Mini Review: POOLS (PSVR2) – Niche Horror Is a PSVR2 Showcase

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Okay, so POOLS isn’t really a ‘game’ in the traditional sense – it’s more like… an experience. I actually finished it in about an hour, but honestly, even though it’s short, it really stuck with me. There’s this intense atmosphere that just keeps you feeling uneasy the whole time. It’s weirdly effective!

POOLS is a strange and unsettling horror game where you explore confusing labyrinths of hallways, swimming pools, and water slides.

There’s nothing here to fight, no rush to finish, and you can only move by walking or running through the halls.

The game draws on the unsettling feeling of “liminal horror” popularized by the “Backrooms” idea. It constantly shifts between claustrophobic, shadowy hallways and strangely vast areas, and even uses brightly colored water slides as unexpected, startling moments.

Man, this game’s six levels really messed with my head. It’s not jump scares or anything like that, it’s just… unsettling. The atmosphere gets under your skin and stays there. It’s a really unique kind of scary, honestly.

The game is beautiful on both the PS5 and PS5 Pro, with stunning lighting effects. While the sound design is subtle, it’s incredibly effective and can be genuinely chilling.

Initially, we didn’t think much of the game, but it quickly drew us in. Within 20 minutes, we found ourselves jumping at every sound and cautiously approaching large inflatable ducks floating in the water. Because there’s no scoring system, the immersive atmosphere made us question what was real and what wasn’t as we played.

Playing on PS5 is already a spooky experience, but it’s even more immersive with PSVR2. Gameplay-wise, not much has changed, except you can now realistically climb ladders using the Sense controllers.

The Sony headset truly enhances the immersive experience of the game. We looked down into what felt like bottomless pits and reacted to glimpses of ladders being hidden by mysterious figures. The visual quality is remarkably similar between the PSVR2 and the standard screen version, making this a stunning display of what the headset can do.

Like other PSVR2 games such as Kayak VR: Mirage, POOLS doesn’t offer a lot of complex gameplay. But that’s not the point. The game is designed to fully immerse you in another world – stunning scenery in Kayak VR, and unsettling, tiled corridors in POOLS.

Although brief, the experience was truly impressive. It’s definitely designed for a specific type of player, but it rapidly builds a distinctive and suspenseful mood that’s incredibly immersive, especially when played with the PSVR2.

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2025-11-28 17:07