaxing music really makes this the perfect barista simulator game.”
- “Great, atmospheric and relaxing coffee shop environment and music, and I appreciated the challenge of learning how to make all of the different hot/cold drinks as well as packing the pastries.”
- “The music and sound suit the game perfectly.”
- “The cafe music is deafening to the ears.”
- “I liked it overall, but the use of overly loud music to enforce jump scares hurt my ears more than it scared me.”
- “The generic elevator music playing in the shop while you’re working is so unassuming.”
grinding
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
81%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the repetitive tasks, such as making coffee and pastries, to be tedious and frustrating, especially when navigating the game's layout. While some enjoyed the barista work, the overwhelming number of steps required for each order and the lack of engaging horror elements led to a sense of exhaustion rather than immersion. Overall, the grinding mechanics detracted from the horror experience, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable gameplay element.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Took me an hour to make a single cup of coffee; it can get tedious and frustrating at times.”
- “This game took about 2 hours, and during the course of it, there were only two actual horror sequences. The rest was padded out with very tedious barista work, which didn't really set a creepy tone; it was just awkward and funny.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with experiences ranging from vulnerability and sadness to feelings of being watched and discomfort. Many highlight the game's ability to evoke tears, particularly during poignant moments like the pregnant lady's storyline, while others appreciate its cheerful and wholesome elements. Overall, the game elicits a mix of heartwarming and unsettling emotions, making it a deeply engaging experience.
- “Tbh, I liked the making coffee portions; also, the pregnant lady made me cry.”
- “It's so good that it makes me want to cry!”
- “Again, beautiful love story... I hope you enjoy this very peaceful, very majestic, truly heart-wrenching game.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from users. While some players report smooth performance with minimal bugs, others experience significant performance issues, including overheating on high-end hardware. Overall, there are calls for improved optimization to enhance the gaming experience.
- “The game runs smoothly and I only encountered one bug whereby a piece of the environment didn't appear properly (although this was fixed with a quick restart).”
- “Longer, better narrative structure and pacing, greatly improved optimization, and job mechanics that go deeper than just stocking shelves.”
- “[b]performance: 4/5[/b]”
- “My only complaint with this game is the serious performance issues I faced in my playthrough.”
- “One problem that I often have is that the game is poorly optimized.”
- “Unoptimized game that turns my 3080 into a furnace of over 70 Celsius, hotter than Elden Ring.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the challenge of mastering barista skills and find enjoyment in replaying for speed, others criticize the lack of achievements, multiple endings, or collectibles, which significantly diminishes replay value. Overall, the experience feels linear, leading to a consensus that while it offers some replay potential, it ultimately falls short in variety and depth.
- “+ good length and replay value.”
- “Unfortunately, there are no achievements for this one, but it has a high replayability.”
- “It does feel like you're playing on rails, so there's virtually no replay value, but I can excuse that for $5.99.”
- “As for what I didn't like, the 3D models for the NPCs in this game look pretty jank and buggy at times, which for Chilla's Art games is really saying something, and the lack of achievements or multiple endings/collectibles or anything like that kills pretty much any replay value, which is definitely a shame.”
- “This one gives you replay value to see how fast you can master being a barista and serving customers without looking at the whiteboard.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Reviewers praise the game's character development for its ultra-realistic designs, noting the impressive integration of photographic elements into character models. The attention to detail in both character appearance and movement physics enhances the overall immersive experience.
- “The character development, the scenery, the characters themselves, the physics of how the bodies move.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development left me feeling disengaged from the story.”