Mouthwashing is something of a recent sensation in the indie horror scene, successfully filling the boots of a gateway drug to the world of unnerving thrills and high-polygon early 2000s era-stylised graphics, so beloved by the genre. Curious as to what the fuzz surrounding the game was about, I gave it a shot with my only expectation being the psychedelic edge of the narrative. Is the game as good as they say? My short answer is that I agree with the voices calling Mouthwashing overhyped, however if you don’t approach it with anticipation of divinity, this is one worthwhile walking simulator. Made particularly interesting by the fact that we are essentially dealing with a character drama pretending to be a horror, in what to me looks like a mild publicity stunt.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3406336138
Extended holidays
As far as setups go, this one opens up with a loud bang. A space hauler by the name of Tulpar crashes into an asteroid, incurring massive damage to the vessel and leaving its tiny crew stranded amidst the great cosmic void. With over 200 days left before reaching its scheduled destination, everyone onboard is well aware that it will take a long time before anyone notices something might’ve happened to the transport. To make bad situation worse, Tulpar is essentially a cargo compartment with engines, leaving the survivors trapped in a tiny crew section, now made even more inaccessible by the damage. With the passage of time and steadily dwindling resources the crew will face a true test of character as their circumstances become increasingly desperate. Having no other options left, a decision is made to unseal the cargo in hopes it may hold a key to survival. This is an emergency after all, the company will understand. Right?

Taking into account Mouthwashing is a walking simulator, unfortunately I can delve no further into the story than this short preamble without major spoilers, which would be a disservice to this exclusively narrative experience. Instead, let’s refocus the spotlight to what makes the game stand out from its competition, as it is unusually smart in the application of its chosen gameplay type.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3406289719
Hesitant arthouse cinema
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Mouthwashing is one of those titles which can be experienced in total by watching a walkthrough video. Taking into account the game takes under 3 hours to complete, you can consider it a ticket purchase, as it is a distinctly cinematic experience. Now, one may be tempted to point that all walking simulators can be charitably called “cinematic”, as such games tend to be notoriously low on interactive elements. Fair enough, however in case of Mouthwashing the term comes from really well structured screenplay and, uniquely, editing. You see, the timeline of the story is non-linear with the narrative constantly jumping between the present and the past, which greatly elevates the pacing of the story and makes it pleasantly unpredictable. Whereas I would compare most games of the type to viewing a 3D museum exhibit or theme park ride, Mouthwashing genuinely felt like watching independent cinema.

Which brings us squarely to the elephant in the room – in the opening paragraph I accused the game of masquerading as a horror game rather than being one. The reason for that is twofold. First of all, the primary component of Mouthwashing is dialogue. Under the circumstances, walking around and talking is the only thing crew of Tulpar has left to do. Likewise, this is what you, the player, will be doing for the majority of the game’s runtime, as pieces of the story slowly come together through exchange with other survivors. Getting to know your companions and observing the impact which current predicament has on everyone involved is the backbone upon which the atmosphere and the tension are built.
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3406335909
Dark side of the moon
The second aspect is horror and the broader role it plays in this title. Now, I need to acknowledge that fear is an utterly subjective sensation and that Mouthwashing absolutely includes body horror, so your experience might be different to mine. With that out of the way, to the eyes of yours truly, disturbing visions portrayed throughout the game water down the experience, ridiculous as it may seem for sections meant to be scary.

You see, the entirety of Mouthwashing – its art direction, the soundtrack, the setting and even characters themselves have a distinct psychedelic quality, which does a stellar job at bonding all the pieces together with an uncomfortable, slightly unhinged edge. Unfortunately, most of the striking visuals which can be seen in the game’s trailer are actually almost glued onto the game. To the point, I am tempted to say some of them (especially towards the end) seem like they are padding this title’s runtime with elements of early development the studio didn’t want to give up on. All the while entirely “mundane” conversations between characters can be way more impactful.

To be fair, this is an entirely understandable choice on the side of devs. Arthouse cinema has a nasty habit of not selling well. If dressing up your character-driven drama with gore and mania is what it takes for the audiences to like it, why pull the punches? The proof of conduct is right there.

The good ending
All things considered, while not without its flaws, Mouthwashing is a worthwhile piece of entertainment. Perhaps it takes an oddly roundabout path, mayhaps it has bizarrely literal allegories, nonetheless the game delivers an overall impactful story. Due to its short runtime, I recommend completing the title in one sitting, as the impeccable pacing is likely to keep you seated either way. You may need to grit your teeth though, as towards the end Mouthwashing starts to drag on despite its length. To be fair, I don’t entirely understand how the game became a wide-spread (for an indie horror) phenomenon. If I were to indulge a guess, its cinematic qualities make this title uniquely approachable. Whereas I can comfortably recommend the game to the veterans of the genre, I foremost encourage newcomers to give it a try. Assuming Mouthwashing strikes a note, we have such sights to show you.