POOLS

by Tensori, UNIKAT Label

The Developer Says...

Walking simulator. Explore, admire and listen. Uncanny. Relaxing. Unnerving. Eerie. Immersive. No monsters chasing you or jumping towards at your screen, but can feel oppressive at times by invoking fears of getting lost, the dark, tight spaces and liminal space architecture. Inspired by backrooms.

Players Like...

❤ Exploration and Atmosphere

Players consistently praise the game's ability to create a profound sense of unease and dread through its masterful use of sound design, lighting, and architectural design. The uncanny, labyrinthine environments feel simultaneously familiar and unsettling, evoking a dreamlike quality that leaves players uncertain of their surroundings. As players progress deeper into the game, the environments become increasingly bizarre and disorienting, transforming the once recognizable aquatic facilities into a surreal network of pools, locker rooms, and other spaces that defy logic and reason. The game world's surreal qualities and the player's inability to fully comprehend their surroundings cultivate a constant feeling of unease and apprehension.

❤ Navigational Challenges

The complex, non-Euclidean layout of the environments can easily disorient players, with rooms and corridors seemingly looping back on themselves or leading to unexpected destinations. This sense of getting lost is further compounded by the lack of a traditional user interface or map, forcing players to rely on their own spatial awareness and environmental cues to navigate the labyrinth. The addition of water-filled areas that slow the player's movement speed adds to the challenge and tension of exploration, as players must carefully consider their every step to avoid becoming hopelessly lost. These navigational obstacles contribute to the game's overall sense of disorientation, as players struggle to maintain their bearings within the ever-shifting, otherworldly environment.

❤ Minimalist Design

The game's minimalist design approach is widely praised, as it allows players to fully engage with the unsettling ambiance without the distraction of extraneous gameplay systems or plot points. The lack of explicit objectives or guidance forces players to rely on their own curiosity and interpretative skills to make sense of the game's world and underlying mysteries, further enhancing the immersive, atmospheric experience. By eschewing traditional game mechanics and narrative devices, the game's minimalist design enables a deeper focus on environmental storytelling, allowing the meticulously crafted, liminal spaces to take center stage. This design choice cultivates a profound sense of unease and disorientation, as players must navigate the labyrinth using only their senses and intuition.

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