POOLS (PS5)

Immerse yourself in a singular sensory experience with POOLS for the PlayStation 5. Inspired by internet phenomena such as "Liminal Spaces", "Found Footage", and the "Backrooms"—specifically the unsettling concept of "Poolrooms"—this title offers an exploration-focused journey through a world of sterile tiles and still water. Unlike traditional horror games, there are no monsters chasing you and no sudden jump scares to disrupt the silence. Instead, POOLS plays on deeper, more primal fears: the fear of getting lost, the dread of the dark, and the discomfort of tight, enclosed spaces. It is a game where you are simply "there", navigating a series of mysterious mazes that challenge your sense of direction and your perception of reality.

To ensure total immersion, POOLS features no user interface, no dialogue, and no background music. The atmosphere is built entirely through high-fidelity environmental sounds that shift and echo depending on the architecture of the room you are currently inhabiting. The tactile nature of the world is further enhanced by physics-based movement; for instance, walking through waist-deep water is noticeably slower and more laboured, making the environment feel tangible and real. While there are no characters to meet or notes to find, the story is told through the world itself. As you advance through the six unique chapters, you will notice the environment subtly changing around you, with each area offering its own specific brand of mystery and unique visual identity.

The experience is a tribute to the artists and creators who pioneered this aesthetic, including the original "Poolrooms" concept by Jared Pike and the influential "Backrooms" videos by Kane Pixels. Each of the six chapters takes approximately 10 to 30 minutes to complete, allowing for a focused, bite-sized exploration of unsettling architecture. The PlayStation 5 hardware brings these uncanny spaces to life with crisp visuals and advanced spatial audio, heightening the oppressive and tense atmosphere. Whether you are an enthusiast of internet subcultures or a fan of experimental atmospheric horror, POOLS provides a hauntingly beautiful and minimalist journey into the unknown depths of the imagination.

• Authentic Liminal Aesthetics: Explore a world meticulously designed to evoke the "Poolrooms" and "Backrooms" internet subcultures.
• Total Sensory Immersion: Features a UI-free experience with no dialogue or music, relying on realistic spatial audio to build tension.
• Physics-Based Movement: Feel the resistance of the environment as you wade through water or navigate claustrophobic corridors.
• Six Unique Chapters: Journey through a variety of distinct environments, each offering a different atmosphere and architectural mystery.
• Atmospheric Psychological Horror: Experience a deep sense of dread and oppression without the need for traditional monsters or jump scares.