Mouthwashing is the breakout horror hit everyone is talking about but I didn’t get it

IN reviews I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but Mouthwashing is a game best experienced blind.

If you are planning to play the retro-style horror hit about five people stranded on a spaceship, then I recommend you don’t read this.

Everyone is talking about how chilling Mouthwashing is, and how, despite the sci-fi situation, it’s somehow very relatable.

And that praise is earned. It’s very easy to get involved in the lives of these five characters over its short two to three hours of runtime.

It’s told in a non-linear sequence, which adds to the atmosphere as you are confused as to what to do or when you are doing it.

You also switch between different characters’ viewpoints, which adds tension and uncertainty.

However, I agree with players that some of the other horror elements are not well executed.

It opens on an overly long, trippy corridor section with unnecessary jumpscares, and there’s another weak point in a first-person shooting section.

While these sections are weak, the characters are the main focus, and for me some of these weren’t strong enough to carry the story.

My problem surrounds most players’ favourite and least favourite characters, and they feel this strongly about both of them because they are fully invested.

The character people seem to hate the most seems to me to be unendingly evil. 

You might not realise their true character at first, but as soon as you do, you can see that their every action is rooted in selfishness and evil.

Mouthwashing often pushes the message that you shouldn’t judge people by the worst thing they did, but there seems to be no redeeming characteristic to create a balance.

The most loved character experiences tragedy, but I failed to see their agency outside of a plot point to show that others are evil.

Everything they do surrounds this tragic incident, and the minimal background story is pushed to the side to make this their central feature.

Mouthwashing doesn’t tell you anything explicitly, and it could be that I missed further nuance in the dialogue.

There was a lot I liked about Mouthwashing, but I didn’t have the life-changing experience that it seems most people felt while playing.

The main thing I took away from my Mouthwashing playthrough after reading all of the fan opinions was that I just didn’t get it.

If you want to read more about game reviews, check out our Monument Valley 3 review.