The Closing Shift

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,512 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
The Closing Shift Game Cover
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"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.

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Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,512 reviews
story76 positive mentions
stability31 negative mentions
  • The game effectively builds a creepy atmosphere, making mundane tasks feel tense and unsettling.
  • The coffee-making mechanics are engaging and add a unique twist to the gameplay.
  • The story addresses real-life issues, such as stalking, which adds depth to the horror experience.
  • The game suffers from bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
  • Some players found the coffee-making process tedious and overly complex, detracting from the horror elements.
  • The endings can feel unsatisfying or predictable, leaving some players wanting more resolution.
  • story179 mentions

    The story revolves around a high school girl working at a café, blending elements of psychological horror with relatable real-life issues, particularly the unsettling experience of being stalked. While the narrative is straightforward and at times simplistic, it effectively builds tension and atmosphere, making it engaging for players who appreciate horror grounded in reality. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its relatability and creepiness, despite some critiques regarding pacing and the balance between gameplay and narrative progression.

    • “The story itself is scary in a realistic sense, since this sort of thing can happen to anyone, and it does happen.”
    • “Great pacing, buildup of suspense that pulls you in, and fantastic storytelling.”
    • “The ordinariness of the situation - a girl working the closing shift at a coffee shop - grounds the story in reality and makes for a truly eerie experience.”
    • “The story was meh, but it did nail the daily horrors of being a woman.”
    • “The plot is a bit slow and too much time is spent on making the drinks; I wish the game was scarier than what it is.”
    • “The story is okay, mediocre at best, while the actual scares are more predictable as you go through the game.”
  • graphics115 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique VHS and retro aesthetic that enhances the horror atmosphere. While some players appreciate the charm and simplicity of the visuals, others note issues like choppiness and outdated character designs. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's unsettling vibe, making it a memorable experience despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “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 graphics are a bit off, but other than that, it's great.”
    • “The visuals of 'Closing Shift' work in favor of creating fear, as the jarring low poly appearance of humans makes for naturally unsettling visuals.”
    • “The graphics left a bit to be desired, but it was very reminiscent of an early console game.”
  • atmosphere113 mentions

    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 tension built through minimalistic design, clever NPC interactions, and a unique setting that heightens the horror experience, even amidst moments of calm. Overall, the game excels in creating a chilling ambiance that keeps players engaged and on edge throughout their gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “The atmosphere was amazing and it was able to create a really eerie atmosphere in a calm environment through clever NPC design and dialogue.”
    • “The game plays on very real fears (the dark, stalkers, and being alone to name a few) to create an uneasy atmosphere, building up the horror rather than simply relying on cheap jumpscares.”
    • “The atmosphere was decent and the game was building up slowly enough to not go overboard.”
    • “Its all very slow and boring, no atmosphere whatsoever.”
    • “A handful of cheap jumpscares, a half-baked atmosphere and unintentionally goofy encounters with NPCs make this experience more of a parody.”
  • gameplay107 mentions

    The gameplay in "The Closing Shift" primarily revolves around coffee-making and serving customers, offering an engaging and immersive experience that blends mundane tasks with horror elements. While some players found the mechanics initially confusing or repetitive, many appreciated the depth of the coffee preparation process and the atmospheric tension it created. Overall, the game strikes a balance between satisfying gameplay and unsettling moments, though it suffers from some bugs and a lack of variety in tasks.

    • “The gameplay is engaging and easy to understand; I liked the bit with the midnight coffee making.”
    • “The closing shift feels like a spiritual successor to the convenience store, mainly in theme, but the gameplay is more engaging and fun to learn as well as to try and memorize how to make the orders.”
    • “I really enjoyed 'the convenience store' because you actually had gameplay, and this game took it to another level; I never expected that making coffee could actually be fun.”
    • “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 actual gameplay has very little to do with the horror theme.”
    • “I started to lose interest about 2/3 of the way through because the core gameplay wasn't interesting or varied enough to keep me hooked.”
  • stability32 mentions

    The game is plagued by numerous glitches and bugs, significantly impacting stability and gameplay experience, with issues such as lag, freezing, and problematic interactions. While many players find the game enjoyable despite these technical shortcomings, the frequency and severity of the bugs have led to frustration and hindered progression for some. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, overshadowing its fun elements.

    • “The only thing 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.”
  • humor31 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending comedic moments with creepy elements, resulting in a unique experience that keeps players entertained. Many users appreciate the quirky character dialogue, funny writing, and amusing scenarios, such as the unexpected antics of NPCs and the absurdity of serving coffee in a horror setting. Overall, the game successfully balances humor and scares, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate both genres.

    • “Funny enough, the thing that freaked me out the most was the sudden exploding coffee that goes off simultaneously with cafe music.”
    • “Good game, funny character dialogue; I love how it's not just pure horror and jumpscares.”
    • “The game has some pretty funny writing with some quirky characters.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for creating a relaxing and atmospheric coffee shop vibe, particularly during winter sections with chill cafe tunes. However, some players find the sudden loud music used for jump scares jarring and less effective, detracting from the overall experience. Despite this, the soundtrack is generally appreciated for its calming qualities and its ability to enhance the game's aesthetic.

    • “There's just a great vibe in this game, especially during the winter sections with the coffee house music and the snow drifting down.”
    • “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 cafe music is deafening to the ears.”
    • “I liked it overall but the use of overly loud music stings 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.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the repetitive tasks, such as making coffee and preparing orders, to be tedious and frustrating. While some enjoyed the barista work, others felt it detracted from the horror experience, leading to exhaustion rather than immersion. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the game's potential for suspense and engagement.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “There are a few reasons, the biggest is how it makes you tediously make all the coffee.”
    • “Took me an hour to make a single f*cking cup of coffee, can get tedious and frustrating at times.”
    • “These things combined with the tedious nature of the game and some pretty annoying abrupt sounds started to take a toll on me while playing and I felt exhausted rather than weary or afraid.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, ranging from vulnerability and sadness to comfort and warmth. Players report being deeply affected by specific moments, such as interactions with characters and the overall atmosphere, which can elicit tears and a sense of being watched. While some experiences are heartwarming and wholesome, others introduce discomfort and tension, creating a complex emotional landscape that resonates with players.

    • “Tbh, I liked the coffee-making 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.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The optimization of the game received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including overheating on high-end hardware, while others reported smooth gameplay with only minor bugs. Overall, there is a consensus that optimization needs improvement, particularly for users with powerful systems.

    • “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.”
    • “I'm giving it a 7 because of the performance issues I experienced (my PC can run just about anything at max) and the overall length and fear in the game.”
    • “My only/main complaint with this game is the serious performance issues I faced during my playthrough.”
    • “One problem that I often have is that the game is poorly optimized.”
    • “This unoptimized game turns my 3080 into a furnace, reaching over 70 degrees Celsius, hotter than Elden Ring.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenge of mastering gameplay mechanics, others feel that the lack of achievements, multiple endings, and collectibles significantly diminishes its replay value. Despite its affordable price, the linear experience and technical issues with NPC models further contribute to a sense of limited replayability.

    • “This one gives you replay value to see how fast you can master being a barista and serving customers without looking at the whiteboard.”
    • “+ 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.”
  • character development2 mentions

    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 character appearance, movement, and overall design contributes significantly to the immersive experience.

    • “The character development, the scenery, the characters themselves, and the physics of how the bodies move are all exceptional.”
    • “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, leaving me disappointed with their growth.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in character development made my decisions feel irrelevant and unimpactful.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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