Viscera Cleanup Detail

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Viscera Cleanup Detail is a detailed simulation game where you play as the janitor responsible for cleaning up the aftermath of an alien invasion in a ruined facility. Equip your mop, bucket, and other cleaning tools to get rid of the gore, disposing of bodies and debris, and restoring order to the chaos. The game features a realistic physics system and challenging cleanup tasks, providing an immersive and engaging experience. Please note that the OS X version has limited Steam functionality.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,475 reviews

humor497 positive mentions

grinding200 negative mentions

humor
498 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is predominantly dark and absurd, often eliciting laughter through chaotic physics and unexpected mishaps, especially when played with friends. Players appreciate the satirical take on cleaning up after violent events, with many noting that the game's quirky mechanics and humorous easter eggs enhance the overall experience. While the humor can be hit-or-miss over extended play sessions, it generally provides a fun and entertaining backdrop to the gameplay, making it particularly enjoyable in multiplayer settings.
- “From the very start, I was just laughing until the point I cried and my stomach hurt.”
- “The satisfaction of cleaning up a massive mess and very fun physics that create unique funny situations and challenges.”
- “It's a first-person cleaning simulator that's a pretty decent way to pass the time, with the deep satisfaction of cleaning and some nice dark humor to spice things up.”
- “The humor feels forced and often falls flat, making it more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “Many of the jokes are recycled and lack originality, leading to a sense of fatigue rather than laughter.”
- “The attempts at humor are so over-the-top that they become annoying rather than amusing.”
gameplay
386 mentions
28 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Viscera Cleanup Detail" is characterized by its meticulous and methodical cleaning mechanics, which can be both satisfying and frustrating due to unclear instructions and clunky controls. While many players find the repetitive nature of the tasks enjoyable and therapeutic, others criticize the lack of tutorials and the tediousness of certain mechanics, leading to a mixed reception. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of dark humor and engaging gameplay for those who appreciate the janitorial simulation genre, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its inherent repetitiveness and occasional technical issues.
- “The gameplay in 'Viscera Cleanup Detail' is meticulous and methodical.”
- “Yet, it offers many hours of engaging and oddly therapeutic gameplay for those who delight in its darkly humorous take on space janitorial duties.”
- “The gameplay is enjoyable, but it takes three times to open the game.”
- “Stacking crates/barrels/etc. in marked zones on the map is important for the highest completion scores, but that mechanic isn't explained well and neither is which item goes in what zone.”
- “Stuff is still dirty looking after you clean it; finding everything is nearly impossible because the detector mechanic is extremely unclear and unhelpful. I won't even get started on the form thing... upgrades would be an amazing thing - it's enormously frustrating to only get three swashes out of a bucket.”
- “The gameplay gets tedious and boring since there is just not much gameplay, no story, nothing 'happening'.”
story
334 mentions
20 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, with players uncovering clues and notes that hint at the chaotic events that occurred before their cleaning missions. While some players appreciate the dark humor and intriguing backstories associated with each level, others find the overall narrative lacking depth and cohesion, often describing it as superficial or minimal. Despite the absence of a central plot, the scattered lore and unique tales behind each cleanup job provide a satisfying layer for those willing to explore.
- “The game subtly builds its dark narrative through environmental storytelling.”
- “Players can uncover clues about what happened in each level, piecing together the backstory of the chaotic events they're cleaning.”
- “Each level has its own little backstory about what happened before you arrived to pick up the guts of some poor guy.”
- “The game gets tedious and boring since there is just not much gameplay, no story, nothing 'happening'.”
- “Most of the storytelling within the levels, however, is honestly underwhelming.”
- “There is no overall story other than you are a janitor and you clean stuff.”
music
239 mentions
31 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it either enjoyable or annoying, often preferring to listen to their own playlists or podcasts while playing. While some appreciate the catchy and thematic tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, others criticize the limited selection and repetitive nature of the in-game music. Overall, the game is seen as a relaxing backdrop for personal music, making it ideal for casual play and multitasking.
- “Love the story and the music.”
- “This is one of the best games to play when you just want to listen to music or kill time.”
- “Great game to put on some music and relax while incinerating an entire science team's corpses.”
- “Most of the music is pretty bad, although there is one decent tune.”
- “The ambiance and music is too spooky for me, so I turn it off and play my own music.”
- “You can control the music with an in-game item (the boom box), but I found the music obnoxious and distracting.”
grinding
207 mentions
0 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely described as tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that the cleaning tasks can become monotonous and frustrating, especially when dealing with the game's physics and controls. However, some find this tediousness oddly satisfying or relaxing, particularly when playing with friends, as it allows for a more enjoyable experience despite the slow pace. Overall, while the game can be a grind, it appeals to those who appreciate the charm of mindless, low-stakes tasks.
- “You'll find no tedious tutorial, and the muted, epistolary nature of the stories means you or your friends can drop in and out of any map without a care.”
- “The game gets tedious and boring since there is just not much gameplay, no story, nothing 'happening'.”
- “I really really wanted to like this game, but it gets tedious quick.”
- “The actual process of cleaning up the various messes is very entertaining, but unfortunately the devs have pushed the overall work to be genuinely tedious and annoying.”
graphics
206 mentions
53 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the detailed environments and unique art style that effectively blend humor and gore. While some users note performance issues, such as low frame rates and glitches, others highlight the game's impressive visuals and physics, particularly when played on higher settings. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its immersive and entertaining experience.
- “The graphics are impressively detailed, capturing the gruesome aftermath of fictional battles with a blend of dark humor and realism.”
- “The graphics are great, and despite being very creepy and gory, cleaning up the body parts and chip packets is almost relaxing.”
- “The graphics are phenomenal, bugs and glitches are minimal, and there are hours upon hours of gameplay.”
- “Even after turning all the graphics down and tweaking the files as the developer suggested in a guide, the game will run at 20 to 30 fps on average.”
- “Drops below 60 fps are quite frequent (though dependent on the level) and dropping graphics settings doesn't really help all that much.”
- “Let's be reasonable here, we shouldn't have to run games like this on mega ultra low as if we were playing on a laptop with integrated graphics from 2009.”
stability
144 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and glitches, particularly related to physics and multiplayer functionality. While some find the bugs add a humorous charm to the experience, many express frustration over game-breaking issues that can lead to lost progress and hinder enjoyment. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," but still enjoyable for those willing to overlook its technical flaws.
- “It can run on a low-end computer with a poor frame rate, but it performs excellently on a high-end system.”
- “I played it on my old Mac, and while my vastly superior RTX 3060 Ti computer had issues when I first turned it on, I'm willing to give the developers the benefit of the doubt and assume it runs great.”
- “I just wish the multiplayer option wasn't so buggy.”
- “Already the studio is working on cleanup2, but I won't be supporting because the first game is still in a very buggy state and sometimes after hours of play, that means all wasted due to game blocker bugs where the final parts are hidden or stuck.”
- “But unfortunately it's so goddamn buggy and painful to interact with that I can't bring myself to keep the game.”
- “We had to deal with so many hurdles, from uncooperative physics to unclear instructions, along with a boatload of glitches.”
optimization
66 mentions
24 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as inconsistent frame rates, microstuttering, and poor GPU utilization, particularly in online multiplayer modes. While some users report that the game runs smoothly on lower settings or older hardware, the general consensus is that it requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the gaming experience. Despite these challenges, a few players noted that recent updates have led to some performance enhancements, but many still find the game's optimization lacking.
- “The developers have made a lot of good changes over the years and while I, as a Mac user, have felt a little left out, VCD kept Mac users in mind and has made optimization updates to ensure gameplay is more fluid.”
- “The amount of optimization was astonishing!”
- “Worth mentioning that the game runs smoothly on pretty much any hardware you own, which is rather nice.”
- “It's the fact that this nine-year-old game is one of the worst optimized games I've ever played (and I play many unoptimized games).”
- “The second issue I have with the game is the inconsistent FPS and performance, even on lower settings (I have a GTX 1080, i7 4790k which should be able to handle this with no problems). I noticed how low the GPU utilization was; might be why. Sometimes the FPS drops to the high 30s from well over 100 FPS.”
- “This game is not optimized; I have 60 FPS all the time and the internet is perfect, and the game is still lagging.”
replayability
48 mentions
38 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
"Viscera Cleanup Detail" offers a mix of replayability, with many maps and community-created content enhancing the experience. While some players find the game infinitely replayable due to its variety and multiplayer options, others note that once levels are completed satisfactorily, the incentive to replay diminishes, particularly in solo play. Overall, the game provides a decent amount of replay value, especially for those seeking to achieve high scores or enjoy cooperative play.
- “With various maps and different types of messes to clean up, 'Viscera Cleanup Detail' offers plenty of replayability.”
- “There are many hours of gameplay and quite a bit of replayability, but oh my goodness this game is infuriating.”
- “It's packed with dozens of hours of playtime, and the replayability of the game is great, especially for speed-runs and even more fun.”
- “While the replayability is not very high, given that there are only so many maps, the community content adds more for the player to experience.”
- “There's no replay value.”
- “Also, once you beat a level with a satisfactory score, there is little reason for you to replay it, so the game's replay value is rather limited, at least in solo mode.”
atmosphere
46 mentions
52 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive sound design, detailed environments, and a unique blend of humor and horror, creating a tense yet quirky experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in level design, which enhances the overall ambiance, making each map feel distinct and engaging. Despite some gameplay repetitiveness, the atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the enjoyment, offering a satisfying and memorable experience.
- “The sound design is also well-done, with atmospheric sound effects that add to the game's overall immersion.”
- “While the gameplay may feel repetitive to some, the game's attention to detail and immersive atmosphere make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.”
- “Each level is littered with notepads describing what happened which really adds to the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The game is dark, that's fine for atmosphere, but makes it quite annoying to find splashes of blood on the wall and floor.”
- “It's at least memorable, and I guess you can infer some kind of atmosphere, but the ambience of the whole game just seems oddly sterile, since everything is dead and inanimate, including, for the most part, the player character.”
- “It would be great if there were more to the game as a whole, and also if it took itself seriously enough to build more atmosphere and make a story.”
emotional
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, from laughter and joy to heartbreak and nostalgia. The combination of a wholesome narrative, relatable themes of regret and perseverance, and the immersive experience of the gameplay evokes strong feelings, making it both a fun and emotionally impactful experience. Many reviewers highlight moments of genuine emotional connection, whether through humor or poignant storytelling, solidifying the game's reputation as a memorable emotional journey.
- “Not to mention the feeling of actual accomplishment when I complete a level, or the heartbreaking dread of knocking over my bucket on an otherwise completely clean floor!”
- “How Marcus couldn't choose between his one true love, or his baby girl Maxene and sacrificed himself to save his family was - dare I say - probably one of the most heart-breaking moments in all of gaming history.”
- “A game with a heartwarming story of regret, love, pain, suffering, and perseverance.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization system in the game features various machines that provide resources, such as a furnace for burning items, a bucket machine that occasionally yields unexpected items, a bin dispenser that can be frustratingly generous, and a vending machine that offers tools along with advertisements. Overall, the system appears to blend resource management with unpredictable elements, adding a layer of complexity to the monetization experience.
- “The vending machine gives you tools, but it often bombards you with ads for those tools, which feels intrusive and frustrating.”
- “The bin dispenser is more of a hassle than a help, frequently giving you multiple items at once, which complicates inventory management.”
- “The bucket machine can be useful, but the random limb drops are more annoying than entertaining, making the experience feel chaotic.”