POOLS

4.5H main game. My first Backrooms game. It's a very minimalist, slow-paced walking simulator with a focus on atmosphere. While it does have one or two creepy parts, I actually found the experience to be very chill. It also features good graphics that add to the immersion.

Really enjoyed this. Short walking simulator, no enemies. However, that is not to say there is nothing watching you. 8.5/10 for me.

Best game to unwind and take your time admiring details or analysing abstract structures. Poolrooms are very well represented in this game, with unique styles and variants. Each level has its own feel

I decided to try POOLS after being pleasantly impressed by the Backrooms universe. To be honest, I really regret that it’s so short because I managed to hit a total flow state while playing. The unbelievably beautiful, meditative spaces combined with the immersive acoustics and camera splash effects allowed me to fully lose myself in the environment. I was particularly impressed by the sections with shifting gravity, which reminded me of Manifold Garden. Chessboards, various statues, an art gallery — the entire game feels like a pure work of art. It’s definitely a game for those who love to contemplate, observe, and explore.

POOLS is considered a 'classic' these days in the liminal space genre, and for a good reason. It obviously leans in to the 'poolroom' scenery, but it does an excellent job of blending pools with a lot of other room styles as well. Environments are varied, sometimes a little mazelike, but not so much so that you feel overly frustrated in exploring. It has well done unlockable chapters, excellent options, and a lot of little details thrown in that show the developers love the craft. It isn't very long, but it is still a better value than many other walking sims. I don't really think the 'story' elements add much beyond a little spook factor; marble mannequins and some art references to me aren't really telling me a story. Visual style is almost too shiny and plastic, but that works alright for poolrooms. All in, it is a well played game with great liminal/surreal scenery, but I also feel like it is a little on the overrated side too.

Was an amazing experience to play in VR, I must say it has a lot of issues with linux regarding VR compatibility, and I had to do a LOT(hours) of troubleshooting to get it to run, BUT aside from that, the game was very entertaining and I did get jumpscared at times. I'm hoping to potentially get more chapters or maybe a sequel.

Great pool room game. Visuals are spot on, creepy factor dialed, and exploration is top notch.

太喜欢，可我是路痴啊……