Mouthwashing (2024)
Mouthwashing is one of those "you should experience it with as little prior knowledge as possible" type of games, which makes it frustrating to talk about without turning it all into a circlejerk for people who are already fans.
So, I'll try not to say too much on this section, as I do have things to say, but I don't want to just make this something for people who've already played it.
The section for people who have not played it:
This is a horror game, extremely light on jumpscares and extremely heavy on disturbing topics and psychological shit. It's pretty short, I started and finished it in an afternoon, but FUCK was it a good afternoon.
I found the story very touching. It didn't make me cry like Outer Wilds did, but it made me feel dread, anxiety, pity, tension, horror and anguish in a way that no other story-driven game has managed to do (YET. As of the writing of this blog post, I have begun playing through Silent Hill 2, and it is hitting me in similar places, story-wise).
That is all I can say, other than do NOT play it if you have photosensitive epilepsy or can get easily motion-sick from first-person videogames.
Now the part where I yap about specific stuff you shouldn't know about if you haven't played it.
Open, if you dare.......... actually, only open if you've PLAYED THIS GAME ALREADY. DO IT, IT'S WORTH IT!!!
Ok, I said I found the story touching. Yes, I did. But it would've been a lot more impactful without the fucking chaser scenarios.
The Blind Beast, Swansea, that goddamn maze, they were scary for five seconds, then they became annoying and tedious. AND THEY'RE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE GAME.
Other than that, I loved the ending, I loved discovering more and more about the lives and facets of these characters, and I feel like I'll never forget their sad little lives.