POOLS

POOLS is a first-person exploration and psychological horror game developed by Tensori and published by ??? (A hypothetical publisher for context). Released on October 18, 2024, the game is a standout example of liminal space horror, focusing less on jump scares and more on the creeping dread and spatial disorientation of its unique environment: an endless, interconnected network of abandoned indoor swimming pools.

The Liminal Nightmare

The game immediately immerses the player in a quiet, unnerving atmosphere. There is no conventional plot, dialogue, or enemies in the traditional sense. The horror is derived solely from the setting and the sense of isolation.

• The Setting: The environment is an endless maze of minimalist, decaying swimming pools, locker rooms, service tunnels, and tiled corridors. The pools are often partially filled with murky, still water, reflecting the cold, fluorescent lights that flicker overhead.

• Aesthetic: POOLS utilizes a hyper-realistic, found-footage aesthetic, mimicking the look of old camcorder footage with grain and slight distortion. The architecture is instantly recognizable as mundane, forgotten public spaces, which heightens the psychological unease—a concept central to liminal space aesthetics.

• The Soundscape: The auditory experience is crucial. Sounds include the distant hum of ventilation, the echoing drip of water, and the player’s own footsteps reverberating off the tiled walls. The absence of traditional music or dialogue forces the player to focus on these unnerving environmental noises.

Gameplay: Pure Exploration and Disorientation

The gameplay is defined by uninterrupted, methodical exploration:

• No Combat: The player has no weapons, and there is no combat system. Survival depends solely on moving, observation, and spatial awareness.

• Procedural and Handcrafted: The massive environment is a mix of tightly designed, handcrafted zones and sections that feel procedurally generated, reinforcing the feeling that the space is infinite and illogical. Players can easily become lost, turning the simple act of navigating a corridor into a source of panic.

• Chapter Progression: The game is divided into distinct chapters, each introducing a subtle shift in the environment's mood or structure. For example, one chapter might introduce confusing mirror images and visual glitches (the Mirror Pool), while another might feature dangerously dark, flooded service areas (the Flooded Substructure). These shifts keep the player constantly off-balance.

Psychological Horror

The horror in POOLS is a slow burn. It preys on common phobias and anxieties:

• Submechanophobia: Fear of submerged man-made objects.

• Thalassophobia: Fear of deep, dark bodies of water.

• Kenopsia: The haunting feeling of a place usually bustling with people being abandoned and silent.

While not overtly populated by monsters, the game implies a pervasive, unseen threat through environmental storytelling—unsettling distortions, sudden shifts in light, and the occasional subtle, yet chilling, visual anomaly that suggests the player is not truly alone. POOLS delivers a unique form of horror, turning familiar architecture into a source of profound, existential dread.