Of all the games I’ve played so far in 2024 too much— the thing that made me feel the worst was this: mouth wash. I mean this as a compliment. This short narrative game from developer Wrong Organ is an emotionally and mentally taxing game with a clear story to tell. It may not be the easiest game to understand at times due to its challenging themes, but it is still remarkable and stands out as one of the best games of this year.

despite what mouth washThe first sequence might suggest that this isn’t actually a horror game that thrives on adrenaline-pumping jump scares. Once you pass through the twisting corridors of a spaceship chased by a horse mascot, the game transforms into something much more surreal and narratively intense. You will meet the cargo ship’s crew of five. Tulpar, He is stranded in space with no hope of rescue after the captain (Curly) nearly destroys the ship in the midst of a mental breakdown. That leaves him and four other crew members. tulpar they had to deal with their own existential crises due to the impending possibility of death.

This is a pretty big rogue conspiracy to say the least. It’s also a fiction that becomes a surreal journey through each crew member’s lives, hopes, and struggles. While the game loosely guides you through its walking simulator-like structure, the writing sharply breaks down each character and reveals their insides for you. You’ll begin to empathize with the uptight nurse Anya, the young intern Daisuke, and even the grumpy old Swansea.

The two remaining crew members, Curly and Jimmy, will take on most of the game’s focus. Curly survives what appears to be a suicide attempt to crash the ship, but is now bedridden. Unable to speak or move, you only interact with him by drugging him. You put this in place of JImmy, the co-pilot and current captain, following the crash. Sometimes Jimmy seems like the only person on the field. tulpar who is still somewhat sane. Jimmy tries to keep the crew together as the rest of the crew cope with their impending deaths in unique ways. However mouth wash He investigates Jimmy further.

Although not traditional horror, mouth wash It still carries traces of psychological horror with its claustrophobic atmosphere and dark themes. It evokes this way Silent Hill 2. This comparison becomes even more apt when the truth about Jimmy becomes clear. like Silent Hill 2‘s James, Jimmy is not the hero he seems. On the contrary, it is the root of the problems on the ship. tulpar. By flashing through scenes before, during and after the accident, mouth wash He gradually reveals that Jimmy, not Curly, caused the accident with the intention of killing the entire crew. This was in response to Anya discovering that she had become pregnant after he sexually assaulted her.

While Silent Hill 2 eventually forgives James for his crimes, encouraging the player to see him as a flawed but redeemable character. mouth wash He doesn’t take that approach to Jimmy. Despite living in his mind for most of the game, Jimmy is shown to be a disease among the crew, unable to take responsibility for their actions even in his final moments. The situation gradually deteriorates as the game progresses. tulpar and the crew members act as a reflection of Jimmy’s decaying mental state; This is further illustrated by the fact that the structure of the story becomes fragmented and distorted as you progress. With mouth washIn the end, there is nothing about Jimmy’s existence in the world that seems factual. tulpar. He cannot live with the reality of his actions.

In a year full of great games, many of which are lengthy AAA RPGs that will take you dozens of hours to beat. mouth wash A short but extremely effective title that you should not miss.

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