Another cult hit PC title is making the jump to PS5 with POOLS, a strange, first-person exploration game.
Initially released earlier in 2024, the game has you wandering around liminal spaces containing swimming pools, a haunting silence, and nothing else.
While very minimal in terms of interactivity, the game has garnered an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' rating on Steam thanks to its unsettling atmosphere and creepy, twisting, tiled mazes.
As the Steam page says, it plays on fears of getting lost, the dark, bodies of water, and small spaces. While labelled as a horror experience, there are no monsters chasing you, and no jump scares to worry about.
There are no real objectives other than exploring each level and eventually finding the exit — it's mostly about existing in and absorbing the strange architecture of each pool.
If you've ever seen liminal space pictures of dimly lit or abandoned swimming pools, it's basically that but in game form.
The PS5 version can be played on your TV, but it also features full support for PSVR2, allowing you to immerse yourself even deeper into the game's uncanny world.
It's due for release sometime in 2025, and can be wishlisted on PS Store now. Will you be exploring POOLS when it arrives next year? Pop some goggles on in the comments section below.
Comments 15
Love to see more games on the way for my new headset!
Creepy nightmare fuel in VR? Pretty cool.
Can't wait to play this on the PS5 together with my daughter.
She really likes these kinda games and this here looks fantastic.
Liminal space
I've got it on Steam and it's awesome, but I'm super hyped on the VR mode once this hits PS5!
@Alps_Stranger dude..:that profile picture coupled with that profile name is such a DEEP Lebowski pull, and I am here for it. The Dude abides.
@soracloud28 have you seen the trailer for the wanderer, it looks great.
This is definitely my type of game. Love it. If it’s a quick horror puzzler I’m down. I’m contemplating putting The Platform 8 in my top 10 this year… though, man, it’s hard as always to condense gaming to 10 titles, I can honestly say that I’ll always remember that game, as I typically do for these styles of games. Love them. Walking sims are so underrated.
Has this game been ripped off? I see other games pop up on my Facebook feed using similar pool design but has monsters chasing the player.
I have yet to try the game in VR but it definitely nails the eerie liminal feel, even in flat screen gaming.
Nice to hear there are no monsters as i tried RE4 in VR last night and absolutely s*it my pants within 15 minutes 😂. Horror and jump scares are not my bag.... at all.
I'm convinced there is a single frame of a scream horror mask near the start of this but can't pause it at the right time to confirm! around the 18-19 seconds mark, there is an accompanying noise too...
Mildly curious on this one. Does it already have a listed price?
I wish they hadn’t divulged that there are no jump scares or monsters. I think that would be more than half the fun being scared something might happen.
Still, I’m going to be checking this out.
Is there a button that let's you pee in the pool? If so I'm in lol
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